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Women in Sport Funding

One of the objectives of Mountaineering Ireland's Women in Sport programme is to increase the number of and visibility of female leaders, instructors and providers. Women currently make up 20% of all providers. Mountaineering Ireland recognises that cost can be a barrier to women hoping to pursue leadership awards, and in response to this we are accepting applications for funding support under our Women in Sport training programme. 

Funding support will be available for the following awards, as well as the Train the Trainers course:

  • Rock Climbing Instructor (assessment only)
  • Mountain Leader
  • Multi-Pitch Award
  • Rock Climbing Development Instructor
  • Winter Mountain Leader
  • International Mountain Leader
  • Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor
  • Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor
In general, financial support will not be granted for training outside of the formal award schemes.

The following criteria will be accounted for by the review panel:

  • Applicants must be members of Mountaineering Ireland.
  • Preference will be given to youth members (under 26).
  • Priority will be given to those who have not previously received funding support.

This is a competitive process. Your answer to the question 'Outline how funding support would help you on your training journey', in addition to the above criteria, will inform the decision of the review panel. All decisions are final. However in the event your application is unsuccessful, we will provide constructive feedback.

Grant approval:
Applications are accepted at any time and are reviewed on three occasions throughout the year by a review panel made of up of two Mountaineering Ireland staff members and one external advisor. The upcoming deadline for applications is August 18th 2025.  

Timing:
Training can be carried out either before or after you receive grant approval, however payment will not be made until after training is completed. We ask that all training should be completed and receipts received within 6 months of grant approval being given so that funds are not tied up for an unduly long period of time.

You can download the application form here. Forms should be returned to [email protected] or by post to Mountaineering Ireland, Irish Sport HQ, National Sports Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, D15 DY62.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Training Officer Jane Carney at [email protected] or 087 4122 278. 

Testimonials

Jana Mannion

I am sincerely grateful to have received the Women in Sport training funding as I work toward achieving the Mountain Leader qualification. With the funding, I was able to participate in a key phase of my training that significantly enhanced both my confidence and competence in mountain navigation, group management, and decision-making.

The support from this programme not only helped cover the financial cost of training but also affirmed that there is a wider community invested in seeing women succeed in sport and outdoor leadership. It gave me a boost of encouragement and a reminder that this path – while challenging – is absolutely worth pursuing.

Claire Comiskey

The Women in Sport Funding has been a great help and support on the path towards my Mountain Leader Qualification.

As a full time outdoor instructor, working mostly in the field of climbing, I work with the Irish seasons, which means, for a lot of the year my income is low. Having funding available to be able to upskill and pick up the training opportunities during the low season means a lot in those winter months.

I believe the Women In Sport program also does a great deal in highlighting the need for more females in instructor and leader roles. A small community of women has formed, all at different stages on the path to Mountain Leader Assessment, and I think the Women In Sport program can take a lot of the credit for this.

Ciara Wall

As a student, pursuing my rock-climbing instructorship has been both rewarding and financially demanding. Observing different instructors has required me to travel all over the country providing me with both invaluable experience but also adding a financial burden. Receiving Women in Sport funding has been a helpful and encouraging boost as I work towards my assessment next month. I have also received Women in Sport funding to help me cover the cost of the FUNdamentals 1 and 2 courses next month which I am really looking forward to.