Lidl Ireland makes LGFA players stars of the screen with ‘Greatness Deserves to be Seen’ campaign

Lidl Ireland and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) are calling on supporters across the country to turn out in force this weekend for the Lidl National Football League Finals on Saturday 11th and Sunday, 12th, as the top teams across all four divisions compete for silverware.
Following a highly competitive League campaign, the finals represent a showcase of the very best of Ladies’ Gaelic Football, with players delivering exceptional standards of skill, athleticism and intensity throughout the season.
With over 63 hours of TV airtime dedicated to LGFA players since January 2026, supported by a national social media campaign across TikTok and Instagram, the campaign has been viewed more than 12 million times by audiences across Ireland, creating opportunities for the Irish public to see the game and its players ahead of the all important finals this weekend.
Despite this boost, challenges remain around visibility and recognition. Just 8% of LGFA players feel that current media coverage accurately reflects the true standard of the game, highlighting the need for continued support both on and off the pitch.
Lidl and the LGFA are encouraging fans to attend, back their counties, and experience firsthand the quality of the women’s game, ensuring that the excellence on the pitch is matched by the energy and support in the stands.
The call to action comes as Lidl research conducted by Red C highlights both the progress and the ongoing challenges facing women’s sport in Ireland. While 80% of people believe inequality still exists between men’s and women’s sport, there are clear signs of positive momentum, with one in five people reporting increased interest in women’s sport over the past year.
Importantly, perceptions are shifting. Almost two-thirds (65%) of respondents now rate women’s sport as “high quality,” a significant increase in recent years. Media coverage of the LGFA has also tripled since 2020, supported in part by sustained investment and campaigns such as Lidl’s ‘Greatness Deserves to Be Seen’. However, a significant gap remains, with men’s sport still receiving 15 times more coverage.
Through its ‘Greatness Deserves to be Seen’ campaign, Lidl has helped shine a spotlight on the skill and thrill of the game by ‘crashing’ its own TV advertisements to show one of the
many iconic moments in the sport instead of the retailer’s weekly offers. From Carla Rowe’s iconic back heel goal to superb strikes into the back of the net from Armagh’s Aimee Mackin and Kerry’s Danielle O’Leary and an overhead fisted goal by Tipperary’s Aishling Maloney, the campaign settles the score that when it comes to quality and skill, the ladies’ game has it in abundance.
As momentum continues to build, the message is clear: the talent is there, the quality is undeniable, now it’s time for supporters to get behind the game.
Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said:
“We are incredibly proud of the impact that our ‘Greatness Deserves to be Seen’ campaign has had in bringing the skill of the game to new audiences who may never have engaged before.  Through our LGFA partnership over the past decade, and with our renewed investment of €7.5 million in the years to come, we continue to work to elevate the visibility and profile of the game. However, the reality is that there is still more to be done to ensure the brilliance we see on the pitch is matched by the support in the stands.
 
As we approach the Lidl National League Finals this weekend, I’m encouraging all Gaelic Games fans to come out and support these players. Through our ‘Greatness Deserves to Be Seen’ campaign, we are shining a spotlight on the skill, dedication and excellence of LGFA players. Now, we are calling on supporters across the country to play their part. Get behind the teams, attend the finals, and help ensure that the greatness on the pitch is truly reflected in the stands.”
 
 
Trina Murray, LGFA President, said:
“As we approach the Lidl National League Finals, it’s important that we continue to get behind our players. The standard of football throughout this year’s league campaign has been fantastic, showcasing the skill, intensity and commitment that defines the LGFA. These finals are a brilliant opportunity for supporters to come out, show their backing, and experience the quality of the women’s game firsthand. We are incredibly fortunate to have such strong role models across our counties, inspiring the next generation both on and off the pitch, and I wish all teams the very best in the finals.”
 
Lidl Ireland has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the LGFA and women’s sport more broadly, announcing a €7.5m extension of its LGFA partnership for the next five years. Combined with a previous €15m investment over the last ten years, Lidl’s total support for the LGFA now totals €22.5m, representing a significant and sustained effort to advance and promote women’s sport across Ireland.
The Division 1 final will be held in TUS Gaelic Grounds between Cork and Galway at 5pm on Saturday 11th April, while the Division 2 final between Cavan and Donegal will be at 3pm at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones, Monaghan, on the same day. Also on Saturday, the Division 3 final will see Louth face Antrim at 1pm in St. Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen and on Sunday 12th April,  Carlow will take on Leitrim at 2pm in Grant Heating St.Brendan’s Park, Birr, in the Division 4 Final.

Tickets for the Lidl National Football League Finals are priced at €15 for adults, €10 for students and OAPs, and €5 for juveniles and €2 for U12s.
Peil na mBan Beo will also be available to audiences globally on the TG4 Player at www.tg4.ie/beo and on the TG4 Mobile and Smart TV App.

 

 

 

 

70 Irish Girl Guides to compete in FIRST LEGO League Challenge Regional at DCU

Excitement is growing as 14 teams from across Ireland get ready to compete in the Irish Girl Guides FIRST LEGO League Challenge Regional, taking place on Saturday 1st March at Dublin City University (DCU). This event is an important step in the season as teams compete for a chance to make it to the Ireland Final in April.

