Disappointing ladies final attendance a cause for concern
August 04, 2026
Galway's Kate Geraghty celebrates with the Brendan Martin Cup on top of Aoife Ní Ruairc's shoulders after the win over Kerry at Croke Park ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Last Sunday's All-Ireland ladies football finals drew a disappointing attendance of 26,471.
The figure was the lowest since 2013 when 25,103 watched the senior final between Cork and Monaghan. It is all the more surprising considering how much the sport has grown in recent years.
However, there were a number of militating factors at play, not least the player drain to the AFLW. The three finals also clashed with men's club games in some of the competing counties, while many supporters from Galway and Kerry already had expensive days out at the recent All-Ireland SHC and SFC finals, and opted not to travel to Croke Park again.
Furthermore, the absence of Dublin from the senior decider was undoubtedly a factor in the poor turnout. The highest attended All-Ireland ladies finals have all featured the Dubs, with a record crowd of 56,114 filing through the turnstiles for their 2019 showdown with Galway.
Last year's final between Dublin and Meath attracted a crowd of 48,089.
Tweet
