A general view of Croke Park. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
The Gaelic Games Associations are delighted to announce that the groundbreaking Leading Provincial Females programme is now open for registration for the 2025 in-take. Last July, 76 participants successfully graduated from the 2023/2024 Leading Provincial Females programme, an initiative made possible by the Sport Ireland Women in Sport fund that provides a platform for women aged 18 and over from all four provinces to develop vital leadership skills within the Gaelic Games community.
The programme, which will run from February to November next year, with an extended break built into the schedule over the summer months, offers a unique blend of in-person workshops and online webinars, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for participants. Each participant will be required to attend three in-person workshops all of which focus on developing and refining leadership skills irrespective of role or code from across the family of Gaelic Games. In addition to these interactive workshops, participants will again complete a minimum of four modules from key thematic strands: coaching, officiating, administration, and PR/Media. These modules are designed to equip the graduates with practical tools and knowledge for their current or future roles within Gaelic Games, whether as coaches, match officials,
administrators, or volunteers. To embed this knowledge further, this year each participant will asked to deliver a short project within the unit the participant is most active with.
Throughout the programme, participants will again benefit from expert guidance provided by experienced leadership trainers, as well as the
opportunity to network with like-minded women committed to making an impact in Gaelic Games. The programme emphasises not only leadership development but also personal growth, with participants gaining invaluable insight into their own leadership styles and capabilities.
Coinciding with this, several graduates from this the 23/24 cohort will also embark on the next phase of their leadership journey as they progress into the group mentoring phase of the programme. This will offer further personalised support and guidance, ensuring that these emerging leaders can continue to build on the skills and knowledge they have acquired, while making meaningful contributions to their Clubs, communities and Gaelic Games organisations.
Commenting on the continuation of the programme, Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Jarlath Burns said: "The Leading Provincial Females programme continues to be an outstanding success, as the family of Gaelic Games comes together to provide excellent development opportunities to women, from across the Associations. With so many of the programme participants already leading in their own Clubs and Counties, this programme has enhanced their abilities and the leadership tools they will need to continue to excel in their respective and future roles within Gaelic Games. We are proud of each and every one of the 76 participants from last year and are excited to see what the future holds for them, as well as for those joining the programme next year."
Speaking on behalf of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, President Mícheál Naughton, added: “The positive benefits of the Leading Provincial Female Leadership programme are multi-fold. Participants have the chance to engage with like-minded future leaders, while also gaining insight and understanding of their own leadership styles. The training and advice from experienced leadership trainers is of the very highest standard and I look forward to a strong volume of applicants coming forward. We are delighted that the entire Gaelic Games family is involved in this programme once again and it remains imperative that more and more female leaders emerge to take on key roles within our Associations. As an Association in its 50th year, we are acutely aware of the vital roles that female leaders have played since our formation in 1974. I’m sure that this will continue to be the case as we move forward in the coming years.”
The Camogie Association’s Uachtarán Brian Molloy on the continuation of the Leading Provincial Females Programme. “We are delighted with the success of the Leading Provincial Females programme across the Gaelic Games Associations, especially for the camogie
participants who represented 21 counties in the programme in 23/24 cohort. These women are fantastic leaders, and this programme has amplified those key skills further. Not only does the programme nurture personal growth, but it also gives participants the required skills to drive themselves, their teams, and their clubs forward. As we look towards full integration, this is another example of a programme successfully bringing the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association together.”
Registration link: https://forms.office.com/e/f1P4PL6wgX