Grant Thornton Ireland has entered into a new partnership with Peamount United Football Club, supporting the club’s High Performance Women’s League of Ireland U17 and U23 teams as part of its wider commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion.
The partnership will see the professional services firm invest in the continued development of one of Ireland’s most successful women’s clubs, with a focus on strengthening the pathway for young female athletes progressing from grassroots football to elite competition.
Based in Newcastle, County Dublin, Peamount United has been central to the growth of women’s football in Ireland since its establishment in 1983. The club has become one of the most decorated sides in the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division and is widely recognised for its role in developing elite talent.
Peamount is unusual within Irish football for having built sustained success as a standalone women’s club, producing numerous international players including six members of Ireland’s squad at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Louise Quinn, Denise O’Sullivan, Amber Barrett, Áine O’Gorman, Chloe Mustaki and Heather Payne. DLR Waves are the other standalone club playing in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
Rather than taking the form of a traditional sponsorship, the partnership is centred on practical initiatives aimed at supporting players’ athletic and professional development.
These will include career development events hosted by Grant Thornton for Peamount United Academy players, mock interview sessions delivered by the firm’s recruitment team, Transition Year placements for students interested in careers in professional services, and a Women’s 5-a-Side programme for Grant Thornton staff supported by coaching from Peamount’s U17 and U23 Academy players.
The initiatives are designed to help young female athletes build confidence, workplace skills and professional networks alongside their sporting development.
“Women’s football in Ireland has experienced significant growth in recent years and for Grant Thornton, partnering with Peamount United supports that momentum while contributing to a more equitable sporting landscape,” said Dan Holland, ED&I Partner Sponsor at Grant Thornton Ireland.
“By investing in the development pathway for young female athletes, the firm aims to help ensure that talent, ambition and opportunity continue to grow together. Integral to our investment will be the hands-on initiatives we have developed to provide practical and professional development assistance to the Peamount United pathway players.”
Katie Thompson, Trustee and League of Ireland Secretary at Peamount United, welcomed the agreement.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Grant Thornton,” she said. “Their support will play a key role in the continued growth of our LOI Academy section, helping to develop the next generation of talent in Ireland.
“Just as importantly, it will provide our players with valuable professional development opportunities beyond football, supporting their futures both on and off the pitch.”
The partnership reflects a growing trend of corporate investment in women’s sport moving beyond branding and visibility towards more integrated programmes that support athlete development, education and long-term career pathways.
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