Marie Hickey: Success of ladies football has created a new set of challenges

It's a big weekend for the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, as delegates gather at the Lough Rea Hotel in Galway to reflect on 2019 and to vote in our new President-elect.

As Association President, I’ll be taking a keen interest in Saturday’s proceedings, as my successor is revealed.

One of three very capable candidates - Micheál Naughton, Liam McDonagh or Dominic Leech - will take over the role in 2021.

At this time, as I begin the sixth and final year of my Presidency, I can reflect and take stock of our progress to date.

The Association has made great strides in recent years but there are still hurdles that we must vault and challenges to overcome.

I believe we have made great progress in tackling the high drop-out rate associated with girls in the 13-17 age group.

We have our hugely successful Gaelic4Teens initiative, initially established as a pilot in 2017, now running on an annual basis.

Another significant step forward was the restructuring of our U14 Championships last year, with Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze competitions introduced. Initially, there was some resistance to the move but the overwhelming feedback following the conclusion of the competitions was that they were a resounding success.

More and more girls got the opportunity to play in competitive games which greatly enhance their enjoyment of the competition. We need to continue to be proactive in this regard and ensure that our coaching standards are rolled out across all levels, from juvenile training all the way up to the senior grade. Coaches need to recognise that effective coaching for women has subtle differences to coaching for men.

It is also important to note that, and while we still have a road to travel, more and more past players are returning to our sport in various volunteer roles, and as spectators. We have reached a point in the cycle of our existence now, as we fast approach our 50th anniversary in 2024, where many players that played at a high level with their counties are now at a point where they can give some time and expertise back to their clubs and counties in many varied roles.

We have also created a wider audience, due to the ongoing and invaluable coverage and support provided by TG4, but also due to the fact that we are now streaming our own games on Facebook.

The biggest challenge for the next ten years, as I see it, is a consequence of our own success.

With our membership numbers rising, I hope that within clubs, our members will have the space to flourish. Often, and due to limited facilities, we have situations where teams have to train at unsociable hours, because there aren’t enough pitches and space for everybody.

Ensuring that our needs are catered for within the one club model is part of our developing links with the GAA.

We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the GAA in 2018 and we have made further progress since then.

I’m often asked about the potential for the LGFA to come under the GAA umbrella. What I will say is that this process is moving slowly but surely, so that we can ensure that every step we take is in the right direction, and that everybody involved is happy with it.

I’m also asked about the shortage of female managers and coaches of inter-county teams. Looking at the current landscape, there’s just one involved with an adult team, with many more involved at underage levels. As I see it, it’s a matter of instilling confidence in potential female managers, to encourage them to take on the job and embrace it.

Of course, it would be nice to see more high-ranking female managers and coaches. We’ve had it in the past and I’m sure we will again because former players who harbour ambitions of coaching at the highest level are the women who know what it’s like to be a county player or a senior club player, and the associated challenges.

That leads me back to where I started – and this weekend’s Annual Congress. It hasn’t gone unnoticed that three men are in the running for the Presidency. We’re always looking for the best person for the job. It also comes back to the time and availability factors for a lot of women – and at a given time, it’s simply not feasible.

The challenges of juggling my role as a secondary school teacher in St. Kevin’s C.C., Clondalkin and the Presidency have been difficult at times, but very enjoyable and rewarding. We have, however, had four female Presidents in our history, including myself - and rest assured that we will most definitely have more in the future.

- Marie Hickey is President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association

The Declan McBennett Interview: RTÉ Sport chief talks pundits, equality, Brolly, and too much TV