Nov 4, 2013
Mountaineering Ireland
Mountaineering Ireland is the representative body for walkers and climbers in Ireland. It is recognised as the National Governing Body for mountaineering, hillwalking, rambling and climbing by both the Irish Sports Council and Sport Northern Ireland. Founded in 1971, Mountaineering Ireland exists to represent and support the walkers and climbers of Ireland and to be a voice for the sustainable use of Ireland’s mountains and all the places (coastline, crags, forests) we use.
Mountaineering Ireland has a number of sub-committees, including an Access and Conservation Committee that supports Mountaineering Ireland’s environmental initiatives and a Mountain Training Board that supports the delivery of personal skills and leadership awards such as
Mountain Skills, Lowland Leader Award, Mountain Leader Award, Climbing Wall Award, Multi Pitch Award and others. These schemes and awards are used by both club members and as vocational awards for those working in the adventure activities and outdoor education sector.
There are ten members of staff at present based at offices in Irish Sport HQ, Dublin 15 and Tollymore National Outdoor Centre, Co. Down.
Membership: 11,509
Number of Clubs: 168
2013 Highlights:
Competition climbing is growing hugely across the globe and over the past 5 years it’s growth in Ireland has been significant. This has seen the development of new national climbing centres (Gravity and Awesome Walls) and more regional climbing centres (Cork, Belfast and Derry) opening shortly. Other local walls (Kilfinane, Upperchurch, Artane, etc.) have also developed recently. This greater access to better facilities has raised the profile of young Irish climbers and one of those, Dominic Burns, is the 2013 European Youth Cup Bouldering Champion and he is ranked number 1 in the World.Mountaineering Ireland developed a new strategic plan through significant engagement with our members. The plan (SDP 2014-2017) will see Mountaineering Ireland work to deliver on 7 key objectives:- supporting participation in our sport, improving personal skills and standards and encouraging adventure opportunities for everyone.
Get Ireland Walking is an Irish Sports Council initiative led by Mountaineering Ireland. Get Ireland Walking exists to support people to get walking in their communities for health, wellbeing and fitness. A focus of year one has been to bring all interested stakeholders together, build the base of walking groups throughout Ireland and support groups and stakeholders with appropriate services and resources. See www.getirelandwalking.ie
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Fact File
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52% of members are female
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Ireland boasts a world number 1 ranked climber
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Key Programmes that Mountaineering Ireland run:
Access and Environment
Most walking and climbing activities in Ireland take place in the natural environment, therefore access to the outdoors is absolutely fundamental to the sport of mountaineering. An appreciation and understanding of the environment can greatly enhance our enjoyment of our activities in the outdoors. Mountaineering Ireland’s work on access and conservation is focused on two core objectives:
- To secure continued access to mountain areas and crags
- To promote the conservation and responsible use of the mountain environment.
In 2013, this has involved developing, with other stakeholders, initiatives such as Helping the Hills, Club Environmental Officers’ Programme, the National Uplands Working Group, contributing to the Irish Uplands Forum, Comhairle na Tuaithe, and other regional upland forums.
Mountain Training
Mountain Training on the island of Ireland is supported by two mountain training boards; Bord Oiliúint Sléibhe, which is the training sub-committee of Mountaineering Ireland and Mountain Training Northern Ireland. Currently, a process is ongoing to integrate both training boards in Mountaineering Ireland. Mountain Training can be summed up as the provision of personal skills and leadership training schemes and awards. These schemes and awards support both participation in our sport and also those that work in the outdoor industry.
Youth and Talent Development
Mountaineering Ireland’s youth programme includes both support through Mountaineering Ireland’s affiliated clubs and also through other youth organisations, including Scouting Ireland. The Youth Climbing Series is a series of fun climbing competitions specifically for young people with the emphasis on enjoyment. It attracts hundreds of entrants across Ireland. The Aspirant Mountaineers programme focuses on students and young people between the ages of 18 – 23 and provides development opportunities in Ireland’s mountains before taking part in a winter skills programme in Scotland.
Mountaineering Ireland’s Talent Development programme provides a pathway for talented young climbers to progress into national development squads and the national climbing team.
Girls Outside and Women with Altitude
The Irish Sports Council’s Women in Sport programme has allowed Mountaineering Ireland develop the Girls Outside and Women in Sport programmes targeting long term female participation in our sport. Mountaineering Ireland’s membership is now 52% female with greater participation of women in all aspects:- leadership, competitions, etc..
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What are the key events to look forward to in 2014?
Calendar of Events
Club challenge and hillwalking events take place throughout the year and dates of those events are available closer to the event date.
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How can people get involved in ?
To find a club close to you or to join as an individual member of Mountaineering Ireland, go to www.mountaineering.ie
Our website has lots of infiormation on accessing hillwalking and climbing, equipment and skills and the options of training schemes and awards that are available.