This year, a talented group of girls from 11 Guide and Senior Branch Units will showcase their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while testing their creativity and teamwork. The competition will include a robot game, a research project, and demonstrations of FIRST® LEGO® League Core Values.

 

The teams competing in the Regional Tournament are:

  • Deep Blue Divas – Mosney Guides (8 team members)
  • Mako Mermaids – Boherbue Guides (7 team members)
  • Merlin Dolphins – St. Nicholas & Merlin Wood Guides (4 team members)
  • The Squashed Squids – Macalla Guides (4 team members)
  • Pretty Pearls – St. Brendan’s Guides (4 team members)
  • The Gills – St. Brendan’s Guides (4 team members)
  • The Guiding I’s – St. Brendan’s Guides (3 team members)
  • The Winnie Fish – St. Brendan’s Guides (4 team members)
  • Awesome Octonauts – Dilse Senior Branch (6 team members)
  • Athlone Senior Branch – (5 team members)
  • The Octonauts – Lucan Guides (4 team members)
  • Coral Creators – North Longford Senior Branch (5 team members)
  • Super SB Sealions – Villierstown Senior Branch (5 team members)
  • Tiddles the Turtle – Lily Guides (7 team members)

 

The FIRST LEGO League Challenge encourages participants to tackle real-world problems through innovation, creativity, and critical thinking. The theme for this year’s SUBMERGED℠ Season is focused on exploring the depths of the ocean and learning how to protect our seas. Teams have been working on building robotic models, coding their designs, and preparing their research projects all about life under the water.

“Through the FIRST LEGO League Challenge, Irish Girl Guides is helping to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders,” said Katie Keogh, Irish Girl Guides LEGO Representative and the Mosney Unit Brownies and Guides Leader, “We are so proud of the hard work, creativity, and dedication these girls have shown. This event is a great chance for them to learn new skills, show off their achievements, and follow their passions in a fun, supportive environment.”

The Regional Tournament is an important part of the journey, as it determines which teams will move on to the Ireland Final. The day will be full of energy, learning, and friendly competition, with parents, Leaders, and volunteers cheering on the teams. The competition will end with a showcase where teams will present their projects and celebrate their hard work.

Supported by the Research Ireland Discover Programme, FIRST® LEGO® League is organised by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in partnership with Irish delivery partner, CreativeHUT. 

The SSE Airtricity League joins the world’s best in EA SPORTS FC With Club Packs to feature for the first time in FC 24

EA SPORTS FC™ today announced that the ever popular SSE Airtricity League Club Packs will feature in the highly anticipated FC 24. The individual club covers of all 10 Premier Division teams will be available to download free from https://www.ea.com/FC24 when the game launches worldwide on Friday, September 29th.

This will be the 16th season that the SSE Airtricity League will be available in game, and the first year the league will feature under the rebrand of EA SPORTS FC.

Join the Club and support your local team as fans connect to their local club by simply downloading and printing their customized sleeve, to replace the existing cover in their FC 24 box. Fans can also play with their local club heroes in game under the SSE Airtricity League competition. The 10 Premier Division teams to be featured in FC 24 are Bohemian FC, Cork City FC, Derry City FC, Drogheda United FC, Dundalk FC, Shamrock Rovers FC, Shelbourne FC, Sligo Rovers FC, St Patrick’s Athletic FC and UCD AFC.

With authenticity and innovation at its core, EA SPORTS FC™24 showcases the best players from the biggest clubs, leagues, and competitions around the globe – in both the men’s and women’s game. Home to over 19,000 fully licensed players, 700 teams, 100 stadiums and 30 leagues across world football, the SSE Airtricity League joins the world’s best competitions in EA SPORTS FC including LALIGA, Bundesliga, Serie A and CONMEBOL Libertadores. EA SPORTS also announced an exclusive renewal with UEFA, meaning EA SPORTS FC™ 24 is the only place you can play the iconic UEFA Champions League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League and UEFA Super Cup.

Experience the World’s Game as EA SPORTS FC 24 launches worldwide from Friday September 29th, 2023 and will be available to play on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. For more details on FC 24, visit www.ea.com/FC24

About FC 24:
EA SPORTS FC™ 24 Takes In-Game Realism to the Next Level
EA SPORTS has changed the way people play and enjoy football, and new, cutting-edge technologies will see EA SPORTS FC™ 24 deliver unparalleled realism in every match. EA SPORTS FC™ 24 will include:

  • HyperMotionV* is our biggest leap forward in realism to-date, translating the rhythm and fluidity of real-world football into The World’s Game using volumetric data from more than 180 professional men’s and women’s football matches that allows us to reflect real-world movement in-game more than ever before.
  • PlayStyles optimised by Opta dimensionalises athletes, going beyond overall ratings to bring to life the on-pitch abilities that make players special. Each PlayStyle gives players unique capabilities you’ll see and feel that make their way of playing more authentic.
  • An enhanced Frostbite™ Engine delivers The World’s Game in lifelike detail, bringing a new level of immersion through redesigned player models, smoother animations and visibly unique characteristics that make each player special. Kits now move like real-world materials, reacting to a player’s stride, shifting as they change direction, and flowing along with them as they play.