2026 míde women in sport and physical activity research conference 

The 2026 míde women in sport and physical activity research conference brought together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to share ideas, build connections and explore how research can better support women and girls in sport and physical activity. 

Dr Denise Martin opened the day by sharing key learnings from the míde research collective, highlighting the need for stronger collaboration across research, policy and practice. Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale then showed how this can work in a real-world context, using examples from elite sport to demonstrate how research on the menstrual cycle can be applied to better support athlete health and performance. 

Lunch, networking and an interactive World Café session created space for attendees to meet new collaborators and explore ideas for the future of research about women in sport and physical activity across the island.  

The afternoon research spotlight session showcased emerging work on topics including inequalities in women’s football, postpartum return to running, athlete role models, women’s credibility in sport media, strength training in female Gaelic football, mental health in women’s Gaelic games, and gendered experiences in sport. 

The day concluded with a powerful conversation between Dr Katie Liston and Ailbhe Smyth on allyship in action, reflecting on the realities of advocacy work and challenging attendees to consider the impact they are having — and the impact they want to have — in advancing equality for women and girls in sport and physical activity. 

Key takeaways from the 2026 míde research conference:

Research into Action High-quality research must be translated into accessible tools and insights that can inform coaching, policy and practice in women’s sport and physical activity. 

Stronger Collaboration Greater collaboration between researchers, sport organisations, policymakers and communities is essential to drive meaningful progress. 

Tackling Gender Inequality in Sport Evidence continues to highlight gendered barriers in sport and physical activity, reinforcing the need for research-informed approaches to create more inclusive environments for women and girls.