20 clubs to participate in 2025 ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Programme

The Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) has announced the 20 clubs selected to participate in the 2025 ZuCar Gaelic4Teens programme.

This initiative includes a blend of educational webinars, in-person coaching days, and a National ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Festival Day held at a central venue. Representatives from each participating club will also benefit from sessions led by ZuCar Gaelic4Teens ambassadors. In addition, clubs will receive a visit from a programme ambassador or a county player, providing hands-on coaching sessions that bring theory to life.

The programme features ambassadors who are current or former inter-county players, sharing their expertise and experiences throughout. This year’s lineup includes Fiona McHale (Mayo), Jackie Kinch (Wicklow), Laura Fleming (Roscommon), Bronagh McGrane (Louth), Cassandra Buckley (Kerry), Orlagh Farmer (Cork), Emily Martin (Down), Máire O’Shaughnessy (Meath), Sharon Courtney (Monaghan), Sinead Delahunty (Tipperary), Samantha Lambert (Tipperary), Cathy Carey (Antrim), and Bernie Finlay (Dublin).

Having grown significantly since its trial run in 2017, Gaelic4Teens now supports clubs in retaining existing players and recruiting new ones, particularly within the 13–17 age group—a demographic identified as having a high dropout rate.

The 20 clubs participating in 2025 are:

• Connacht (8): Castlebar Mitchels (Mayo), Four Roads (Roscommon), Gráinne Mhaols (Galway), Kilconly (Galway), Kiltubrid (Leitrim), Oileáin Árann (Galway), St. Ciarans (Roscommon), Strokestown (Roscommon).
• Leinster (4): Ratoath (Meath), St. Nicholas (Louth), Stabannon Parnells/John Mitchels (Louth), Westerns (Louth).
• Munster (4): Abbeyside (Waterford), Annascaul/Castlegregory (Kerry), Fethard (Tipperary), St. Senans (Limerick).
• Ulster (3): Clann na Banna (Down), Cuchulainn (Cavan), Tempo Maguires (Fermanagh).
• Britain (1): Coatbridge Davitts (Scotland).
  The programme works closely with coaches to refine communication and player engagement strategies, tailoring the content of coaching sessions to suit individual clubs. It also focuses on creating an environment that supports players’ long-term development. Monitoring and evaluation ensure the programme meets its goal of enhancing player retention.

In addition to training, there is a strong emphasis on education. Ambassadors offer valuable insights and guidance to both players and coaches, helping clubs foster a positive, supportive atmosphere.

The Gaelic4Teens programme was developed in response to research highlighting the reasons players continue with the sport—such as enjoyment, staying active, decompressing, and social connections—as well as reasons for dropping out, which include limited playing time, lack of engagement in training, excessive competitiveness, and unequal treatment.

Looking ahead to the commencement of the programme, LGFA President Mícheál Naughton commented: “We’re eagerly anticipating the start of the 2025 ZuCar Gaelic4Teens programme, which is a hugely important LGFA development initiative. The programme continues to thrive and evolve and I would like to take this opportunity to wish the participating clubs all the very best as they commence their respective ZuCar Gaelic4Teens journeys. I also wish to acknowledge our ZuCar Gaelic4Teens ambassadors, who play such a key role in the roll-out of this programme. These past and present players are wonderful role models and incredible ambassadors for our Association and this programme. They are pillars of their local communities and each and every one of them can impart so much knowledge and expertise to the participating clubs and their coaches. A huge word of thanks, also, to ZuCar for their ongoing support of the programme. ZuCar are also sponsors of our All-Ireland U18 championships and they are the LGFA’s Official Performance Partner.”

Gavin Hydes, Group CEO, ZuCar, added: “We are so proud to be once again associated with the #Gaelic4Teens programme. Developing this underage talent is fundamental to the future and we are very excited to be involved with an initiative that is aimed at developing coaches and increasing the retention rate of teenage girls in Ladies Football. This is a wonderful opportunity for coaches to grow and learn, and to then assist young players involved in the LGFA.”