Motorsport Ireland’s recently formed Women’s Commission celebrated their first International Women’s Day, with a special evening event in Motorsport Ireland on March 8.

  
The event, hosted by President Aiden Harper at Motorsport Ireland’s HQ in the Royal Irish Automobile Club (RIAC), Dawson Street, in the presence of Mr Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State for Sport, brought together over 40 woman ranging from 8 years to 88 years of age, from all the disciplines in Irish motorsport including Circuit Racing, Rallying, Sporting Car Trials, Endurance Trials and Karting.


The Motorsport Ireland Women’s Commission has been set up this year to create a motorsport culture that facilitates and values the full participation of women in all aspects of Irish motorsport from  competitors to officials, team managers, engineers, mechanics, marshals and Mums who support their competing children.

  
The commission, is made up of a team of experienced female volunteers and competitors from across Ireland including Eilish Dunne (Carrick on Suir Motor Club),  Hannah Power (Galway Motor Club),  Karen O’Dowd (Wexford Motor Club),  Louise Conaghy (Chairperson, ALMC Motor Club) , Margaret McCloskey (Clare Motor Club), Nicola Watkins (Racing Driver, Sport Car Trials Driver), Noelle Horan (Birr and District Motor Club), Sandra McFadden (Connacht Motor Club), Sinead Canny (Clare Motor Club)  and Sinead Carey (Munster Kart Club).


Aidan Harper, President of Motorsport Ireland commented: “This is a very proud moment for our sport, the forming and launching of our first ever Women’s Commission. Women play an incredible role in our sport in organising, officiating and competing on par across all disciplines of our sport. Equality, diversity & inclusion is fundamental to us and as President I am committed to growing these values in a more comprehensive way.”


Mr Jack Chambers TD Minister for State, Department of Sport said: “I’m privileged to help launch the Motorsport Ireland Women’s Commission on International Women’s Day.   There’s really impressive work being done to promote the sport among women and grow participation.”


Motorsport Ireland Women’s Commission Convenor Angela Henehan commented that while the purpose of the event was to mark International Women’s Day, it gives the Irish motorsport community a great opportunity to applaud the work carried out by the many women across the sport from competitors, officials, parents and to acknowledge the many women employed in the sport as a sector.


Chairperson of ALMC Motor Club and MC for the event Louise Conaghy hosted an inspiring panel discussion with Irish Rally Legend Rosemary Smyth, young rally driver Aoife Raftery (Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy), Sporting Car Trials Winner Siobhán  and Ruth Nugent (Racing Driver & Marshall) while Rosemary Walsh (Clerk of the Course ) spoke about the opportunities for women to officiate in Irish Motorsport.


Nicola Watkins, who has competed in Sporting Car Trials since the age of 14, paid tribute to two exceptional female volunteers in Irish motorsport sport:  Out in all weathers from September to April, Evelyn Noonan from Wicklow has been a Sporting Trials/Mudplug observer for 50 years and Romaine Quigley has also been running up and down grassy banks at Mudplugs for over 40 years, and often takes on the role of Club Steward too.


Up and coming karters and rally drivers as young as 8 years of age attended the Motorsport Ireland International Women’s Day event including Lily Rose Hughes (Karting), Holly Dunnion (Karting) , Laura Carey (Karting) Eimear Carey (Karting) and Vanessa McFadden (Rallying).   The young ladies were presented with copies of Rosemary Smith’s inspirational autobiography “DRIVEN” by the lady herself.