Female representation on sporting boards rises three percent

PROGRESS: Sport Ireland chief executive Dr Una May. Pic: Sam Barnes, Sportsfile

The female representation on sporting boards in Ireland has risen by 3%, Sport Ireland has announced. 

Sport Ireland, in publishing their latest findings on the matter, found an increase from 42% in December of 2023, to 45%, with three major sporting bodies seeing a significant rise in female representation. 

The Irish Rugby Football Union (33% to 41%), the Football Association of Ireland (36% to 43%) and the Gaelic Athletic Association (16% to 43%) have all surpassed 40% representation for the first time.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, TD welcomed the progress reflected in the snapshot.

 “All boardrooms should be representative of our society and reflect modern Ireland, through proportionate female membership. 

"In the past few months, NGBs and LSPs have been working hard as they look to increase the number of women on their boards. 

"For example, Pitch and Putt Ireland (11% to 40%), the Irish Judo Association (13% to 50%), the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (13% to 46%), Olympic Handball Ireland (20% to 43%) and Donegal Sports Partnership (29% to 40%) have all made significant progress, which highlights their commitment to advancing women and girls in their sports.” 

Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD, echoed Martin's comments on the matter.  

“I welcome the continued progress that is being made with respect to female representation on sporting boards. This positive trajectory in sports leadership will enhance and strengthen our sporting community. 

"I want to reiterate that sporting organisations which have yet to meet the 40% target will only be permitted to draw down 50% of their funding allocation until such a time, as they reach the 40% target.” 

Sport Ireland CEO, Dr Úna May, added: “There are now 86 of 100 funded National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and other sporting funded bodies in Ireland who have met the target for gender representation on their boards. 

"Since the release of the first snapshot in 2020, we have seen a continuous trend towards more gender-equal boards across sport in Ireland. 

"This is crucial, as the decision-making processes in governing bodies should reflect the communities they serve. We would like to acknowledge the effort that has gone in to deliver this, and we will work closely with the sector at all levels to continue and maintain this progress.”

The last snapshot, published in December 2023, showed an overall percentage increase to 42%. 

The snapshot is published as part of the Leadership & Governance pillar of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Policy and outlines the current position and significant progress made since the policy was first published in 2019. 

That year females made up an average of just 24% of boards of National Governing Bodies.