Oct 10, 2013
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar officially opened the National Horse Sport Arena at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown on Wednesday, 9th October, 2013.
The magnificent new arena has been established within the Walled Garde
n of Abbotstown House, a protected structure. It will give Irish equestrian athletes access to world-class facilities which have been developed in accordance with the High Performance training needs of equestrian riders and under the technical guidance of Horse Sport Ireland and its affiliate bodies. The National Horse Sport Arena is the first publicly owned facility of its kind in Ireland; it will be managed by the Operations Company of the National Sports Campus; and it will be available on a ‘community commercial’ basis to those who are aspiring for success in international competition.
Performing the opening of the National Horse Sport Arena, Minister Leo Varadkar said:
“This is the next major milestone in the development of the National Sports Campus. The National Horse Sport Arena is the first public facility of its kind in Ireland and will provide world-class facilities for 25 different equestrian sports.
“The National Sports Campus is now the first place in Europe where modern pentathletes can train in all five disciplines on a single campus. It’s been a real privilege to see Irish pentathletes and equestrian athletes do so well in the last couple of years. I am confident that this investment will result in more medals and trophies for Ireland in the near future.”
Horse Sport Ireland Chairman, Professor Patrick Wall, said the new National Horse Sport Arena was an exciting development for equestrian sport.
“This new facility will be extremely helpful in providing a World class surface for our top rider/horse partnerships to train on. In addition it will be great for our riders, who are also athletes, to have the opportunity to avail of all the other facilities on the National Sports Campus and to have the opportunity to use the coaching and rehabilitation services available to the other human athletes.
“Our senior and young riders are on a roll at the moment and the facilities on the campus will help to build on this success and tee us up for medals in the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics in Rio,” Professor Wall said.
In welcoming Horse Sport Ireland onto the Campus, Mr Sean Benton, Chairman of the National Sports Campus Development Authority drew attention to developments at the Campus over the past year and in particular:
- The completion of vital Infrastructure Works and an Access Roadway which open up the entire site for development;
- The allocation of sites for development by the GAA, FAI, Irish Hockey and the IRFU respectively in partnership with the Authority;
- The new Multi-Sport Synthetic Pitches and Pavilion which are nearing completion;
- The completion of a new National Diving Training Centre – a high-performance dry-land training facility;
- Completion of the National Modern Pentathlon Centre – a high-performance indoor training facility for Fencing and Pistol Shooting;
- The opening of Irish Sport HQ as an administrative base for 19 National Governing Bodies (NGBs);
- The world-class National Horse Sport Arena which was officially unveiled here today.
Supplementary Information
In parallel with the development of the core National Sports Campus facilities, NSCDA has pursued a strategy of redeveloping and refurbishing the existing buildings on the Abbotstown site for use by the wider sporting community, in particular the National Governing Bodies of Sport. It is intended that those buildings which can be cost effectively refurbished for new uses and which do not constrain the Master Plan for the Campus facilities will be retained. To date this has included the provision of office accommodation for the (FAI), the Football Association of Ireland, the Irish Institute of Sport and the 19 NGBs which are now accommodated in Irish Sport HQ.
The development of the Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon facilities followed this broad approach – i.e. to re-use, where possible and economical, the existing buildings to the benefit of Irish sport.
The National Horse Sport Arena has been established in the Walled Garden of Abbotstown House, a protected structure. It has been developed in accordance with the High Performance training needs of equestrian riders and under the technical guidance of Horse Sport Ireland and its various affiliate bodies (see Appendix). It is the first publicly-owned facility of its kind in Ireland; it will be managed by the Operations Company of the National Sports Campus; and it will be available on a ‘community commercial’ basis to those who are aspiring for success in international competitions.
The National Modern Pentathlon Centre has been established through the re-development of farm building which were previously used by the Department of Agriculture. High Performance training facilities in the disciplines of both Fencing and Pistol Shooting have been installed. These are 2 of the 5 disciplines which constitute the Modern Pentathlon – the other are Running, Swimming and Horse Riding – all of which can now be accommodated at the one location in the National Sports Campus. There is no other facility in Europe which can facilitate the 5 disciplines of Modern Pentathlon on one site. Irish Modern Pentathletes qualified for the Olympic Games in London in 2012 for the first time ever. These new purpose-built training facilities will be a great boost to their future efforts in preparation for international competition.
The National Diving Training Centre has been established in a refurbished farm barn and is primarily geared towards dry-land training for divers. The primary high-performance pool for Diving is located in the National Aquatic Centre which is already on Campus. This new facility will assist divers in developing an efficient world-class ‘diving-programme’ both in terms of participation and performance.
The concept of a National Sports Campus was first mooted in 1999. In November 2005 the Government approved the commencement of the development of Phase One of a National Sports Campus. A Masterplan for the site of 500 acres was drawn up in April 2008. Planning Permission for the whole development site was successfully achieved in August 2009. Due to the economic downturn it was decided that work on the Campus should proceed on a phased and incremental basis. The anchor building on the Campus, the National Aquatic Centre had already been delivered in 2003 in time for the Special Olympics World Games. As part of the overall development of the Campus on a phased basis it was agreed that the major field sports – Gaelic Games, Rugby, Soccer and Hockey – would each be granted permission to develop their own part of the Campus. The Authority has made limited “Matching funding” available to enable the works to get underway. All works will be carried out in line with the overall Masterplan for the Campus.
