August has flown by with many exciting achievements both internationally and closer to home, with a few historic firsts along the way!

The Olympics have been a momentous event for many of our Northern Irish athletes. With 4 gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze, our athletes went from having no medals to securing three in less than two days. It was thrilling to watch! Eighteen women competed, setting two national records and achieving many personal bests. The women’s cycling team and the 400m medley relay swimming team both set new Irish national records. Congratulations to everyone on their achievements in becoming Olympians and competing at the Games!

We are equally excited to have nine Paralympians heading off to Paris to compete. We look forward to watching them perform and hopefully bringing home a medal or two as well! (FULL LIST BELOW)

Closer to home, we’ve also had some significant victories. The Irish cricket team played Sri Lanka earlier in August, with Gaby Lewis leading the team to their first-ever win against the Sri Lankan side. This victory was historic, marking the first time Ireland had beaten Sri Lanka in the five-plus times the teams have faced each other. Additionally, Cricket Ireland featured an all-women commentary team on their online stream, a first for the organization. It’s exciting to see women being included on and off the field in all aspects of sport!

In athletics, a small Northern Ireland & Ulster team traveled to Eton for the Home Countries U20 International. The highlight of the meet came from Annabel Morrison (Enniskillen RC), who broke the NI U20 3000m record, clocking in at 9:31.27, surpassing the previous record of 9:31.57 held by Grace Carson.

In football news, the Northern Ireland Youth Football Association (NIYFA) has launched its first-ever National Cup competitions for girls’ teams from Under-11 to U13. These competitions aim to provide more opportunities for girls to showcase their talents and compete across Northern Ireland. At the senior level, the Challenger Cup continues with the final four teams—title holders Glentoran Women, last season’s runners-up Cliftonville Ladies, Lisburn Rangers, and Derry City Women—advancing after victories over Larne Women, Crusaders Strikers, Mid Ulster Ladies, and Bangor Ladies respectively. These semifinal games will be played in September.

Netball also had an international triumph, as the Warriors completed a clean sweep against Barbados in the Paradise Cup. They won the series with scores of 53-43, 67-39, and 55-45. The team worked cohesively to control the game, and we are eager to see them continue to deliver strong performances.

As we move into September, we are thrilled to continue the momentum with another Women’s Sport Series. Event Details:

Date: 11th September

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Venue: Windsor Park

Host: Denise Watson Tea/Coffee and Scones will be Served

REGISTER HERE