Louth school selected for Lidl sport programme

St. Mary's College (Marist) in Dundalk has been announced by Lidl Ireland as the Louth school selected to participate in its #SeriousSupport Schools Programme for the 2024-2025 school year.

Now in its seventh year, this programme continues to make a significant impact, with this year’s programme representing an investment of €120,000 in local schools across the country. Supported by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and delivered by Youth Sport Trust and their specially trained athlete mentors, all of whom are current or former inter county ladies Gaelic football players, the programme is designed to educate teenage girls about the positive mental and physical health benefits of playing sport.

The programme, which is delivered through workshops and team-building sessions, aims to increase participation and reduce drop-out rates for teenagers in the sport. Twenty-six schools across Ireland will have the opportunity to benefit from the programme along with receiving a brand-new set of jerseys for their school team.

This year's programme is delivered by a stellar lineup of LGFA intercounty players: Anne Marie Donan (Kildare), Deirdre O’Reilly (Cork), Eilish Ward (Donegal), Laurie Ryan (Clare), Leah Caffrey (Dublin), Lucy Hannon (Galway), Méabh De Búrca (Galway), Niamh McEvoy (Dublin), Samantha Lambert (Tipperary) and Therese McNally (Monaghan).

President of the LGFA, Mícheál Naughton, commented: "We are once again honoured to announce the schools participating in Lidl’s #SeriousSupport Schools Programme for 2025, along with the list of athlete mentors who offer invaluable support and expertise year on year.

"These athlete mentors are inter-county stars, serving as role models within their communities and counties, and they will share their invaluable insights with the students involved in the programme. Feedback from previous programmes has been outstanding, with students gaining essential skills that assist them in their daily lives, especially at such a formative stage.

"I can't think of better individuals to learn from than our athlete mentors, who have experienced and achieved so much. I would like to acknowledge the exceptional work of Lidl Ireland in bringing this programme to life and Youth Sport Trust for their continued assistance in its rollout."

Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver MBE said: “The Youth Sport Trust is proud to be working with Lidl Ireland and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LFGA) to deliver the #SeriousSupport Schools Programme. Far too many children in the Republic of Ireland are not achieving the recommended levels of physical activity, and we know from our research teenage girls in particular face a number of barriers which can affect their participation.

"By empowering more girls to be active, this programme is making an important contribution to widening access to the benefits which come from taking part in play and sport including improved wellbeing, resilience and the development of life skills.

"It includes incredible Athlete Mentors working within schools to share their own stories and inspire participation, raise awareness of the wider value of sport and develop the essential life skills which underpin success both in sport and beyond. We are delighted to be working with two organisations who share our values and through this partnership we will support more girls to be active so they can access the life changing benefits of sport and play.”

Eimear O’Sullivan, Corporate Affairs Director for Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland said: "The driving force behind our longstanding sponsorship of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association has always been the impact we can make at the grassroots level in communities across the country. We are thrilled to launch our #SeriousSupport Schools Programme for the seventh year, representing an investment of €120,000 in local schools across the country.

"The programme's success is evident in the increasing number of schools and students participating, and we have been truly inspired by the feedback from students and the transformative impact it has had on young people throughout Ireland. Our past research highlights the incredibly positive effects of sports participation on young girls. Through our team of exceptional sporting heroes and mentors, we aim to identify and overcome the barriers young people face, supporting them on a journey to better physical and mental health."

Lidl Ireland has been the official retail partner and proud sponsor of the Ladies National Football Leagues and All-Ireland Post Primary Schools competitions since 2016, committing more than €10 million to the development and promotion of Ladies Gaelic Football. In January 2024, the retailer launched its call-to-action campaign ‘Get Behind the Fight’ to encourage greater attendance at female sports events. For information on LGFA fixtures, please visit www.lidl.ie/tickets