Inaugural meeting to establish the Women’s Commission

The inaugural meeting of what is now the Women’s Commission took place in April 2002, with the aim of putting together a strategy for women’s racing. With PJ Nolan (then president of CI) chairing this first meeting, a commission was elected –  Richie Keddy, Valerie Considine, Gillian McDarby, Elsa Connaughton and Olivia Coady.

The main reason for the forming of this commission was the general lack of numbers of women racing. With few women turning up for races, it was difficult to put a proper racing structure in place for women, and without a proper racing structure for women, it was difficult to get them to participate.  

Valerie has been the constant on the Women’s Commission since it was estalished. While there have been slight changes on the Commission over the years, most of the progress has been due to the hard work of Valerie, with Orla Hendron and Roisin Kennedy.

In 2001 the Boot Inn League had been established, as a women’s only league. This was established wth the hope of attracting more women into road racing –  as it was a welcoming environment, in a handicapped event. Dolores Usher, Pauline McKay and Susan Lavery and Anita Cassidy were responsible for setting up this league. 

Click on the minutes at the top of the report, for full details on what the initial objectives were for the Women’s Commission.