As the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team prepare for the biggest tournament of their careers to date, new research from Sky Ireland has shown an increase in support for the team, which has inspired more people in Ireland to get involved in football.
Support for the team has grown significantly, up 20% – from 54% to 65% – since November 2021, with a strong increase in female supporters.
Most significantly, Sky Ireland’s research found that 1 in 5 adults state the success of our Women’s National Team inspired them to take up or play football, with a further 2 in 5 stating they would encourage their children to play.
60 percent of adults have said that they will watch this summer’s FIFA World Cup where the Republic of Ireland will play against hosts Australia in front of 82,000 fans, Canada and Nigeria.
The research comes as Sky Ireland launches the second year of its ‘Sky WNT Fund’ which will once again award a fund of €25,000, to assist five Women’s National Team players with their academic studies and career development off the pitch.
At a Sky Ireland event today, celebrating International Women’s Day, team manager, Vera Pauw, WNT players Aine O’Gorman and Saoirse Noonan, newly appointed Head of Women and Girls Football at the FAI, Eileen Gleeson, and FIFA Assistant Referee Michelle O’Neill discussed the rise in support for women’s football in Ireland, the significance of World Cup qualification and the importance of exposure for continued growth in women’s football.
Minister of State for Sport, Thomas Byrne TD, attended the event and paid tribute to the success of our Women’s National Team and their significant positive impact on the growth of women’s sport in Ireland. The event was also attended by former WNT internationals Linda Gorman, Olivia O’Toole, Paula Gorham, Breda Hanlon, Kay Ramsbottom and Jackie McCarthy-O’Brien who spoke of the impact that getting out and kicking a ball in Limerick had on her life.
Sky Ireland’s research, which was conducted by Empathy Research, also showed a significant increase in support for our Women’s National Team among both men and women. The Number of those who have tuned in to watch a WNT match grew from 49% to 57%, with the most notable increases among women aged 18-24.
“From the moment we came on board as Women’s National Team Primary Partner, our aim has always been to help the squad highlight their achievements, inspire the next generation of players, and help to grow women’s football in Ireland,” said Sky Ireland Chief Commercial Officer Orlaith Ryan.
“It is so encouraging to see growth in support for this team, as well as growth in the number of people who would encourage their children to play football. These statistics are a testament to the players and management, who have enjoyed incredible success over the past 12-months.”
“It has also been hugely important to us that, through our partnership, we give our WNT players opportunities to grow and develop. That is why I am thrilled to launch the Sky WNT Fund again this year. While 2023 is a huge year for players on the pitch, the fund is about assisting our WNT players off the pitch, with their academic studies and careers outside of and after football.”
“Sky continues to be a fantastic partner for the Republic of Ireland Women’s Team,” said Vera Pauw.
“The support they have shown us and for women’s football in Ireland has been phenomenal. The Sky WNT Fund introduced last year is so important for our players as it helps them to plan and prepare for the future.”
Saoirse Noonan was one of the recipients of the funding last year, something she used to bring her Freedom Official Clothing line, what started out as a lockdown project, to scale.
“I was delighted to be chosen as one of five players to receive the Sky WNT Fund last year. It allowed me to focus on my own clothing brand ‘Freedom Official Clothing’ and grow the business. As the company is based in Cork, it can be difficult to manage when I am in the UK. The fund – and some help from my family – allowed me to keep the business going, without impacting my playing career.”
Newly elected FAI Director Niamh O’Mahony was also there as well as Rhona Blake of Fleishman Hillard and Jill Downey of Core who have been the agency partners that brought Sky’s Outbelieve Platform to such vivid life over the past year.
