Sport Ireland and Longford parkrun unite to inspire women to walk, run, jog, or volunteer on International Women’s Day

Sport Ireland is teaming up with Longford parkrun to encourage people to take part in a parkrun to mark International Women’s Day (Saturday, March 8) as part of Women in Sport Week. 

Nora Stapleton, Women in Sport Lead with Sport Ireland, said: “Women in Sport Week recognises the achievements of women and girls in sports and raises awareness of the many women and sport initiatives and programmes available through Sport Ireland, National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships.  

“At Sport Ireland we’re committed to providing women and girls equal opportunities to enjoy sport, and we want that to be an experience that lasts their entire life. This collaboration with parkrun is the perfect opportunity to celebrate International Women’s Day, and the ethos of parkrun aligns closely with the work we deliver in the area of women in sport.” 

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Parkrun offers a 5k course on Saturdays and a 2k junior event on Sunday mornings for children aged four to 14. It emphasises inclusivity, with no time limits and a welcoming atmosphere for participants of all abilities. 

Jenny Brannigan, parkrun Territory Manager for the Republic of Ireland, said: “This International Women’s Day, we are inviting every woman in Ireland to parkrun. Come to your local parkrun and help celebrate the incredible women in your community. 

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“I am asking everyone to bring a female friend, family member or neighbour with them, so that they can experience parkrun for the first time. Nearly 10% of the Irish population is registered with parkrun, with 56% of these being women. 

“Come and try parkrun in your local community - you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or be part of the fun of cheering everyone on!”  

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Sports participation among women is at an all-time high, as revealed by the Irish Sports Monitor 2023 report. It showed that sport participation among women was at 46% across Ireland, an increase of six percentage points since the 2022 report (40%). Behind personal exercise and swimming, running was identified as the third-most popular sport in Ireland among women.  

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Ireland is now the most popular place for parkrun worldwide, with around 9% of the population registered. Some 47% of parkrun finishers are female across both 5k and junior events and 53% of volunteers are women, with strong representation in leadership roles.  

For more information on local parkrun events and how to participate, visit the parkrun website.