International Women’s Day comes around every year with a flurry of panels, posts and promises. But at Her Sport, we’ve always believed that the best way to celebrate women in sport is to actually get women in sport. So this March, we’re swapping the conference room for the padel court.
We’ve partnered with Druid Padel to host two fun, beginner-friendly morning sessions on 28th and 29th March and we’d love for you to be there.
Why Padel? Why Now?
If you’ve been hearing the word “padel” everywhere lately, you’re not imagining it. The sport is growing faster than almost anything else on the planet right now. Played on a glass-enclosed court that’s roughly a third the size of a tennis court, it combines elements of tennis and squash but is far easier to pick up than either.
Globally, padel now has over 35 million players across 150 countries, with more than 77,000 courts worldwide and counting. What makes it stand out from most other racket sports, though, is who’s playing it.
Around 40% of padel players globally are women a participation rate that most sports would dream of. The sport is genuinely accessible in a way that matters: the smaller court, the glass walls (which keep the ball in play), and the doubles format all make it incredibly social and easy to get into from day one. Here in Ireland, the padel boom is very much underway. Irish courts grew by over 60% in 2025, with new venues opening right across the country, including the newest addition to the Druid Padel family in Kimmage.
About Druid Padel
Druid Padel has quickly become one of the most recognisable names in Irish padel. Built around the ethos of Play. Grow. Belong., the brand operates community-led clubs designed to be welcoming to everyone from total beginners to competitive players.
Their Kimmage club, located at BD Gyms on the Kimmage Road West, is the group’s newest venue three covered courts in the heart of south Dublin, designed to make padel a natural part of people’s weekly routine. It’s exactly the kind of environment where a first-timer can walk in, feel comfortable, and leave wondering why they didn’t start sooner.
Co-founder Edel Clarke has been one of the key forces behind padel’s growth in Ireland, with a vision that goes beyond filling courts stating:
“Padel has to be accessible. If this sport is going to thrive here, it has to belong to everyone.”
What to Expect on the Day
Both sessions run from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, and they’re designed with one thing in mind: fun. Whether you’ve never picked up a racket in your life or you’re already a regular on the court, you’ll fit right in. Come solo, come with your friend, come with your whole crew, it doesn’t matter.
Your €20 ticket includes:
- A full padel session with coaching support
- A goodie bag
- The knowledge that every cent is going somewhere it matters
Teas and coffees will be available to purchase on site, so you can grab a coffee before or after your session and make a morning of it.
Every Ticket Supports the Her Sport Foundation
This is a chance to do something good at the same time. Every ticket sold goes directly to the Her Sport Foundation, which works to close the gender gap in sport at every level.
Through education programmes in schools, support for athletes, and advocacy for equal opportunity for girls and women across Irish sport, the Foundation is tackling the structural barriers that stop so many women and girls from staying in sport, or ever getting started in the first place.
When you book a ticket, you’re not just trying padel. You’re helping keep more girls and women in the game.
Book Your Spot
Get your tickets here
- 9:30 – 11:30 AM
- Druid Padel, Kimmage (52-54 Kimmage Rd W, Dublin)
- €20 per ticket
All proceeds go to the Her Sport Foundation.
