Lord Mayor of Dublin Leads Inspiring Event to Elevate Teenage Girls in Sport

In a powerful show of support for young women in sport, The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, today hosted an inspiring youth engagement event in the Oak Room at Dublin’s Mansion House, welcoming teenage girls from sports clubs across the city.

Held in partnership with the Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership and supported by Sport Ireland’s Her Moves initiative, the event focused on empowering young female athletes, creating space for their voices, and inspiring long-term engagement in sport.

The morning featured an energetic youth-voice workshop with girls representing a host of clubs all across Dublin. Facilitated by the Sport Ireland team, it was designed to give teenage girls a platform to speak honestly about their experiences, challenges, and aspirations in sport. The insights gathered will inform ongoing initiatives aimed at creating more inclusive and supportive sporting environments.

The Lord Mayor opened the event by reaffirming the city’s commitment to youth empowerment:

“The promotion and participation in sports, especially for women and girls is one of my key priorities as Lord Mayor of Dublin. In bringing together teenage girls from across the city, along with professional athletes, I want to find out what keeps them in sport, what are their barriers, and how we in Dublin City Council can support them to stay in sport. Whether that’s through better facilities, sportswear that suits their needs, or funding for their clubs - it’s my goal to help them reach their potential and enjoy all the benefits that sport can bring - teamwork, resilience, leadership, well being, and most importantly, fun!”

A highlight of the event was an open, honest and inspirational panel discussion, featuring a lineup of top Irish athletes who shared their personal journeys and advice. The panel included:

• Aoife Wafer and Niamh O’Dowd, Ireland Women’s Rugby Team
• Niamh Donlon, Dublin Ladies Football
• Aisling Groarke of Cuala GAA

Their shared insights into motivation, resilience, and navigating challenges in sport through these formative years left a lasting impact on the audience of teen girls.

Bethany Carson, Women in Sport Manager at Sport Ireland said: “Sport Ireland's Her Moves campaign is about removing barriers, changing the narrative, and redefining what 'sporty' looks like. Her Moves is 'by the girls, for the girls', so opportunities such as today, which the Lord Mayor has created really align with the core values of the campaign. Her Moves is designed to inspire and support more teenage girls to be active for life and to equip parents, coaches and schools with the knowledge and tools necessary to support girls in their sporting journey.”

The event also celebrated the work of the Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership, whose innovative year-round programmes provide vital support to clubs and young athletes throughout the city. Their continued leadership plays a crucial role in fostering participation and inclusivity at the grassroots level.

Today’s event marks a significant milestone in Dublin’s commitment to supporting teenage girls in sport, spotlighting the power of visibility, voice, and collaboration in creating lasting change.

ENDS