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TG4 salutes long-serving LGFA CEO Helen O’Rourke at All-Star Awards ahead of her retirement

17.11.25

^{Pic: Helen O’Rourke – Chief Executive Officer of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Deirdre Ní Choistín – TG4 Director General and Rónán Ó Coisdealbha – TG4 Head of Sport at Réaltaí Pheil na mBan TG4}
 

On Saturday night TG4 paid tribute to Helen O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA), who has confirmed that she will retire at the end of 2025. The announcement came on a landmark evening for Peil na mBan as the 2025 TG4 All-Star Awards were celebrated at a gala banquet in The Bonnington Dublin Hotel.
 
O’Rourke, who first became LGFA President in 1994 and has served as CEO since 1997, is the longest-serving CEO in Irish sport. Over nearly three decades, she has overseen a remarkable era of growth for Peil na mBan, securing landmark sponsorships with TG4 (2001) and Lidl Ireland (2016), expanding membership, and guiding the Association through milestone moments such as its 50th anniversary in 2024 and the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Her leadership has coincided with record-breaking attendances, including the historic 56,114 crowd at the 2019 TG4 All-Ireland Finals in Croke Park. The 2025 TG4 Finals continued this momentum, drawing over 48,000 fans to Croke Park, the highest since 2019, and attracting nearly 490,000 viewers across TG4’s coverage. The Senior Final between Dublin and Meath delivered a 16% year-on-year audience increase, while TG4 Player live streams rose by 37% and Spórt TG4’s social platforms generated more than 3.4 million views during Finals week.
 
As official broadcaster and title sponsor, TG4 continues to champion the growth of Ladies Football, with live, free-to-air coverage of the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Finals to audiences in Ireland and worldwide. This coverage not only elevates the game but also brings the Irish language into the heart of Gaelic sport.
 
Saturday’s gala banquet also marked one of the most celebrated nights in the Peil na mBan calendar – the 2025 TG4 All-Star Awards. The winners of the TG4 All-Star Awards, along with the 2025 TG4 Players’ Player of the Year award winners, were revealed on the night. All-Ireland Senior Champions Dublin, winners of their seventh title with victory over Meath, led the way with seven players named on the prestigious 15-player list. Cork legend Juliet Murphy was also officially inducted into the LGFA Hall of Fame. TG4 congratulates all of the nominees and award recipients for their outstanding achievements this season.
 
Deirdre Ní Choistín, TG4 Director General, said:
“Helen O’Rourke’s leadership has been visionary. She has transformed the impact of Ladies Football to have national and international resonance. TG4 is immensely proud of our longstanding partnership with the LGFA, built on a shared commitment to elevate women in sport and to showcase the Irish language on the national and global stage. On this special night, we also congratulate all of the 2025 TG4 All-Star award recipients, whose excellence and dedication continue to inspire the next generation of players and fans.”
 
Rónán Ó Coisdealbha, TG4 Head of Sport, said:
“Helen O’Rourke’s contribution to the growth of Peil na mBan has been immense. Her vision and determination ensured that the game has reached new heights, both on the field and in the eyes of the public. It has been a privilege for TG4 Sport to work alongside Helen and the LGFA for over two decades in bringing the stories, skills, and spirit of Ladies Gaelic Football to audiences in Ireland and worldwide. On behalf of all of us in TG4 Sport, I want to sincerely thank Helen for her leadership and collaboration, and we look forward to building on her legacy in the years ahead.”
 
TG4 extends its gratitude to LGFA President Trina Murray for her stewardship, to Helen O’Rourke for her outstanding legacy, along with the Nemeton team for their world-class coverage. Together, TG4 and the LGFA will continue to grow Peil na mBan and celebrate its future.