Women in Coaching Network host landmark “Self-Development, Challenge and Empowerment” workshop
Over 100 female coaches from across multiple sports and of various levels attended the 2025 Women in Coaching Network event at Kilashee Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare on Saturday 15th of November.
This annual event, hosted collaboratively by Athletics Ireland, Cycling Ireland, Rowing Ireland, Swim Ireland and Triathlon Ireland, and was supported by Sport Ireland and marked a powerful step forward in building a national network for women in coaching.
Over the course of the day, participants engaged in inspiring keynote presentations and practical interactive sessions. Among the highlights:
Martina McCarthy OLY, Strength and Conditioning coach and Performance Director with Pentathlon Ireland, delivered an empowering talk on resilience, leadership, and navigating performance environments.
Lynne Cantwell, former elite athlete and leading sports administrator with the IRFU, shared insights on balancing professional ambition with personal wellbeing and building strategic influence.
Dr Emma Cowley led a reflective session titled “It’s Not You, It’s the System – Keeping Women in Coaching”, sharing current research insights and examining systemic barriers women face in coaching pathways.
Carol Keenan, a performance life-skills consultant with the Institute of Sport, ran a workshop on “Finding Balance: Managing Time, Energy, and Well-being in a Busy World,” offering practical strategies for juggling coaching with life’s other demands.
Thank you to our speakers for their time, effort and invaluable insights.
The event format was designed to facilitate a rich mix of discussion and networking, giving attendees tangible takeaways: a strengthened sense of community, actionable self-development tools, and renewed motivation to drive change in their coaching careers.
A survey was completed during the event. The results collected demonstrated a clear appetite for structured support and connection among female coaches. By assembling 100 participants, the network underlined its potential as a catalyst for long-term growth, visibility, and retention of women in the coaching space across Ireland.
This survey was conducted with open ended questions, respondents were not prompted and wrote their answers descriptively.
If you have any questions about this event or becoming more involved as a woman in cycling, please contact Grainne Hanley – grainne.hanley@cyclingireland.ie