New campaign urges the support of live female sport

A NEW LGFA campaign, in conjunction with Lidl Ireland, to ‘Get Behind the Fight’ and support live female sport.

It comes as research shows nearly 60 per cent of Irish people have never attended a female sports event.

The National League season starts off this weekend with Division Four action and two Ulster counties beginning their campaigns.

Fermanagh host Longford in Donagh (2pm) with Derry welcoming Carlow to Celtic Park (3pm).

The remainder of the counties will begin the league campaign next weekend

The research, commissioned by Lidl and carried out by Red C in December 2023, has also revealed that, despite 42 per cent of people stating an interest in attending a female sporting event and three quarters thinking it is a shame that people don’t attend, more than half (59 per cent) of the population admit they have never attended a live female sporting event compared to just over a quarter (29 per cent) having never attended a live men’s event.

Going head-to-head, Irish people are five times more likely to attend a premier men’s event in person than an equivalent premier female event, with almost half (46 per cent) saying that men’s sport is generally better to watch.

A staggering 59 per cent of Irish people said they would prefer to watch men’s sport on TV than attend a live female sporting event.

Lack of media coverage is perceived to negatively affect public awareness and support, with some 40 per cent stating this as a reason for non-attendance at live women’s events.

Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of people think women’s sport does not get enough media coverage in Ireland and 83 per cent agree that men’s sport is covered more comprehensively.