Fingal Sports Office announces live online Women in Sport Coaching Series

Fingal Sports Office and the Tyrrelstown/Mulhuddart Community Sports Hub will present their Women in Sport Coaching Series online, with the first live online session on Thursday 26 November at 7 p.m.

The Women in Sport Coaching Series aims to encourage women to step forward with confidence and get involved in coaching primarily or in sport in general.

The first session will feature Suzanne Maguire, Irish international basketballer and coach in conversation with Cliona Foley, renowned freelance sportswriter and presenter of women’s sport podcast “Off the Bench”.

Suzanne Maguire, a Fordham University Hall of Famer currently playing D1 basketball with Liffey Celtics, has played on Irish International teams from u15 to u19 as well as on Senior Women’s Teams for most of her career.

Suzanne has coached across all levels of the game, from beginner level in the Academy to elite International level with the Irish u18 team.

Cliona Foley’s quality coverage across a variety of sports has seen her recognised among the best in Irish sports writing, having previously worked for over 25 years with the Irish Independent covering 3 Olympic Games, 20 World and European Championships and over 100 All Ireland finals.

She is an advocate of increasing the profile and coverage of Women’s Sport and her brilliant “Off the Bench” podcast is essential listening for all sports fans.

We are partnering on this event with Dublin Sonics Basketball Club, the successful club based in Tyrrelstown in Dublin 15.

The club has a new and vibrant girls’ section and is always looking for volunteers in both girls’ and boys’ teams.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr David Healy said: “Encouraging and fostering confidence, participation and access to sport among women is crucial to building communities that are healthier, more inclusive and more successful.

“I commend the Fingal Sports Office for their work and thank all participants for their contributions.”

Fingal County Council Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly said: “Fingal County Council has put emphasis on inclusion, visibility and access to sport for people of all genders, backgrounds and abilities.

“Moving to online delivery of the Women in Sport Coaching Series is a practical way of advancing these goals and continuing to deliver for our communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Fingal County Council Director of Services for Housing and Community Margaret Geraghty said: “The Women In Sport Coaching Series is an exciting initiative that brings together an impressive array of women in sport.

“This is an important part of our drive to increase women’s participation in coaching and sport in general, and its online presence means that access is possible no matter where you are in Fingal.”

“This is a great opportunity for women to participate in sport and initiatives such as this also support the National #Keep Well Campaign.

“Keeping well is so important and now more than ever, as we live with Covid-19, local authorities and partners are reaching out to our communities in new ways.”

Fingal Sports Development Officer Caitríona Geraghty said: “It’s great to have Cliona and Suzanne on board for this first series.

“We plan to include other sports in this Women in Sport Coaching Series as part of our support of the Irish Federations of Sport’s 20X20 Campaign, Sport Ireland’s Women in Sport initiatives and Fingal Sports Office’s goal in increasing female participation in coaching”.

To register for the Women in Sport Series visit the Healthy Fingal Learning Portal https://learning.fingal.ie/  and you will be sent an invitation link for the event.

For more information contact Caitríona Geraghty, Fingal Sports Office at [email protected]