This is a ‘first of its kind’ partnership at Shamrock Rovers F.C. 

The strategic aim of this exciting new partnership is to raise awareness and funds for Women’s Aid. As part of this, 50% of all Women’s 2024 season ticket revenue will be paid directly to Women’s Aid.

The club has given exclusive branding to Women’s Aid in the 2024 season ticket design. This will contain the Women’s Aid logo and contact phone number to help raise awareness of their dedicated helpline. Season Tickets will go on sale in early February.

A media launch event was held at Tallaght Stadium earlier today (Friday 26th January), attended by:

  • SRFC Women’s Captain – Aine O’Gorman 
  • SRFC Women’s Senior Player – Stephanie Zambra 
  • Women’s Aid CEO – Sarah Benson
  • SRFC CEO – John Martin
  • SRFC Women’s ‘Young’ Player – Jess Hennessy 
  • SRFC Women’s Manager – Collie O’Neill 
  • SRFC Men’s Manager – Stephen Bradley
  • SRFC Men’s Players – Lee Grace, Graham Burke & Aaron McEneff
  • South Dublin County Council Mayor – Alan Edge
26 January 2024; Mayor of South Dublin Alan Edge during the Shamrock Rovers Women’s Aid partnership announcement at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
26 January 2024; Shamrock Rovers chief executive officer John Martin during the Shamrock Rovers Women’s Aid partnership announcement at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

“Shamrock Rovers is proud to announce a partnership agreement between Women’s Aid and the Shamrock Rovers Women’s Premier Division team for the 2024 season. one league defeat in the campaign it proved to be a very successful year.

For the 2024 season, Shamrock Rovers and Women’s Aid will form a unique partnership that will focus on the promotion of women in sport as well as striving to prevent and address the impact of domestic violence through a series of educational and promotional events.

To emphasise the commitment of this relationship between Shamrock Rovers F.C. and Women’s Aid, we will share 50% of the proceeds from our Women’s 2024 season ticket sales. The specially designed season ticket will contain the Women’s Aid Logo and contact phone number to help raise awareness of their dedicated helpline. Season Tickets will go on sale on the 1st of February.”

Shamrock Rovers CEO, John Martin

Women’s Aid are delighted to be joining Shamrock rovers in this partnership and to develop the ways in which we can collaborate for the coming year. Women’s Aid hopes that it will help promote women’s strength and capabilities – including the talents of the Women’s Teams in the Club – and raise awareness of warning signs of abuse and available supports to help prevent victimisation and assist those who do need help in our communities.

We also want to encourage more men to become leaders and allies in the journey towards zero tolerance of violence against women. Womens aid will be sharing our resources and engaging with the Club to encourage and support members of Shamrock Rovers FC to be part of that growing movement of women and men standing up in support of those who might be at risk of or suffering domestic abuse.

Gender based violence is a scourge on Irish society and limits the potential of all those affected. One of the most prevalent forms is partner abuse and one in four women experience domestic abuse from a current or former partner in Ireland over their lifetime, with one in five young women experiencing this by the time they are just 25 years old.

Abuse should not be ‘a fact of life’ for our young people.   We have, within our grasp, a unique opportunity to really create a zero tolerance of violence and create an equal society for women and girls.  Building a movement of male champions, alongside women, is critical in ending violence against women, and violence against men and children. Everyone.”

Women’s Aid CEO, Sarah Benson
26 January 2024; Women’s Aid chief executive officer Sarah Benson during the Shamrock Rovers Women’s Aid partnership announcement at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Some of the club initiatives to come from the partnership include: 

  • Season Ticket Launch in February
  • International Women’s Day in March leading up to first game of the season – club socials and email campaign highlight awareness of cause
  • Awareness Event – April 2024. Event to be held in Tallaght Stadium prior to Women’s Premier Division game
  • Ongoing social media coverage & newsletter to SRFC database of over 12,000 fans
  • Staff / Player Awareness Training – educating our players and staff, ongoing throughout the season

About Women’s Aid: Women’s Aid is a national organisation working to prevent and address the impact of domestic violence and abuse since 1974.  We do this by advocating, influencing, training, and campaigning for effective responses to reduce the scale and impacts of domestic abuse on women and children and providing high quality, specialised, integrated, support services.

We operate the 24hr National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 and National Instant Message Support Service on www.womensaid.ie, mornings and evenings, 7 days a week.  The Women’s Aid 24-hour National Freephone Helpline is a free, non-judgmental, and confidential service that offers support to women subjected to domestic abuse including coercive control.  This includes emotional, physical, sexual, or economic abuse by a current or former partner.  It offers support in over 200 languages and is a gateway to local independent domestic violence refuges and support services. Women’s Aid also provides a number of regional face-to-face support services.

Statistics and Information:

  • One in Four Women are subjected to domestic abuse in Ireland.
    • In 2022 Women’s Aid heard 28,578 disclosures of abuse against women and 5,412 disclosures of abuse against children.

Support is available: