Over the course of a couple of days in Johnstown Estate, Enfield, the coaches climbed the next rung on the ladder by learning all about excelling at the elite level and they responded brilliantly.
As part of the FAI's Women's Football Strategic Plan to increase the number of female coaches achieving elite level qualifications, the Association posted an online survey, which led to over 250 coaches giving their feedback.
Everyone who contributed to that survey was then invited to a special workshop in Aviva Stadium to identify the next steps to helping women fulfil their coaching ambitions. And from there, this UEFA B Licence course was set up for 26 women to take part in.
Sue Ronan, FAI Head of Women's Football, believes this type of course will help to encourage more females to pursue their coaching qualifications and, in turn, help to develop women's football.
"A key target for us is to have more female coaches involved in the game and having 26 participants on our first female-only UEFA B Licence was a significant milestone in this regard," said Ronan.
"The amount of experience and knowledge these ladies have of the game was obvious for all to see during block one of the course, so following it’s completion in February our next target will be to help provide them with a coaching pathway to be sure they all stay in the game."
The Association has recently offered free PDP 1 courses for any players competing in the Women's Under-17 National League, free National D Licence courses to senior players in the National League, and free Actively Working in Female Game (AWFG) workshops around the country.
The participants included:
- Aine O Gorman
- Alana Moran
- Amy O Reilly
- Ann Carr
- Aoife Kelliher
- Barbara Bermingham
- Barbara O'Connell
- Brid McGinty
- Chelsea Noonan
- Clare Conlon
- Diane Caldwell
- Emma Donohue
- Irene Hehir
- Karen Byrne
- Karen O'Connell
- Katie Lyons
- Lizzy Kent
- Margaret Doyle
- Marie Curtain
- Maebh De Burca
- Megan Lynch
- Noelle Murray
- Ruth Comerford
- Trish Fennelly-Hunt
- Katie McCarthy
- Seanna Cooke