Vera Pauw to address major women's football conference in Donegal

Vera Pauw, the Republic of Ireland senior women's national team manager, will address a major conference in Donegal next week.

The Dutch woman will lead Ireland to the World Cup finals this summer after securing qualification for the first time.

Their tickets to the finals in Australia and New Zealand were punched when Amber Barrett from Milford netted in a 1-0 win over Scotland in October.

The National Women's Football Conference takes place in Letterkenny on February 11 and 12.

Pauw will take part in an hour-long Q&A in the Radisson Blu Hotel on the Saturday.

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An estimated 150 people are expected to attend the conference, which is taking place in Donegal for the first time.

Marc Canham, the FAI Director of Football and Eileen Gleeson, the recently-appointed FAI Head of Womens Football, will also feature.

Sarah Murray, who worked with Brighton's women's team, will deliver a presentation on football psychology.

On the Sunday, Ireland Under-17 women's manager, will give a practical demonstration at Leckview Park on the Sunday.

Launching details of the conference at a workshop on Wednesday evening at the Mount Errigal, Niall O'Regan, Head of Coach Education, said: “The game has grown significantly in all areas of the country.

“The World Cup will see an even bigger explosion. You can see from the number of teams competing in National Leagues that we are in a really good place.

“Support for the game is growing now, it's not just participation. It is a very exciting time.”

O'Regan outlined that there are now 320 women in Ireland with UEFA licences.

The conference, he said, is a chance to implement 'communities of practices and opportunities to connect'.

He said: “We have a panel working now to see how we can build on the World Cup qualification over the next three or four years. It's not just about this summer, but we have to use it as a platform to grow it.”