Also, please visit some of other sites;
www.womenwithaltitude.ie
www.helpingthehills.ie
www.getirelandwalking.ie
www.girlsoutside.ie
Social Media Channel Links:
Nov 4, 2013
BACKGROUND
Established in November 2006 Monaghan Sports Partnership’s main aim is to increase participation in sport and physical activity among all sectors of the community.
It has three main functions:
WHAT WE DO
Information We provide information and support to sports clubs and volunteers in many different ways – we provide links to National Governing Bodies of sport and relevant agencies
Education We provide quality opportunities for education & training courses for volunteers locally
Implementation We developed a strategic plan for sport / physical activity in Co. Monaghan and deliver participation programmes to suit local needs.
Read More Here
Monaghan Sports Partnership
Strategic Plan
Programmes
Oct 17, 2013
Triathlon Talent Identification and Paratriathlon Information Day in AIT, Athlone on the 24th of November being run by Triathlon Ireland.
The Talent ID Day is suitable for talented young athletes who have experience of competitive swimming and running while the Paratriathlon Information Day is an introduction to paratriathlon as it was recently announced that it will form part of the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016.
About the programme:
The Triathlon Ireland Talent Identification programme has the goal of locating talented junior athletes between the ages of 14 and 23 and developing them to their full potential in the sport of triathlon. This programme is about high performance sport and developing highly talented athletes who have the potential to compete for their country..
We are looking for athletes with the following profile:
- A strong swimming background and some running experience (school cross country, community games participation, athletics club);
- Keen to represent Ireland in one of the fastest growing and most exciting Olympic sports;
- A willingness to work up to a standard to compete with the rest of the world.
Standards required
The times/points that we look at for entry to the Junior Development Program are given in the High Performance Table.
Details found here
Athletes will be selected to attend the TID day if they have a record of the required swim and run times as outlined in the table above and by their survey submission only.
Are you interested?
If you are interested in attending on the 24th of November 2013, please fill in the survey below by Friday 8th November.
—> Complete survey here <—
Not available on the 24th of November? but still interested in attending another regional talent ID Day? Please register your interest with caradh@triathlonireland.com
Further information available here
Paratriathlon Information
Triathlon Ireland will host an information day on paratriathlon on the 24th of November in AIT, Athlone. We will be joined by experts from Paralympics Ireland along with qualified coaches in order to provide information about all things paratriathlon and answer any questions you may have. With paratriathlon now part of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Triathlon Ireland recognises the medal opportunities here and we are actively seeking athletes interested in competing on the world stage. While there are opportunities to represent your country at the Paralympic Games this information day is aimed at para athletes of every level.
To register your interest in attending please contact: Caradh@triathlonireland.com
ITU Categories
There are currently six categories for para athletes to compete in:
TRI 1 – Wheelchair user: Includes Paraplegic, Quadriplegic, Polio, Double Leg Amputee. Athletes must use a recumbent hand cycle on bike course and racing wheel chair on run.
TRI 2 – Severe leg impairment including above knee amputees. Athletes must ride bicycles and run with above knee prosthesis (or similar prosthesis) or run using crutches.
TRI 3 – Les Autres: This category includes athletes with Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, double leg amputee runners or paralysis in multiple limbs. These athletes will ride a bicycle and run. They may use braces or prosthesis if required.
TRI 4 – Arm impairment including paralysis, above elbow amputees and below elbow amputees, or impairment in both upper limbs. Athletes may use prosthesis, brace or sling on the bike and/or run.
TRI 5 – Moderate leg impairment including below knee amputees. Athletes ride bicycles and run with prosthesis.
TRI 6 – Visual Impairment, legally Blind (20/200 vision with best corrective vision). A handler of the same sex is mandatory throughout the race. Athletes are tethered during the swim. Athletes use a tandem bicycle and must be tethered during the run. Athletes shall use approved “black out glasses” during the entire run portion.
Oct 15, 2013
Issued by the Federation of Irish Sport the representative body for Ireland’s Governing Bodies Sport and Local Sports Partnerships.
We are extremely disappointed with today’s announcement which sees a further 8% reduction in current funding for Irish Sport with funding to the Irish Sports Council believed to be in the region of €40 million for next year – a reduction of approximately €3 million on 2013. This is the funding that enables over 100 Irish Sports organisations to run sports development programmes essential to delivering sporting opportunities to all, provide much needed support to grassroots clubs and volunteers as well as providing assistance to our international athletes.
This is the sixth year in a row for cuts – investment in sport already having fallen by some 25% – and now sees Irish Sport back to 2006 levels of support. This is particularly damaging given that consistent government investment in sport only commenced in a meaningful way in 1999 and broke the €30 million barrier for the first time in 2004.
Funding for sport through the Irish Sports Council now amounts to a spend of just €8.73 per citizen. This latest reduction is particularly disappointing given the fact that investment in sport today is likely to have a significant impact in reducing the health spend in future years – a budget line that has caused continuous difficulty for the Government not just in the run up to this budget but over the last number of years.
