By:
Conor Martin
The 2026 Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 will start with a bang in January when old foes Dublin and Kerry meet in the Irish capital as the Ladies Gaelic football season begins.
Reigning Division 1 champions Kerry won the league for a record 13th time this year, first winning their maiden title in 1979-80.
The Dubs will start their league campaign looking to win just their third league title, which would be their first since 2021.
The Girls in Blue will be hungry for more silverware after winning their seventh All-Ireland this year, but they’re only five titles behind their famous rivals Kerry, who, just like their men’s team, have won the All-Ireland more than any other county.
Currently, the Kerry ladies’ team have 12 Brendan Martin Cups to their name.
With the two counties being two of the most successful teams in Ladies Gaelic football, the LGFA (Ladies Gaelic Football Association) have an excellent opportunity to engage the public and ensure a sizeable crowd is in attendance.
Dublin v Kerry league opener will create exposure and engagement around Ladies’ Gaelic football
Kerry and Dublin meeting in the first round of the Ladies Gaelic Football league is a major advantage for engagement and exposure.
Both counties have strong GAA-crazy fanbases and high-profile players who draw media attention. You would expect Irish television stations to have a bit of build-up and even a preview on their flagship news programmes.
A high-quality opening game also helps set the tone for the league, plus the history and rivalry will encourage neutral fans to tune in, giving broadcasters and journalists plenty to utilise.
To improve further, both counties and the LGFA are expected to enhance pre-match promotion through behind-the-scenes content, player interviews, and collaborative social media campaigns.
Ensuring there’s accessible television coverage while offering family-friendly ticket packages and engaging schools and local clubs could also broaden viewership and sustain interest beyond the opening round.
Lidl’s promotion of the sport is the way forward
Sponsors of the league, supermarket chain Lidl, have been exemplary in their support of the promotion of the sport.
Lidl have played a very positive and proactive role in promoting the LGFA. Their ten-year “#SeriousSupport” partnership, backed by a €10million investment, supports grassroots development through school and club programmes, kit funding, and mental-health initiatives.
The supermarket raises visibility of LGFA stars in creative ways, such as featuring female players on milk carton packaging in its stores, helping familiarise shoppers with LGFA athletes and giving them the exposure so they become as recognisable as GAA inter-county stars.
The popular supermarket chain have also run a successful social-media campaign called #LidlShootToSave, which helped attendance of games by rewarding fans who post match clips with store discounts.
There have been memorable television and billboard adverts promoting the game into the public consciousness, like the one below.
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