The Sport Ireland Development Conference has been taking place over the last two days, presenting myriad opportunities on how different sporting bodies, local sports partnerships and other state agencies can come together to utilise the power of sport in a the framework of the communities in which we live.

The agenda was deep and the engagement deeper still with imagination and collaboration around every corner.

It has been a valuable opportunity for those on the front line of delivering physical activity beyond the high points of elite performance to share thoughts, forge new ways of working together and explore areas that are too rarely at the top of the agenda.

Over the coming days we will dip into a number of these, capturing a small slice of what has been put before the 300 delegates from across sport and across Ireland.

 

One of the standout sessions, had an interesting twist in the terms and conditions of entry with men only allowed.

Tyrone All-Ireland winner and Míde Research academic Conor Meyler, presented “Stronger Together: The Role of Men and Male Allies in Advancing Gender Equality in Sport,” providing a powerful and timely reflection on men’s role in addressing gender inequality in Irish sport.

Drawing from his PhD research into sport leadership and gender, Meyler tackled some of the most persistent issues facing the sports sector — from the historical underrepresentation of women in leadership roles to the cultural and systemic barriers that continue to hinder progress.

His central argument was clear, that meaningful reform requires active male allyship.

Meyler’s approach was both academic and personal. He spoke candidly about the backlash he faced — including abuse on the pitch — for speaking out in support of women’s sport and gender equality.

But rather than deterring him, these experiences seemed to deepen his commitment. He used them as examples of the resistance that exists and the importance of confronting it head-on.

He challenged the audience, which included representatives from Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) and National Governing Bodies (NGBs), to consider what male allyship actually looks like in practice.

It’s not about token support or passive agreement, he argued, but about concrete action — advocating for inclusive leadership, challenging discrimination, amplifying women’s voices, and calling out inequality when it happens.

Meyler also facilitated interactive discussion, encouraging attendees to reflect on their own experiences and organisational cultures.

The session sparked honest dialogue among delegates, with contributions that ranged from local initiatives in gender inclusion to the everyday challenges of shifting long-standing mindsets within Irish sport.

In an era when sport is accepting increased responsibility to reflect wider societal values of fairness and inclusion, Meyler’s message was unambiguous: men must not sit on the sidelines. Change requires their presence, their voices, and their leadership.

With thanks to Fachtna Kelly of Sport Ireland for additional reporting.

 

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It’s about the things we do in practice, not the things we aspire to be better at.  We will always look to have gender balance with a minimum 25% up to 50% balance in speakers and contributors at our events.  Sometimes it means looking beyond the obvious stars within our membership but it is in giving a platform to others that we create stars of the future and present a genuine perspective of equality.

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