Ladies football to get full-time development officer

THE Ladies Football Association will shortly appoint a full-time national development officer in a bid to enhance the promotion of what is one of the fastest growing sports in Ireland.

A key element of the association’s strategic plan, this action has been made possible by €250,000 funding which was formally announced by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the TG4/O’Neills Allstar awards.

Recently, four provincial administrators have taken up their positions and, according to Chief Executive Helen O’Rourke, there are plans in train to appoint four or five more development officers in these areas.

The allocation of the grant came about as a result of approaches to the Government and the Sports Council for extra funding. “Considering the size of our sport it would be accepted that it hasn’t been funded properly,’’ she commented. “You’re looking at over 100,000 players and what we were getting over the years was very little considering the service we give.’’

Four years ago, she was the association’s only full-time officer. Now she has the assistance of three other staff who operate from an office in Croke Park. “We’re getting out into different areas. We do a lot of work with the local sports partnerships,” she explained.

The past year has proved to be one of the most successful in the history of the sport, highlighted by the participation of seven teams in a very successful international tournament in Dublin in October. Remarkably, 85% of the participating players were non-Irish, which meant that they had no Irish roots at all.

“The interest is there and the sport is strong right across the world. And, it’s not only Irish-born players who are coming back to play. Every year, we have something new coming on board for us. The game is developing further in spite of not having funds,” says O’Rourke

“A lot of it is down to the GAA units abroad promoting the game and our own players who have gone overseas and helped teams get started. The fact that it is quite easy to take up is a big help.”

Meanwhile, in March the 2004 and 2005 Allstars will travel out to Singapore, where they will form an integral part of the Irish community’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

“It’s a just reward for the amount of time they put into the game. It’s a way of recognising their sacrifices.”