Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown Waves, also referred to as DLR Waves, is a women's Irish association football club based in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. It was originally founded in 2012. DLR Waves field several teams; the senior League of Ireland team, the Under 19s LOI team and the Under 17s LOI team. The senior 1st team competes in the FAI Women's Cup and the League of Ireland Women's Premier Division. Between 2014 and 2018, the club played as UCD Waves, before returning to the name DLR Waves.
History DLR Waves 2012 - 2013 The 2012–13 season saw DLR Waves join the Women's National League as an expansion team. The club was formed with the support of the Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council and they played their home games at Jackson Park, Kilternan. DLR Waves were managed by former UCD coach, Larry Mahony, and their squad featured former UCD captain Sylvia Gee. Initially DLR Waves had mixed success in the WNL. During the 2012–13 season they finished fifth. They were also FAI Women's Cup semi-finalists.
UCD Waves 2014 - 2018 Between 2014 and 2018, following a merger, with UCD, the club played as UCD Waves under manager Eileen Gleeson. During this time, UCD Waves reached the FAI Women's Cup final twice, in 2014 and 2017, but lost to Raheny United and Cork City FC respectively. Furthermore, UCD Waves were runners up in the league, placed 2nd in the 2014–15 and 2016 WNL. In 2018, UCD AFC decided to withdraw from the women's league and the club ceased to be known as UCD Waves. DLR Waves was revived as a separate women's-only club using the original name, with DLR Waves replacing UCD in the Women's National League.
DLR Waves 2019 - Present
Since 2019, DLR Waves have played in the Women's National League at their home ground Jacksons Park initially, before returning to the UCD Bowl as their home ground in 2021. In recent years, DLR Waves have primarily been a mid-table team, finishing between 4th-6th in the league in the years 2019–2022. Mid-way through the 2023 season, long term manager Graham Kelly left the club for a role at St Patrick's Athletic and he was replaced by Laura Heffernan, the only female manager in the 2023 women's premier division. DLR Waves finished the 2023 season in 8th position.
In October 2023, DLR Waves launched a player academy with local clubs to provide a pathway from grassroots girls soccer into the underage DLR Waves teams. There are eight local clubs involved in the DLR Waves Partner Academy, these are; Shankill FC Girls, Enniskerry Youth Club AFC, Beechwood FC, United Girls Football Club, Park Celtic FC, Granada FC, Mount Merrion Youths FC Girls and Lakelands FC.
Honours
Senior team
Women's National League Runners-up: 2014–15, 2016: 2 FAI Women's Cup Runners-up: 2014, 2017: 2
Under 19s Team
League Title Winners: 2022: 1
Players Current squad The current squad, as of January 2026, includes:
Notable current or former players A large number of current or former Irish senior international football players have played for DLR Waves at some stage in their careers, as shown in the table below. +PlayerDLR Waves YearsCurrent ClubSenior Irish WNT CapsEve Badana2019–2025DLR Waves4Dearbháile Beirne2016-2018Peamount1Jetta Berrill2014-2017, 2019, 2021Peamount4Karen Duggan2014-2017Peamount35Jess Gleeson2021–PresentDLR Waves4Dora Gorman2014-2016Peamount16Ciara Grant2014-2016Heart of Midlothian18Savannah McCarthy2014-2015Shamrock Rovers11Chloe Mustaki2014-2016, 2017–2018Bristol City Women8Áine O'Gorman2014-2017Shamrock Rovers119Eleanor Ryan-Doyle2015-2016Durham0Julie-Ann Russell2014-2017Galway United F.C.59Caroline Thorpe2014-2016Retired24Claire Walsh2017Glasgow City4
Coaching staff
Management team As of 2024, the manager of DLR Waves is Laura Heffernan, the wider coaching team for the senior team and underage teams are listed in the table below. Position NameHead Manager Laura HeffernanAssistant Manager Rianna Jarrett1st Team Coach Sonya hughesGoalkeeping Coach Jack HenryPhysio Emma MulhollandStrength & Conditioning Coach Laoise Traynor
Former managers There have been five managers of DLR Waves since it was founded in 2012, as shown in the table below. SeasonsManager Name2012-2013Larry Mahony 2014-2017Eileen Gleeson2017-2018Noel Kealy 2019-2023Graham Kelly 2023–PresentLaura Heffernan
Historic league standings The historic league standings from 2012 to 2025 are summarised in the table below. +SeasonLeague PositionTeamsPoints2012-20135th7162013-20145th8272014-20152nd7412015-20163rd82520162nd72420174th72720186th82220196th81620206th91020214th93920225th104020238th1113202410th111620259th1218
Supporters DLR Waves has a small unofficial supporters group, established in late 2022, which attend games and decorate the ground with the club colours. Similar to most League of Ireland supporters groups, the DLR Waves fans produce stickers to promote the club throughout Dublin. The DLR Waves Supporters Logo consists of the UCD Water Tower and two women footballers. The water tower is visible from the UCD Bowl. The Dublin derby game for DLR Waves fans and players is fixtures against Bohemians F.C.
References
External links DLR Waves on Facebook DLR Waves on Twitter DLR Waves on Instagram DLR Waves Supporters Page on Instagram