Mater Private teams up with Dubs

THE Mater Private Hospital has agreed a partnership to provide medical and healthcare support to the Dublin Senior Ladies Football team.

Under the partnership, players will receive rapid access to medical consultants and outpatient services, such as physiotherapy, X-Ray and MRI scanning.

The Mater Private support will also include funding for the medical staff as well as medical interventions and rehabilitation in the event of injury.

A deal has been in place since last year but the new partnership cements the commitment of the hospital to provide best-in-class medical support to the team on an ongoing, longer-term basis.

Founded in 1974, Ladies Gaelic Football is still recognised as one of the fastest growing female sports in Europe. With over 1,000 clubs in Ireland and counting, Ladies Gaelic is reaching women and girls from all over the country.

The Dublin Senior Ladies Football team has played in five successive All-Ireland Finals between 2014 and 2018, finishing as winners in 2017 and 2018.

Over 50,000 supporters attended the All-Ireland Final in 2018, the largest attendance at a Ladies GAA final ever. This attendance significantly surpassed the then record-breaking 2017 crowd of 46,000, which was the highest attended women's sport final in the world that year, even beating the Champions League final and the Rugby World Cup.

Female participation in sport is on the rise. Irish Sports Monitor data for 2017 showed the gender gap in sports participation at just 4.5 percent – narrower now than at any point since 2007. Over 40 percent of females regularly participate in sport today. Female participation has increased in Gaelic Football; in Dublin figures are up 50 percent since 2015. 

Chief Operating Officer of the Mater Private Healthcare Group, Dr Caroline Whelan spoke about the partnership the Dubs.

“As neighbours and friends of the Dublin Senior Ladies Football team, we are delighted to announce this medical partnership to provide player access to our top-class medical services and healthcare facilities at Eccles Street,” she said.

“Sports injuries, when they occur, can be a huge concern for players and can seriously impact on their future sporting and professional career.

“As the medical partner of Dublin Senior Ladies Football, the Mater Private will ensure the players receive comprehensive support from our highly qualified team of specialists and consultants, ensuring they are in the best possible health to play.  In the event of injury, we will do everything possible to help the players get back on the pitch and performing at the highest level again, as soon as possible.

“We look forward to working closely with the team to ensure they have access to expertise in all the relevant specialities in as timely a manner as possible.”

Manager of the Dublin Senior Ladies Football team, Mick Bohan, welcomed the partnership with the hospital.

“The Mater Private is an integral part of our player welfare pathway, and we are fortunate that through this partnership, our players will have access to the best medical expertise available,” he said.