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The sporting landscape for women and girls in Ireland has transformed dramatically, but maintaining this momentum requires continued investment, strategic vision, and cultural change. In this illuminating conversation, Michelle Tanner – Chair of Sport Ireland's Women in Sport Committee and Head of Sport at Trinity College Dublin – takes us through the journey that's reshaping Irish sport from grassroots to governance.
Michelle shares her formative experiences growing up in north Dublin, where community-based sporting activities shaped her understanding of leadership and teamwork. From teaching herself camogie alongside her daughter to coaching volleyball teams, her personal journey mirrors the evolving relationship between women and sport in Ireland. As she puts it: "I just always knew that I wanted to work in sport, at a time when it wasn't recognised as a profession."
The recent announcement of an additional €4 million in government funding marks twenty years of dedicated investment in women's sport initiatives. While celebrating this milestone, Michelle highlights how the focus has matured from simply encouraging participation to building sustainable pathways for women's involvement as coaches, officials, and leaders. "We need to be looking at how we can sustain those programs," she emphasizes, "because we can't take a foot off the pedal when it comes to funding for women and girls."
At Trinity College, Michelle oversees a thriving sports program engaging 60% of the university's 22,000 students. This environment serves as a proving ground for female leadership, with women increasingly taking key roles within clubs – not just in traditional administrative positions but as performance directors and coaches. These experiences cultivate the confidence and skills needed to challenge persistent barriers in the broader sporting sector.
Despite significant progress in both grassroots participation and board-level representation, Michelle acknowledges that challenges remain, particularly in coaching and middle management. She advocates for "male allyship" and systemic changes to create truly inclusive sporting cultures where gender diversity becomes the norm rather than the exception.
Join us for this thought-provoking discussion on how strategic investment, cultural shifts, and dedicated leadership are transforming women's sport in Ireland – and what's needed to ensure this progress continues for generations to come.
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