Sport Ireland and Isentia launch landmark gender balance study in Irish sports media

Summary: Sport Ireland commissioned Isentia to deliver the most comprehensive study ever completed of gender balance in Irish sports media coverage, revealing that women’s sport accounts for just 18% of all national sports news — and calling for a system-wide approach to close the visibility gap.

Launched in March 2026 during Women in Sport Week, this report represents the most extensive analysis of gender balance in Irish sports media ever undertaken. Isentia served as the media intelligence partner, analysing national broadcast, print, and online sports news across the full 2025 period.

The findings show that only 18% of all Irish national sports news coverage focused on women’s sport, and 75% of all sports news was concentrated on just five sports. Women’s coverage peaked in August, when the Rugby World Cup and the All-Ireland Camogie and Ladies Football Championships were running — illustrating how major events remain the primary driver of visibility.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan and Sport Ireland CEO Dr Una May both underlined that while Irish sportswomen continue to achieve at the highest level, their achievements are still not receiving proportional media attention. The report calls for a collaborative, system-wide approach, not just from media organisations, but from governing bodies, sponsors, and broadcasters to dismantle outdated perceptions that women’s sport lacks viewership and commercial value.