At MediaHQ, we spend a lot of time thinking about whose stories get told, whose voices get heard and who gets attention in the media. At the moment, far too much of the conversation about sport is still men talking to other men about men’s sport, and I think we need to change that.
One area where I’d love to see more progress is women’s sport. That is one of the reasons we’re delighted to sponsor the girls’ rugby teams at Clonfert College in Ballinasloe.
There’s a personal connection for me too. I went to school there more than 30 years ago, and it’s brilliant to see what’s happening with girls’ rugby at the school today.
Something special is happening in Ballinasloe
Clonfert College’s girls’ rugby programme is only in its second year, with the senior girls winning the Senior Cup in their first year as a team.
This is an extraordinary achievement for a team that’s only getting started.
It began as a relatively small group of players, and has now developed into teams across multiple age groups, with more than 20 girls now involved at each level.
A lot of that progress comes down to the work being done by people like Steve Goode, who has been helping to develop girls’ rugby in Ballinasloe.
He told me that the teams have grown as friendships have grown - that’s the real power of sport in action.
More women playing, more women’s voices.
One of the reasons MediaHQ sponsors girls’ and women’s teams is that we want to help increase the share of female voices in sports media.
For too long, men’s sport has dominated the headlines, analysis and conversations that happen around sport. We want to see that change.
We want more girls growing up believing that there’s a place for them in sport, whether that’s as players, coaches, journalists, commentators or leaders.
The more opportunities girls have to participate in sport, the more stories there are to tell.
Proud to play a small part
We’ve sponsored two sets of jerseys for the girls’ rugby teams at Clonfert College. It’s a relatively small contribution to something much bigger.
The real work is being done by the players, coaches, teachers and families who are helping girls’ rugby grow in Ballinasloe. They’ve already achieved an enormous amount in a short space of time, and they’re only getting started.
As a former pupil, I’m particularly proud that MediaHQ can support the school and the next generation of female athletes coming through it.
I look forward to seeing what they achieve next. Onwards and upwards.
