The importance of women’s participation in sport is well recognised by Sport Ireland having completed a large body of research into the subject. It was clear from that research that initiatives needed to be put in place to promote greater participation in sport and physical activity by women. The ‘Women in Sport Initiative’ launched by the Sport Ireland (then the Irish Sports Council)  in 2005 also set out to address findings that the involvement of girls and women in sport and physical activity at school age and in adult life has tended to be much less than that of their male counterparts. The overarching objectives of the Women in Sport programme have been to raise overall physical activity levels among women and to support women’s roles within sports organisations. Funding dedicated to the Women in Sport programme is available annually from Sport Ireland.

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership is fully committed to supporting Women in Sport Programmes throughout County Sligo. SSRP makes an annual application to Sport Ireland for funding for projects under the its ‘Women in Sport’ programme.

Projects supported by SSRP must have community ownership whereby clubs or community organisations demonstrate the capacity to deliver the event while also supporting opportunities for sustained participation linked to their club or community group.

A number of flagship Women in Sport initiatives are supported on an annual basis including:

Sligo Women’s 5K Series:

An annual mass participation running/ walking event series over 5K at 6 venues each May/June is supported by SSRP. The event series is delivered by the 6 Athletic Clubs throughout County Sligo ( Sligo AC, North Sligo AC, Calry AC, Corran AC, Tireragh AC and South Sligo AC. )

Ladies Tour of Lough Gill:

Innisfree Wheelers Cycling Club is committed to increasing the number of women cyclists in the club and to promote cycling for ladies in general and in order to encourage this a Ladies 40K Leisure Cycle around Lough Gill is delivered annually each September with support from SSRP. Training spins are facilitated for beginners in advance of the cycle.

Ladies Try a Tri:

Sligo Triathlon Club facilitates an annual Ladies ‘Try a Tri’ with support from the SSRP Women in Sport programme. The event is targeted at women who are new to the sport and have not completed a triathlon previously. The initiative aims to:

• Increase the number of women involved in training and participating in triathlons

• Encourage women to join the triathlon club

• Encourage women to undertake leadership roles in the triathlon club