History
The Ladies Gaelic Football Association was established in Hayes Hotel in 1974 but it would be another 21 years before a serious effort was made to extend the ladies game to County Antrim.
In 1995, Belfast students Marie McKee, Pauline McCoy, Louise Cambridge and Paddy Kelly got together and decided to form team in their own parishes. Leagues and championships were organised the following year and a county board and executive were established with teams from Moneyglass, Rasharkin, Glenavy, Glenravel and Ballymena.
In 1995, Belfast students Marie McKee, Pauline McCoy, Louise Cambridge and Paddy Kelly got together and decided to form team in their own parishes. Leagues and championships were organised the following year and a county board and executive were established with teams from Moneyglass, Rasharkin, Glenavy, Glenravel and Ballymena.
A county team also participated in the National League for the first time with Anita Gribben as captain and Paddy Kelly managing.
Belfast teams joined the fray in the early 2000s with St Paul's, St Brigid's, Davit's, Lamh Dearg, St Teresa's, Ardoyne, Tír na nÓg and St James' all joining in this period.
The County squad have won the Junior All Ireland Championship on three occasions beating Limerick in 2009, Louth in 2012 and Fermanagh in 2022. In 2023, led by Emma Kelly and captain Cathy Carey, Antrim won promotion from Division Four of the National League for the first time and added an Ulster Intermediate Championship title by beating Tyrone in Owenbeg.
Ladies Gaelic Football is thriving in County Antrim, with over 30 clubs affiliated to the county board.
50th Anniversary of the LGFA
The LGFA will celebrate it’s Golden Jubilee in 2024. If you’ve any stories, images or articles you’d like to share with us ahead of the anniversary, please get in contact by emailing pro.antrim@lgfa.ie
