Launch of new commemorative football Jersey to celebrate women’s role in Irish culture

Published: Wednesday, June 03, 2026

image: Rachel Graham and Pearl Slattery wear the Legacy of Determination jersey at Bluebell FC

‘Legacy for Determination’ aims to secure formal recognition for the first-ever official women’s international football match held in Ireland

Press Release, 3rd June 2026

Throughout Irish history, women have played a vital role in shaping our society, culture, and communities. Yet many of their stories and achievements remain untold and unseen.

To honour and celebrate the impact women have had on Irish culture, a new initiative ‘Legacy of Determination’ which is spearheaded by former Women’s International Football Player, Seána Cooke, is launching a limited run of jerseys inspired by the women who paved the way.

The campaign aims to secure formal recognition for the first-ever official women’s international football match held in Ireland, played in June 1973 at Bluebell FC, by applying for a Dublin commemorative plaque at the historic site.

A portion of every jersey sold will also be donated to the National Women's Council of Ireland, supporting the vital advocacy they provide for women across Ireland.

Speaking about her motivation for this project, Seána Cooke said:

“By the age of five, many girls begin to doubt their potential, not only because of what they see and hear, but also, and more importantly, because of what they don’t see or hear. This jersey is more than a celebration of sport; it is a tribute to the resilience, achievements, and lasting impact of women across Ireland, past and present. Through Legacy of Determination, we hope to support the National Women's Council while shining a light on stories that deserve to be seen, shared, and celebrated.”

Corrinne Hasson, Executive Director of the National Women’s Council said,

“We are delighted to partner with Legacy of Determination and Seána on this project. For far too long women’s stories have been ignored or even written out of our history. Our diverse stories and experiences deserve to be told and are a vital and rich part of our history, culture and society. The jersey is a beautiful way to honour the women who have gone before us and have paved the way for the young women not only in sports but all aspects of our society. We commend Seana for her vision and commitment to bring this unique project to life.”

The jersey is available to purchase on https://legacyofdetermination.com/ from Wednesday, 3rd June.

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For more information, please contact Sinéad Nolan, NWC Senior Communications Coordinator, 085 8619087 or sineadn@nwci.ie

Source for statistic above: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQny8IfFXIs

About NWC

The National Women’s Council is the leading national representative organisation for women and women’s groups in Ireland, founded in 1973. We have over 190 member groups and a large and growing community of individual supporters.

The ambition of the National Women’s Council is an Ireland where every woman enjoys true equality and no woman is left behind. This ambition shapes and informs our work, and, with our living values, how we work.

We are a movement-building organisation rooted in our membership, working on the whole island of Ireland. We are also part of the international movement to protect and advance women’s and girls’ rights. Our purpose is to lead action for the achievement of women’s and girls’ equality through mobilising, influencing, and building solidarity. Find out more on www.nwci.ie