TG4 paid formal tribute on Saturday night to Helen O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, following confirmation that she will retire at the end of 2025. The tribute was made during the 2025 TG4 All-Star Awards banquet at The Bonnington Dublin Hotel, one of the showcase evenings in the Peil na mBan calendar.
O’Rourke is the longest-serving CEO in Irish sport, having led the LGFA since 1997 after previously serving as President in 1994. Her tenure has overseen almost three decades of organisational expansion and increased visibility for Ladies Football.
Key milestones during her leadership include securing landmark broadcast and commercial partnerships with TG4 in 2001 and Lidl Ireland in 2016, navigating the Association through the Covid-19 pandemic, and celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024.
The period has also produced record attendances. The 2019 TG4 All-Ireland Finals attracted a historic crowd of 56,114 to Croke Park. That momentum continued in 2025, when the TG4 All-Ireland Finals drew more than 48,000 spectators — the highest figure since 2019 — and reached almost 490,000 viewers across TG4’s coverage.
Viewership for the Senior Final between Dublin and Meath increased by 16% year-on-year, while TG4 Player live streams rose by 37%. Spórt TG4’s social media content generated over 3.4 million views across Finals week.
TG4 remains the official broadcaster and title sponsor of the LGFA, providing live, free-to-air coverage of the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Finals in Ireland and internationally. The partnership aims both to promote women’s sport and to integrate the Irish language more prominently into national sporting culture.
Saturday’s ceremony also recognised the top performers of the 2025 season. All-Ireland Senior champions Dublin dominated the TG4 All-Star team with seven players selected following their seventh championship title, secured against Meath in August. Cork great Juliet Murphy was formally inducted into the LGFA Hall of Fame.
TG4 Director General Deirdre Ní Choistín described O’Rourke’s leadership as “visionary,” noting its impact on the national and international profile of Ladies Football. TG4 Head of Sport Rónán Ó Coisdealbha said her contribution had been “immense,” highlighting over two decades of collaboration between TG4 Sport and the LGFA.
TG4 also acknowledged the contributions of LGFA President Trina Murray and production partners Nemeton, reaffirming its commitment to working with the LGFA to continue expanding and promoting Peil na mBan in the years ahead.
Image Credit: LGFA and Sportsfile
Further Reading for Sport for Business members:
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