Westmeath and Roscommon represented in LGFA's ‘Learn to Lead’ programme
Westmeath and Roscommon are both represented among the list of 24 participants in the Ladies Gaelic Football Association's third ‘Learn to Lead’ female leadership programme.
Paula Finan from Cill Óige in Westmeath and Celine Fee of St Dominic’s (a club which covers Knockcroghery and Lecarrow in Roscommon) are two of the six women include in the administration strand.
Ursula Kilcoyne of St Faithleach's is among the six participants in the coaching strand.
In addition to her involvement with Cill Óige LGFA - which was formed when Castledaly and Rosemount joined forces - Paula Finan is currently Westmeath LGFA secretary.
Paula has been actively involved in Castledaly GAA and served as the club's treasurer for a number years, following in the footsteps of her mother, Sarah Glynn.
Twenty graduates from the inaugural ‘Learn to Lead’ programme were honoured in February 2020, with the 2021/2022 graduates acknowledged in May 2022.
The 2022/2023 course will be delivered once again by experts in the fields of coaching, officiating, administration and PR/media.
There was a big response to the LGFA’s application drive – and the long-list of applicants has been whittled down to 24 – six in each strand.
Over the course of four days and six evenings, diverse leadership skills will be examined, with the focus firmly on developing the skill-sets and techniques required to master each of the four strands.
The final list of 24 participants includes leading coaches, officials, administrators and players, representing the four provinces. The programme will commence in the coming weeks, and run until February 2024.
LGFA President Mícheál Naughton explained that a key area in the association's 'Strategic Roadmap 2017-2022' was to define a model to promote female leadership and this led to the establishment of the ‘Learn to Lead’ programme.
“We are incredibly proud to reveal the identities of the participants, who hail from a diverse range of backgrounds and communities," he said.
“The common bond is the love of Ladies Gaelic Football and we have been so proud to see so many of our previous graduates thriving in their professional and sporting careers, and as volunteers within our Association. They were already such well-rounded and brilliant role models before the ‘Learn to Lead’ programme but they’ll be the first to confirm that they learned so much from it.
“We look forward to getting to know the 2022/2023 participants over the coming months and they will learn from the very best in the business in their respective strands.
“We wish each and every one of the participants the very best of good luck as they embark on their ‘Learn to Lead’ journeys.”
The full list of confirmed participants, and their strands, is as follows.
Administration:
Carolyn Mullane (Passage West, Cork)
Celine Fee (St. Dominic’s, Roscommon)
Mairéad Uí Éalaithe (Ballyboden Wanderers, Dublin)
Michelle McKenna (Buncrana, Donegal)
Paula Finan (Cill Óige, Westmeath)
Paula Sands (Saul, Down).
Coaching:
Aisling Hill (Tir na nÓg, Antrim)
Amanda Donnelly (Round Towers, Kildare)
Clíodhna Malone (Milltown, Kildare)
Laura Redmond (Clongeen, Wexford)
Lyndsey Davey (Skerries Harps, Dublin)
Ursula Kilcoyne (St Faithleach's, Roscommon).
Officiating:
Amanda Leahy (St. Comgall's, Antrim)
Claire Flanagan (An Gleann, Derry)
Ella Nic an tSionnaigh (Setanta, Dublin)
Emma Dunne (St Fechins, Louth)
Janey McCauley (Moville, Donegal)
Orla McHale (Moy Davitts LGFA, Mayo).
PR/Media:
Lorraine Royle (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg, Waterford)
Margaret Doyle (Craanford Monaseed, Wexford)
Mary Kiernan (Ballymore, Longford)
Niamh Donnelly (Sarsfields, Kildare)
Rosaleen O’Brien (Keelnameela, Cork)
Treasa Ryan (Oola, Limerick).