The overall investment in sport at €40 million for 2014 represents just 0.3% of the €13.3 billion projected health spend.
We are also disappointed that our pre-budget submission in which we set out a proposal where an investment of just €1 per citizen could create 150 jobs immediately seems to have received little or no consideration. These were jobs which Irish Sport felt would be become self-sustaining over a two to three year period and for which, 2,000 graduates with sport specific training are qualifying every year.
That the potential of this proposal has not been grasped is all the more disappointing given the Government’s insistence that job creation is the way out of our current economic troubles.
Cuts to sports funding are at odds with wider government policies and counter intuitive as sporting events have proven to be key drivers in boosting tourism figures during the Gathering. As we slowly emerge from recession it is short sighted and unnecessary to target one of the performing sectors in the economy which has the potential to further create sustainable, indigenous employment and economic growth. The cuts come at a time of increasing market volatility affecting the funding models of many of our leading sporting organisations further jeopardising the future of sports development in Ireland.
We urgently request a meeting with the Minister and his officials to address our concerns and propose alternative innovative ways forward.
Sarah O’ Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport 086-8048446 sarah.oconnor@irishsport.ie
Oct 14, 2013
Confederation of Golf in Ireland Formed
The Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI), the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU) and the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) are pleased to announce the formation of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI). The CGI is a new organisation, created by the GUI, ILGU and the PGA to help advance the sport of golf on the island of Ireland, for the future.
The formation of this new organisation follows some 18 months of study and preparation by the associations together with the Irish Sports Council and Sport Northern Ireland. The CGI will complement the work of the associations as well as providing a necessary combined approach to certain key strategic areas in the future development of golf in Ireland.
The CGI, which is a not for profit organisation, plans to accomplish the following in the coming years:
• Create and implement a development plan for golf in Ireland.
• Respond to the investment requirements of the two Sports Councils, who are seeking one single application for golf.
• Provide an organisation to interact with the Olympic Council of Ireland which wishes to deal with only one body.
• Provide support and a “spiritual home” for aspiring Irish tournament professionals in the early years of their careers.
Specifically, there is important work to be done to stop the decline in membership of golf clubs and to start the re-building process after the economic hardships of recent years. The key to this will be to bring a new focus to the game and the business of golf clubs on the island of Ireland.
To this end, the CGI is delighted to announce the appointment of John Roche as its Director of Golf and Business Development. Reporting to the Board, Mr Roche will be responsible for drafting and implementing a plan for the promotion and development of golf in Ireland.
Mr Roche will take up the position in November and will engage with various stakeholders, including Affiliated Golf Clubs, the R&A, Irish Sports Council, Sports Council of Northern Ireland and other industry bodies before the CGI launches its plan for the promotion and development of the sport in early 2014.
John Roche is an active member of Bray Golf Club and incoming 2014/15 President. He has sat on the Provincial Council of the GUI’s Leinster Branch, has worked with the ILGU on phase 2 development of a portal to support elite golf and has a deep understanding of the golf industry. Outside of golf he built and managed a successful business employing over 30 people.
The Associations have chosen Redmond O’Donoghue to be Chair of the Confederation for the next three years. Mr. O’Donoghue has been a senior business figure in Ireland for many years; additionally, he has been close to golf through his roles as Chairman of Bord Failte (1999-2001) and as Chairman of Failte Ireland (2008 – to date).
Speaking about the newly formed CGI, Mr. O’Donoghue said: “I was very impressed by the openness and willingness of the key organisations in the sport of golf to engage in such a positive way to create the new CGI. It’s important to point out that the CGI will, in no way, dilute or weaken the autonomy of the three member organisations; it will work in a complementary way to address common objectives and challenges. I very much look forward to chairing the CGI and to working with John Roche and the Board Members to advance the cause of Irish golf in the coming years”.
Mr. John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council said: “This is a very welcome and very positive development for golf in Ireland. The success of the work of the associations is at its most visible in the world class performances by Irish golfers on the international stage – particularly during the past six or seven years. The CGI will build on this outstanding success story and help to provide additional strategic direction for the sport, throughout the whole island”.
Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport added: “I am delighted to welcome the establishment of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland. I commend the Golfing Unions and the Irish PGA on their vision and initiative in bringing the Confederation together. This is a major step forward in the strategic development of golf in Ireland. The CGI will support the work of the Golfing Union of Ireland, the Irish Ladies Golf Union and the Professional Golfers Association and build on the success of Irish golf across Ireland and Internationally. I wish all involved with the new venture every success”.
The Board Members of the CGI are Pat Finn (GUI), Albert Lee (GUI), Sinead Heraty (ILGU), Rosemary Hayes (ILGU) and Liam Greasley (PGA).
For further information, please contact:
Sinead Heraty, Chief Executive, Irish Ladies Golf Union, Tel: 01 2934833
Pat Finn, General Secretary, Golfing Union of Ireland, Tel: 01 5054000
