Table of Contents
Eileen ward, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) Director of Women’s Football, has acknowledged the contribution of Alan Mahon following his departure from the Ireland women’s national team. This comes as the team continues to assess its coaching setup after a recent period of change,including speculation about a potential return for former assistant coach Colin Healy.
Mahon’s Departure and Ward’s Recognition
Following Mahon’s exit, Ward stated: “Alan was a pleasure to work with and on behalf of everyone connected with the ireland women’s national team I’d like to acknowledge and thank him for the important work that he did in helping us to secure promotion to League A in the UEFA Nations League.” https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0621/1423491-alan-mahon-leaves-ireland-womens-national-team/ This promotion to League A was a significant achievement for the Irish team, marking a step forward in their competitive standing within European football.
The colin Healy Situation
Ward has previously expressed openness to re-integrating Colin Healy into the coaching staff, stating she’d “100%” be open to it shoudl an possibility arise. Healy departed alongside Vera Pauw after the euro 2025 play-off loss to Wales. Though, Healy later alleged that the FAI had assured him of continued employment even if the team failed to qualify for the tournament. https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0411/1437349-colin-healy-says-fai-gave-him-assurances-over-future/
Currently, Healy is managing SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division team Kerry FC. https://www.kerryfc.com/ His experience with the women’s national team, coupled with his current managerial role, makes him a potential candidate for a future position.
Looking Ahead
The Ireland women’s national team is navigating a period of transition as it looks to build on the success of securing promotion to League A. The FAI will be focused on assembling a strong coaching team to guide the team through upcoming challenges, including qualification campaigns for future tournaments.
Key Takeaways:
* Alan Mahon has left his position with the Ireland women’s national team, with Eileen Ward acknowledging his contribution to the team’s success.
* Eileen Ward remains open to the possibility of Colin Healy rejoining the coaching staff.
* Healy is currently managing Kerry FC after leaving his role following the Euro 2025 play-off loss.
Don’t forget to Watch the draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Friday from 5pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. You can also follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport.
Keep reading