Sport Ireland snapshot shows increased female representation at board level
- Leadership update: Change at committee level as Michelle Tanner becomes Chair of Sport Ireland Women in Sport Committee
- Sport Ireland launch and open applications for its Women in Sport Leadership Programme
Sport Ireland has published the latest snapshot of female representation on the boards of funded National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and other sporting funded bodies.
The percentage of women on boards across the sport sector in Ireland now stands at 48% overall, following an analysis of board composition data in November 2024. This is a three per cent increase on the previous snapshot which marked the first time the IRFU, FAI and GAA all surpassed 40% representation of females on their boards.
For the first time, every Local Sports Partnership (LSP) has now achieved the target of 40% representation on their boards. Of the 71 National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs)/funded bodies, 65 are now at 40% or more, while all NGBs are actively in the process of recruitment to fulfil their gender balance commitment.
The previous snapshot, published in April 2024, showed an overall percentage increase to 45%. These snapshots are published as part of the Leadership & Governance pillar of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Policy (WIS policy) and outlines the current position and significant progress made in increasing female board members. The policy was first published in 2019 when females made up an average of just 24% of boards of NGBs.
As outlined in the Sports Action Plan published by the Government, all NGBs, LSPs and other funded bodies are required to achieve the Government’s minimum gender target of 40% on their boards. Any funded body who does not meet this target will only be able to draw down a maximum of 50% of its allocated 2025 Core Funding until the 40% requirement is fully met.
The Snapshot looks at data from 100 sports organisations referenced in the table below, including National Governing Bodies (NGBs), Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) and Sport Ireland. The reference to other sporting funded bodies includes the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Paralympics Ireland, the Federation of Irish Sport, Student Sport Ireland, Active Disability Ireland and Age & Opportunity.
New Chairperson of Sport Ireland Women in Sport Committee
Following her recent employment with the Irish Rugby Football Union, Lynne Cantwell has stepped down from the Board of Sport Ireland, passing the baton of Chairperson of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Committee to fellow board member, Michelle Tanner.
Lynne was chair of the committee from its establishment in 2019 coinciding with the launch of Sport Ireland Policy on Women in Sport.
Michelle works as the Director of Sport and Physical Activity in Trinity College Dublin. She is an active Board and committee member, holding officer positions within Student Sport Ireland and as a strategy advisor to Volleyball Ireland. She is a current member of the World University Sports Federation Gender Equality Working Group and she was the first Irish and first female President of the European Network of Academic Sports Services.
She has been a member of three European Union Expert Groups, executing the EU Work Plan for Sport, and is also a former Irish international volleyball player, current youth club coach, manager and national coach developer.
Women in Sport Leadership Programme
In order to continue to support the pipeline of women in leadership, Sport Ireland has launched its Women in Sport Leadership Programme.
The programme will run twice in 2025 and is aimed at women employed at any level in a Sport Ireland funded body with the potential or desire to progress to a leadership or more senior leadership role. Likewise for women volunteering within a Sport Ireland funded body with the same potential or ambition, and also to female board members of Sport Ireland’s funded bodies.
By developing high-quality leadership courses, tools, and resources, the programme aligns with the objectives outlined in the WIS policy and Sport Ireland’s commitment to increasing the representation of women in governance and leadership roles.
The first iteration of the programme will commence on Saturday 25th January, with applications open until 11th January. The application form can be found in the Sport Ireland WIS Leadership Programme Brochure below.
Snapshot of female representation on the boards of funded National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and other sporting funded bodies
| National Governing Body/Funded Body | % of Women on the Board |
| Baton Twirling Sport Association of Ireland | 75% |
| Irish Tenpin Bowling Association | 63% |
| Student Sport Ireland | 63% |
| Active Disability Ireland | 63% |
| Fencing Ireland | 60% |
| Archery Ireland | 60% |
| Sport Ireland | 58% |
| Horse Sport Ireland | 57% |
| Irish Surfing Association | 57% |
| Special Olympics Ireland | 57% |
| Vision Sports Ireland | 57% |
| The Camogie Association | 56% |
| Age and Opportunity | 56% |
| Rowing Ireland | 56% |
| Triathlon Ireland | 56% |
| National Community Games | 55% |
| Ladies Gaelic Football Association | 53% |
| Athletics Ireland | 50% |
| Badminton Ireland | 50% |
| Croquet Association of Ireland | 50% |
| Cycling Ireland | 50% |
| Deaf Sports Ireland | 50% |
| Hockey Ireland | 50% |
| Paralympics Ireland | 50% |
| Pentathlon Ireland | 50% |
| Pitch and Putt Ireland | 50% |
| Squash Ireland | 50% |
| Rugby League Ireland | 50% |
| Motorcycling Ireland | 50% |
| Taekwondo Ireland | 50% |
| Snooker & Billiards Ireland | 43% |
| Golf Ireland | 46% |
| Irish Judo Association | 46% |
| Mountaineering Ireland | 46% |
| Bol Chumann na hÉireann | 45% |
| Diving Ireland / Irish Underwater Council | 45% |
| Federation of Irish Sport | 45% |
| Angling Council of Ireland | 44% |
| Basketball Ireland | 44% |
| Canoeing Ireland | 44% |
| Irish Lawn Bowls | 44% |
| Speleological Union of Ireland | 44% |
| Gaelic Athletic Association | 43% |
| Gymnastics Ireland | 43% |
| Irish Wheelchair Association Sport | 43% |
| Tug of War Ireland | 43% |
| Volleyball Ireland | 43% |
| Weightlifting Ireland | 43% |
| Irish Amateur Wrestling Association | 43% |
| Irish Sailing Association | 42% |
| Cricket Ireland | 42% |
| GAA Handball Ireland | 42% |
| Irish Athletic Boxing Association | 42% |
| Swim Ireland | 42% |
| Irish Rugby Football Union | 40% |
| Ice Skating Association of Ireland | 40% |
| Irish Clay Target Shooting Association | 40% |
| Irish Ice Hockey Association of Ireland | 40% |
| Irish Waterski & Wakeboard Federation | 40% |
| Motorsport Ireland | 40% |
| ONAKI | 40% |
| Orienteering Ireland | 40% |
| Racquetball Association of Ireland | 40% |
| Tennis Ireland | 40% |
| American Football Ireland | 40% |
| Football Association of Ireland | 38% |
| Olympic Federation of Ireland | 36% |
| Irish Martial Arts Commission | 34% |
| Olympic Handball Ireland | 33% |
| Snowsports Association of Ireland | 33% |
| Table Tennis Ireland | 33% |
| Overall Percentage | 47% |
| Local Sports Partnership | % of Women on Board |
| Laois | 75% |
| Wexford | 73% |
| South Dublin | 69% |
| Limerick | 67% |
| Wicklow | 62% |
| Kilkenny | 60% |
| Kerry | 55% |
| Dublin City | 54% |
| Offaly | 54% |
| Cork | 53% |
| Leitrim | 53% |
| DLR | 50% |
| Monaghan | 50% |
| Roscommon | 50% |
| Fingal | 50% |
| Tipperary | 50% |
| Waterford | 50% |
| Galway | 50% |
| Mayo | 50% |
| Sligo | 47% |
| Westmeath | 46% |
| Carlow | 46% |
| Clare | 44% |
| Meath | 43% |
| Donegal | 43% |
| Kildare | 42% |
| Longford | 42% |
| Cavan | 41% |
| Louth | 40% |
| Overall Percentage | 51% |
Note: All information is correct at the start of December 2024. This data can change from week to week as and when board members move on and off boards for a variety of reasons.