Women working across the golf and sporting industries came together at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg to celebrate the growing opportunities available to women in golf.
The event, hosted by the DP World Tour ahead of the Amgen Irish Open, brought together female golfers, students from local secondary schools and women working across the golf industry to hear first-hand about the different routes into the sport - both on and off the course.
The event featured conversations with Áine Donegan, the Clare golfer who this year took the next step in her career by joining the Ladies European Tour, alongside women working in golf, hospitality, sport and charitable leadership.
The event also highlighted the contribution of women working behind the scenes to deliver major sporting events, from hospitality and refereeing to leadership, sponsorship and community engagement.
The first panel explored careers in golf and hospitality, featuring Mairead Flynn from Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg and Áine Binchey, a referee with The R&A. They discussed their very different career paths, what their roles involve and the opportunities available to women within the wider golf industry. Susan O’Dwyer, CEO of Make-A-Wish Ireland, also shared her experience building a career in leadership.
The event also explored the growing profile of women’s sport in Ireland and the importance of female role models in encouraging the next generation to pursue careers in sport.
For Clare golfer Áine Donegan, the event provided an opportunity to reflect on her own journey from local golf to the professional game. Donegan has enjoyed a rapid rise through the amateur ranks and this year secured her place on the Ladies European Tour, marking a significant new chapter in her career.
As the Amgen Irish Open gets underway in Doonbeg, the event offered an opportunity not only to celebrate the women already making their mark on the sport, but to inspire the next generation to consider where a career in golf could take them.
