Irish Sailing has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O'Donovan and Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy Charlie McConalogue of a €4 million investment in the Women in Sport Programme for 2026. The funding, which matches the record investment of the previous two years, will continue to support National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships in creating more opportunities for women and girls to participate, coach, officiate and lead within sport.
Women in Sport funding has played an important role in helping Irish Sailing deliver initiatives that encourage greater female participation across all levels of the sport. From grassroots participation programmes and coaching initiatives to leadership development and events that celebrate women on the water, the programme continues to help remove barriers and create more inclusive opportunities throughout the sailing community. Recent initiatives supported through the programme have included Women at the Helm events, female coaching and leadership opportunities, and projects designed to inspire more women and girls to get involved in sailing, whether as participants, volunteers, instructors, officials or club leaders.
Irish Sailing remains committed to creating welcoming environments where female sailors can develop skills, build confidence and enjoy lifelong participation in sailing. The continued investment from Sport Ireland allows these programmes to grow while supporting clubs and Training Centres to deliver meaningful opportunities across the country. Irish Sailing thanks Sport Ireland for their ongoing commitment to advancing women in sport and looks forward to continuing to work with clubs, volunteers and partners to ensure sailing remains accessible and inclusive for everyone.