Nineteen coaches from this year’s FAI run UEFA Pro Licence course received their diplomas at a graduation ceremony in Dublin today.

The class of 2024, which includes Ireland international coaches as well as SSE Airtricity League of Ireland and Women’s Premier Division coaches, takes the total number who have obtained their UEFA Pro Licence with the FAI to 135.

The Pro Licence is the highest coaching qualification in world football with the Irish-based course run by the FAI’s Coach Development Department.

Among the graduates at the ceremony at the Shelbourne Hotel were former Ireland internationals Paul McShane, David Meyler, Sean St. Ledger and Glenn Whelan who are all currently part of the Ireland under-age coaching panel.

Representation from the League of Ireland comes from Bohemians assistant coach Stephen O’Donnell and Cobh Ramblers Manager Gary Hunt. In the Women’s Premier Division it is James O’Callaghan of Peamount United and Laura Heffernan of DLR Waves.

Heffernan also becomes only the third female coach to qualify from the FAI’s UEFA Pro Licence course.

FAI Director of Football Marc Canham said: “I would like to congratulate the class of 2024 for graduating the UEFA Pro Licence.

“The UEFA Pro Licence is the blue ribbon of coaching qualifications in Europe and we are pleased to see so many names graduating who are already making massive contributions to the game here in Ireland and beyond.

“I wish to congratulate Laura Heffernan on becoming only the third woman to gain her Pro Licence through the FAI so far. To have more women like Laura advance through the pathway to the elite level is very important. She’s become a shining example and we hope to see more female coaches follow her path in the years to come.

“As part of the Football Pathways Plan, it is imperative to develop and promote the highest level of football coaching standards and coach development at all levels of the game. To have a further 19 coaches obtain the highest coaching qualification level in Europe is vital for the development of coaches and players at all levels of Irish football, and we are very proud of them.”

FAI Head of Education & Development Niall O’Regan said: “I am very proud of all of the graduates of the UEFA Pro Licence, it is a very challenging course which requires the coaches to balance education, work and personal life over the duration of the course process.

“It is so rewarding to see so many of the coaches’ individual developments during the course itself and we are very proud of every one of them and we look forward to supporting them in their continued development and career.

“It is a very exciting time in Irish football, the Football Pathways Plan is providing an innovative, modern and holistic approach to coach development. It has a focus on individual development, allowing us to now not only deliver formal coach development courses, but to support all of our coaches after they have completed formal training, ensuring the coaches maximise their potential. This new approach will see us working closely with our graduates and assisting them in reaching their goals.

“For now, I want to congratulate all of the graduates on joining those in the game who hold a UEFA Pro Licence and wish them all every success in their future careers.”

FAI President Paul Cooke also added: “As President of the FAI, may I offer the congratulations of the Board of the Association to the latest graduates of the UEFA Pro Licence course, the highest coaching qualification available in professional football in Europe and an achievement to be rightly proud of.

"The dedication all have shown to reach this level deserves to be applauded and a special word of thanks is due as always to our Head of Education & Development Niall O’Regan and all his team in our Coach Education Department for the work they have put in with this group. I look forward to seeing the impact these graduates make on coaching in the future at home and abroad.”

FAI UEFA PRO LICENCE GRADUATES 2024

Paul McShane, Martin Doyle, James O’Callaghan, Stephen O Donnell, Sean St. Ledger, Glenn Whelan, Leon McSweeney, David Meyler, William Doyle, Andrew Myler, Laura Heffernan, Gerard Glynn, Gavin Peers, Gary Hunt, Craig Sexton, James Gow, Conor Nestor, George Jermy, Tim Corcoran