ALL roads led to Portmarnock for the 2025 Sports Direct Gaelic4Mothers&Others National Festival Day, with clubs from all over Ireland, including 35 from Ulster, flocking to the Naomh Mearnóg venue.
The 2025 event once again showcased the very best of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association’s spectacular initiative, proudly sponsored by Sports Direct.
In 2024, Sports Direct announced a three-year extension to its sponsorship of Gaelic4Mothers&Others, shortly after The Federation of Irish Sport’s 7th annual Irish Sport Industry awards saw the Sports Direct Gaelic4Mothers&Others programme honoured with the ‘Best Initiative to Promote Women in Sport & Physical Activity.’
The number of participating clubs has risen from 220 to over 600 in the space of four years of the partnership, with clubs now participating in every county and across our International units.
Nearly 2,000 women made the trip to Naomh Mearnóg for the 2025 National Festival Day.
Over 90 Gaelic4Mothers&Others clubs registered for the chance to sample the unique atmosphere of festival day, which also provided the opportunity to get together and play games in a non-competitive and fun environment.
Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn, from the St Jude’s club in Dublin, said: “What I love about the initiative is that we have women playing football now that actually never played football, but also never played sport.
“It’s been a safe space to introduce women to sport and physical activity and we have little sub-groups off the main group of walkers, swimmers and joggers. Socially, it has made people meet each other, and a lot more people in the club know each other now.”
From the Bray Emmets club, Pam McDermott said: “It’s a great way of getting out and having a bit of exercise, and meeting up with people. I’m not from Bray originally so it’s a great way of being part of the community and just getting out every week and meeting up with mothers, and others, and having a great time.”
Speaking on behalf of the LGFA, President Trina Murray commented: “The Sports Direct Gaelic4Mothers&Other National Festival Day is now one of the biggest highlights on our annual calendar.
“The mass warm-up is an experience in itself and the entire day provides so much fun and laughter.
“I wish to acknowledge our programme sponsors, Sports Direct, who endeavour on an annual basis to ensure that this event and the programme itself continues to grow in scale and stature.
“Sports Direct have proven themselves to be wonderfully energetic and pro-active sponsors – and with a real zest and passion for the Gaelic4Mothers&Others programme.”
Sharon Lancaster, Marketing Manager, Sports Direct Ireland, added: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the LGFA and the Gaelic4Mothers&Others programme.
“The growth of this initiative has been remarkable and is a true testament to the power of sport as a great equaliser, creating opportunities for everyone to take part and enjoy the benefits.
“Our research highlights just how important this programme is for women—not only in terms of fitness, but also for its social and mental wellbeing benefits.
“Each participant has her own reason why she takes part, and through our surveys and storytelling we’ve seen just how meaningful those reasons are. From building confidence, to finding new friendships, to carving out precious time for themselves, these stories show the true impact of the programme.”
The list of clubs attending the 2025 Festival Day is as follows:
| Club | County |
| All Saints Ballymena | Antrim |
| Naomh Brid – Belfast | Antrim |
| Naomh Padraig Lisburn | Antrim |
| Kickham’s Creggan | Antrim |
| Shane Ui Neill Glenarm | Antrim |
| Colin Gaels | Antrim |
| Saint Ergnats Moneyglass | Antrim |
| Wolfe Tones Derrymacash | Armagh |
| Clady Sean South | Armagh |
| Shane O’Neills Camlough | Armagh |
| Na Piarsaigh Eanach Mor | Armagh |
| Tir na nÓg | Armagh |
| Old Leighlin | Carlow |
| Éire Óg Carlow | Carlow |
| Lacken | Cavan |
| Cornafean | Cavan |
| St Finbarrs | Cavan |
| Eire Óg Inis | Clare |
| Newmarket | Cork |
| Inch Rovers | Cork |
| Sean Dolans | Derry |
| St Mary’s Faughanvale | Derry |
| St Mary’s Slaughtmanus | Derry |
| Watty Graham’s Glen | Derry |
| Glenfin | Donegal |
| Killybegs | Donegal |
| Saval | Down |
| Ballymartin | Down |
| An Chloch Fhada-Longstone | Down |
| Dromara | Down |
| CPN Warrenpoint | Down |
| Naomh Mearnog | Dublin |
| St Judes | Dublin |
| St Brigids Castleknock | Dublin |
| Clontarf | Dublin |
| Ballymun Kickhams | Dublin |
| Man O War | Dublin |
| St Patricks Palmerstown | Dublin |
| Whitehall Colmcille | Dublin |
| Derrylin O’Connell’s | Fermanagh |
| Killannin | Galway |
| St Fursey’s | Galway |
| Mná le Chéile An Spidéal | Galway |
| Fr. Griffins Eire Óg | Galway |
| Naomh Mhuire Oranmore Maree | Galway |
| Mountbellew Moylough | Galway |
| Spa | Kerry |
| Austin Stacks | Kerry |
| Ballymore Eustace | Kildare |
| Eadestown | Kildare |
| Celbridge | Kildare |
| Castlemitchell | Kildare |
| Maynooth | Kildare |
| Piltown | Kilkenny |
| Park Ratheniska | Laois |
| Sarsfields Mountmellick | Laois |
| Mna Le Cheile | Leitrim |
| Kiltubrid | Leitrim |
| Mountcollins | Limerick |
| Mostrim | Longford |
| Colmcille | Longford |
| The Geraldines | Louth |
| Cooley Kickhams | Louth |
| Dreadnots | Louth |
| Westport | Mayo |
| St Colmcilles | Meath |
| Donaghmore Ashbourne | Meath |
| Cortown | Meath |
| Blackhill Emeralds | Monaghan |
| Monaghan Harps | Monaghan |
| Emyvale | Monaghan |
| Killeevan Sarsfields | Monaghan |
| Oram Sarsfields | Monaghan |
| Tullamore | Offaly |
| Kilcormac/Killoughey | Offaly |
| St Dominics | Roscommon |
| Western Gaels | Roscommon |
| Eire Og | Roscommon |
| Shamrock Gaels | Sligo |
| St Farnans | Sligo |
| Lattin/Cullen-Emly | Tipperary |
| Clonoulty/Rossmore | Tipperary |
| Drumragh | Tyrone |
| Rock St Patrick’s | Tyrone |
| Galbally | Tyrone |
| Roanmore | Waterford |
| St Mary’s Rochfortbridge | Westmeath |
| Ballymore | Westmeath |
| Blessington | Wicklow |
| Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney | Wicklow |
| Baltinglass | Wicklow |
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