Today is a special day for Women’s Sport with over 120 opinion formers and key influencers gathering at Croke Park for an Audience with Clare Balding and the unveiling of a major new research project into the motivations and behaviours that impact on Women’s Sport.
The research has been commissioned and the day hosted by Liberty Insurance who have led the way in this area since taking the decision to give equal prominence to their support of the GAA All Ireland Hurling and Camogie Championships back in 2013.
Former World Champion Sonia O’Sullivan and RTÉ Group Head of Sport Ryle Nugent will join Balding on stage with Rob Hartnett of Sport for Business to discuss the research and encourage those present to advance the case for Women’s sport to move itself towards parity of esteem.
Follow events as they unfold from 1230 today through social media @LibertyIRL and @SportforBusiness as well as through #WomeninSport and a new campaign hashtag that will also be launched today.
This is an important milestone in Liberty Insurance’s and Sport for Business’ commitment to Women’s Sport. It has been backed by the ongoing identification of the 50 Most Influential Women in Irish Sport which has now reached the half way point and is ongoing on this site.
Many of those already named will be present today, including Irish Women’s Rugby stars Niamh Briggs and Fiona Coghlan, WGPA Chair Aoife Lane, Liberty Insurance Head of Marketing Annette Ní Dhathlaoí and senior civil servant Maev Nic Lochlainn.
Writing in the document published to highlight the research Clare Balding writes:
“You are fortunate in Ireland to have role models of such quality and personality as Katie Taylor, Sonia O’Sullivan, Niamh Briggs and Stephanie Roche.”
“They represent you on a world stage.”
“You need to celebrate their achievements, to inspire your daughters and nieces, sisters and mothers to not only watch but also seek to emulate them.”
“Everything is possible once the will is there. You have it within yourselves to make the difference, starting today.”
It promises to be a great day and one we are privileged to be a part of.
