"Leading Ladies" Event, May 2023

On Friday 19th May, The Leading Ladies from the GAA clubs in the Middle East got together for the first ever event of its kind. Female committee members with many different roles from 10 different clubs attended the event.

MECB Ladies Officer Cliodhna Lafferty organised the event to promote and highlight the hard work and dedication from each of the ladies to their respective clubs. It provided an opportunity for ladies from different clubs to network and share their experiences. The event generated some good discussion about both the rewards and challenges of being involved in GAA in the Middle East.

Cliodhna shared her experience within her role as Ladies Officer this year and she is looking forward to building a strong network of females who can collaborate in the 23/24 season ahead. She identified possible openings for more female involvement in both coaching and refereeing roles, and asked those attending to encourage other females in their clubs to step forward for these opportunities.

The event was kindly supported by Ambassador of Ireland to the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, H.E. Alison Milton. Ambassador Milton spoke of the challenges she has faced in her career in a male-dominated environment. It was inspiring to hear how she has overcome these challenges and pressures, and she encouraged the ladies in attendance to take the next step and aspire towards leadership roles within their clubs.

Cliodhna Lafferty

Ladies Officer/ Oifigeach na Mhná

Middle East GAA