BIGGER, BETTER, BUSIER – CONVENTION UPDATE

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Bigger, Better, Busier was the theme running through the Ulster Ladies Convention on Friday night last.

After Gerry Doherty welcomed everyone, detailed reports were delivered by Colm Murray (Secretary Report), Paul Swift (PRO Report), Caroline Brady (Cultural and Language Report), Ciaran Murtagh (Development Report), Paul Kelly (Finance Report), Ronan McCarthy (CODA Report), Karen Mc Goldrick (Fixtures Report) and Maria Hinds (Registrar).

The positive reports were crammed full of important figures and details such as

  • We now have 46, 511 members
  • We have over 25, 000 Facebook followers
  • We produced a 52-page full colour programme for our club finals
  • CODA dealt with 8 disciplinary matters in 2025
  • We have 114 schools and 350 teams competing in our PPS competitions
  • Our Development Team organised 500 events
  • 17,928 girls participated in Development events
  • We have 312 clubs an increase of 7 on last year
  • Donegal has the most members, 7, 205
  • We had over 130 games in all competitions bar schools
  • We have 5 full time staff

National subcommittee representatives were selected and bye laws approved. Gerry Doherty then delivered his final address in which he managed to thank all the people which help make our game a major success. Gerry also had a word for our sponsors, saying that they help us so please help them.

Gerry has been active in ladies football circles since 2001 and during that time he has been President for 7 years and Secretary for 6. It was  no surprise that he received a standing ovation and lots of well-deserved plaudits including one from Down’s Seamus O Hanlon, who thanked him for his support and leadership and reminded us all, that he was source of good counsel.

Gerry then handed over the reins of ULGFA to Dungannon native Eileen Jones-Hardy. In Eileen’s acceptance speech she reiterated that despite being bigger, better, busier we needed to keep pushing. During her tenure she wants to see an increase in volunteer numbers and reminded all present that change is coming but that she will make sure LGF will not be walked over.

The next Ulster meeting will take place on Tuesday night and will ratify the competition rules. Our first games of the season take place in mid-February.