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The Ladies Gaelic Football Association announced
the appointment of four Urban Programme Officers today at the U-16
Development Blitz Day in Croke Park.
The Urban Programme Officers will work to increase female participants to existing clubs and to create new clubs in specific urban areas around the country. The Urban Programme Officer positions have been established on the back of the phenomenal success of two Ladies Football initiatives – Gaelic4Girls and Gaelic4Mothers. The new officers will use the Gaelic4Girls initiative to attract young girls to the sport and will use the Gaelic4Mothers initiative as a tool for recruiting additional participants and club volunteers. Ladies Football is the fastest growing sport in the country and currently has over 142,000 members. This programme aims to recruit an additional 6,000 new players over a two year period. Over the next two years, the Urban Programme Officers also aim to increase the numbers involved in the Gaelic4Mothers programme to 3,000 and to establish 25 new Ladies Football and GAA clubs. The four Urban Programme Officers are Cliodhna O’Connor, Tara Ryan, Lisa Cafferky and Eliza Downey. Pat Quill, Uactharán Peil Gael na mBan, commented, “The Urban Officers Programme will assist in the continued growth of Ladies Football and play an important role in providing a sporting outlet for young girls and women alike. The support being lent to this programme by the GAA highlights the important role that female athletes have to play in our clubs and communities around the country. Christy Cooney, President of the GAA, commented, “I laud Cumann Peile na mBan on this forward thinking and progressive initiative and I have no doubt that it will have a positive impact on the numbers playing ladies Gaelic football. The establishment of new clubs, especially in urban areas, is one of the biggest challenges that we face in the GAA and the realistic and clearly defined goals set out for these new Programme Officers can help them deliver results over the course of the next 24 months. I wish all those in the new roles and Cumann Peile na mBan itself every success with this venture.” Role of Urban Programme Officers • Create opportunities to play Ladies Gaelic Football in specific urban areas • Utilise existing initiatives to help facilitate participation (Gaelic4Girls & Gaelic4Mothers) • Strengthen existing clubs and establish new clubs over the next two years Year 1 Urban Programme Officers Regions Cliodhna O’Connor: Dublin, Laois, Wexford, Offaly Eliza Downey: Antrim, Cavan, Donegal, Louth Tara Ryan: Cork, Galway, Clare, Tipperary Lisa Cafferky: Fermanagh, Longford, Mayo, Sligo Urban Programme Officers – Profiles Cliodhna O’Connor is the Dublin Goalkeeper with 2 All-Stars winning her most recent last year in 2009 following Dublin’s magnificent Championship campaign. Cliodhna is a member of the Naomh Mearnog Club in Portmarnock and has won a number of club titles including the All-Ireland Club 7-a-side Championship. Cliodhna is also a Coaching Tutor with the Association. Tara Ryan is from the Templemore Club in Tipperary and has a background in Sport and Exercise Science. Tara has been involved with many underage teams and has lead many teams to success over the years. Tara will bring a new dimension to the Association with her experience in other sports such as Camogie and Rugby. Tara is currently involved in the successful Gaelic4Girls initiative in Nenagh. Lisa Cafferky is a member of the Kilmovee and Mayo Ladies Football teams. From a young age Lisa has won a host of club and county titles. Lisa also played a prominent role in UCD Ladies Football where not only was she captain but also Treasurer of the club. Lisa’s development experience with Roscommon Local Sports Partnership will assist in her new role. Eliza Downey hails from the Annaclone Club in County Down. Eliza is a member of the Down panel and recently travelled to San Francisco as part of the All- Star Tour. Eliza has achieved many titles in Ladies Gaelic Football including the O’Connor Cup which earned her a College’s All-Star Award. Eliza has a strong background in Sport and Event Management and will bring a new feel to the Association with her creative skills. |
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