Four female Gaelic football athletes in Peterborough are hoping they will get to compete internationally at the Gaelic World Games in Ireland this summer, with fundraising support from a new network that supports local women.
The PTBO Women’s Initiative Network (PTBO WIN) has launched with the long-term vision of advocating for and supporting women as they pursue their goals in sport, business, and beyond.
According to a media release, the network’s mission is to “create inclusive spaces where women can grow personally, professionally, share resources, and support one another while strengthening the wellbeing and leadership of women.”
“What started as a couple of women meeting at a networking breakfast quickly turned into a dedicated group of women committed to supporting other women in the community,” says PTBO WIN President Kelly Carbajal in the release. “We recognized very quickly that there is a real need in the area for women pursuing their goals and dreams. Our hope is that the Ptbo Women’s Initiative Network can make a meaningful difference for these incredible athletes and for so many more women in the future.”
In their first project, the network will be supporting four local athletes who have been selected to play for the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) Canada 2 Team at the 2026 Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) World Games, being held July 13 to 17 in Waterford, a city in southeast Ireland. Held every three years, the five-day event will see over 2,000 players from more than 25 countries compete in men’s and ladies’ Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie.
The local athletes chosen to compete on the team are Zoe King, Ciara Dunn, Michelle Schevers, and Tash Ennis. All four athletes are members of the Peterborough GAA, a co-ed Gaelic football club officially established by Tracy Campbell in 2022.
“It really just started off as a small group of people who were athletic and wanted to play and learn a new sport,” says King. “It’s spiralled and grown and developed into a major club here in Peterborough, and now we go to tournaments in Montréal, Ottawa, and Toronto. We’re competing with a team of upwards of 30 or 40 members right now. It’s really amazing to be part of a team that has such a strong community focus and has really grown and developed.”
Also headed to Ireland, former Peterborough GAA member Sarah Batley will be joining the Canada 1 team, as will Peterborough GAA founder Tracy Campbell, who will be the assistant coach.
While some of the women representing Peterborough this year have previously played at the World Games, they were representing a different city’s club at the time. Batley is the only Peterborough GAA athlete to have ever competed in the competition. That was in 2023, when the national team earned a silver medal — losing by just one point.
“I think a lot of the girls, both one and two teams, are really out for revenge now,” King says. “We’re out to take that championship back home this World Games.”
For those unfamiliar with Gaelic football, King describes it as “almost like rugby and soccer combined.” It is a fast-paced team sport in which both teams aim to kick or punch the ball into the net for three points, or over the crossbar for one point.
Players can move the ball up the field by kicking, hand-passing, dribbling, or soloing (kicking it back up to themselves like a game of hacky sack), but can only take four steps before they must pass or solo.
“It’s a very niche and unique sport here in Canada, but in Ireland it is everything,” says King. “It’s the hockey of Canada to them. It’s the most played sport and it’s the most watched sport, and people really are passionate about the sport because it has those really close ties to Ireland and culture of the Gaelic revival.”
VIDEO: An example of Gaelic football (with commentators speaking Gaelic)
Despite the game being so beloved (or, more likely, because it is so beloved), Gaelic football is an entirely amateur sport. Even the best players are not being paid.
“It makes it harder to progress in sports when you are never going to be paid,” says King. “Even if you’re playing at the very top tier level in all Ireland finals, you’re never going to get paid, so having support from the community to cover these costs is so important.”
With about $60,000 required for each team to cover travel, registration, training, and other costs, PTBO WIN is aiming to support the women by raising $20,000 through local fundraising events.
These events include:
- PTBO WIN 100 x 100 Campaign: Until July 1, PTBO WIN is seeking 100 community members or businesses to contribute $100 each.
- PTBO WIN Launch Food Festival: On Saturday, June 6, PTBO WIN will be hosting a festival in the Peterborough Square courtyard from 2 to 7 p.m. that will include food vendors, live music, shopping booths, and opportunities to meet the athletes and PTBO WIN members.
- PTBO WIN World Games Send Off: On Sunday, June 28, from noon to 4 p.m., PTBO WIN will be sending off the athletes with a celebration at 100 Acres Brewing Co. in Peterborough. The afternoon will include food and drink sales, a silent auction, live music, and Gaelic football demonstrations. Guests will have the chance to participate in interactive challenges, win prizes, and wish their best to the competing athletes. Tickets will be priced at $20 per entry, which includes a free drink, or $40 for families.
Local athletes of the Canada 2 team are also hosting a series of local events on their own to contribute to their fundraising. These include:
- On online raffle that will support both the Canada 1 Team and Canada 2 Team, on now until Friday, May 1. Prizes include a $1,000 flight voucher, a signed Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, and more. Tickets can be purchased through individual athletes or at local events.
- A square dancing event, including live music and a raffle draw, held at The Social Pub in downtown Peterborough on Friday, April 10 from 8 to 10 p.m. Tickets will be $15 at the door.
- An indoor co-ed volleyball tournament held on Saturday, May 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School in Peterborough. Registration is now open at www.arribavolleyball.com/coed-tourney-registration-may-2/.
The Canada 2 team is also still looking for sponsors, including the main sponsor whose logo will be displayed on their jerseys at the World Games.
“To be able to go and compete at this international level is such an honour and it comes with a cost, so every little penny of support that we can fundraise from our local community is so meaningful and important,” King says, expressing her gratitude for PTBO WIN and the community.
“We’re really thankful to this group of amazing women that want to come together and help, but also the community that’s going to help us get there at the end of the day. We’re so thankful and hope these events are successful.”
