Ladies football gets seal of approval from Taoiseach

TAOISEACH BERTIE AHERN lauded the progress and development of ladies football when he launched the 2004 Suzuki NFL in Croke Park yesterday.

Mr Ahern, a keen supporter of ladies football, reminded the attendance that the code had found it difficult in the past to gain recognition for its promotional efforts.

“That has changed massively over the last number of seasons and I think it has changed for the better, thanks to its profile, the support of TG4 and the media in general.

“I know that you can continue to get people to all the matches and not just watch them on television. I’m afraid that in this country it’s a national pastime watching sport on television, even though we (the Government) keep trying to drag them out. I think now more than ever there are ample opportunities for women to enter the sport and this has led to an enormous increase in playing numbers.”

Ladies football one of the fastest growing sports in the country, with an increase in participation of 300% over the last five years. There are now 90,000 registered members, affiliated to 950 clubs in all 32 counties.

Enhancing community involvement is the key to successful clubs, said GAA President Sean Kelly at the presentation of the AIB Club of the Year awards in Croke Park yesterday.

Portumna, (Galway), Patrickswell, (Limerick) and Malin, (Donegal) won the provincial awards in their respective provinces, while Dublin club St Jude’s picked up the top award.

Based in Templeogue, St Jude’s has grown from a fledging club with just two juvenile teams in 1978 to a vibrant boasting 54 teams across all grades in hurling and football.

The judges commended them for their proactive role within the local community and their work in promoting the game in local schools.

The club linked up with the local soccer club to construct an all-weather pitch benefiting both groupings and the community at large.

“The clear message of the Strategic Review Committee is that the clubs must ‘reach out’ to their community and by this we mean everybody in the parish and, in the games context, girls as well as boys,” said Mr Kelly.

AIB Managing Director Donal Forde said the bank was delighted to have initiated the Club of the Year awards. In doing so, they were able to acknowledge the contribution that clubs countrywide made in their local area.

“And, through the scheme we are able to honour the countless dedicated volunteers who work behind the scenes in administration, fundraising and ground development.

“Without them, there would be no clubs,” said mr Forde

All 32 county winners were presented with certificates and development cheques.

Total prize money for St Judes amounted to €17,000, made up of €2,000 for the county award, €5,000 for provincial award and €10,000 for the overall award.

In a draw among all the competing clubs, Na Piarsaigh, Galway, and Holycross-Ballycahill in Tipperary, received cheques of €3,000 each.