Appendix: List of HSI Affiliates
ARMY EQUITATION SCHOOL (DEPT. OF DEFENCE)
ASSOCIATION OF IRISH RIDING CLUBS (AIRC)
ASSOCIATION OF IRISH RIDING ESTABLISHMENTS (AIRE)
CARRIAGE DRIVING SECTION OF HSI
DRESSAGE IRELAND
EVENTING IRELAND
FEDERATION OF IRISH POLO CLUBS (FIPC)
HUNTING ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND (HAI)
IRISH HARNESS RACING CLUB (IHRC)
IRISH LONG DISTANCE RIDING ASSOCIATION (ILDRA)
IRISH POLOCROSSE ASSOCIATION (IPA)
IRISH PONY CLUB (IPC)
IRISH PONY SOCIETY (IPS)
IRISH SHOWS ASSOCIATION (ISA)
IRISH UNIVERSITIES RIDING CLUBS ASSOCIATION (IURCA)
MEDICAL EQUESTRIAN ASSOCIATION (MEA)
MOUNTED GAMES ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND (MGAI)
PARA EQUESTRIAN IRELAND (PEI)
PENTATHLON IRELAND
REINING & WESTERN SECTION OF HSI
RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION – IRELAND (RDAI)
ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY (RDS)
SHOWJUMPING IRELAND (SJI)
SIDE SADDLE ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND (SSAI)
TREC IRELAND (TOURISM RELATED EQUESTRIAN COMPETITIONS)
Oct 10, 2013
“Pumped” Schools’ Video Awards Competition Launched- in partnership with FIS and the Irish Heart Foundation supported by Bayer
New Teen Health & Lifestyle Survey Reveals Interesting Results
- As many as three in five teens eat fast food at least weekly
- One in three have soft drinks at least daily
- Only half of teens eat five servings of fruit and vegetables
- Only one in three identified the national guideline of 60 minutes’ physical activity every day
A survey of 500 teenagers has yielded some interesting attitudes among young people when it comes to their health. Details of the survey by Behaviour and Attitudes were revealed to coincide with the launch of the second year of the Pumped Schools’ Video Awards by Ireland and Leinster Rugby player, Fergus McFadden and Olympic Pentathlete, Natalya Coyle – for more, see www.pumped.ie.
The awards, supported by Bayer in association with the Irish Heart Foundation and the Federation of Irish Sport, seek to encourage young people to get creative about science and health and produce 90-second videos on a heart health topic. With obesity a huge public health issue in Ireland, and too many young people not active enough and eating the wrong foods, the idea behind these innovative awards is to get teenagers interested in science from an early age, in particular the science behind heart health, and the impact of diet and exercise on their lives. The awards come with a first prize of €5,000 to the winning school and a tablet computer for each team member, along with a number of exciting runner-up prizes. One entry is allowed per school and team members must be under 16 years of age.
Amongst the key highlights from the research survey were:
Diet
- Three in five (58%) eat fast food at least weekly, yet just one in ten (12%) teens feel that they don’t eat sensibly, while just 7% believe that they may not be the correct weight
- Three in ten (31%) say that they eat a lot of junk food and slightly more (34%) that they have soft drinks at least daily. Boys fare slightly worse on both counts (34% and 38% respectively)
- Just half of teenagers (52%) eat the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables daily (evenly split male to female)
Exercise
- 34% identified the national guidelines of 60 minutes’ physical activity every day while only 21% were aware that they should be getting two hours of physical education in school each week
- Males continue to display higher physical activity levels (46% daily) than their female peers (39% daily)
- Three quarter of boys (76%) and just over half of girls (54%) take part in team sports with only hockey, camogie, GAA and basketball being participated in by girls on a significant scale. Many girls’ physical activity is confined to walking with 39% saying that this was their main source of physical activity
Feelgood factor
- The good news is that the vast majority of teens feel happy (97%), feel great mentally (93%) and feel great physically (88%)
- However, when asked whether they would prefer to look good or feel healthy, 16% said that they would prefer to look good
- Specifically, in relation to their heart health, 14% of teens surveyed indicated that they were concerned about this
Ireland and Leinster Rugby player, Fergus McFadden, commented: “It’s so important that we get the message out to young people about the need to take a close look at what they are eating and how much exercise they are taking. No one is better placed to communicate health messages to their peers in a language that they understand, and in a way that will have real “staying” power, than teenagers themselves – they are their own best role models. That’s why the Pumped Schools’ Video Awards are a really good opportunity to get teens thinking at an early stage in their lives about the science behind heart health, researching it for themselves, and seeing how even small lifestyle changes can have real long-term health benefits. Plus, with some really great prizes on offer, teams could be bagging some pretty cool merchandise too.”
Maureen Mulvihill, Health Promotion Manager, Irish Heart Foundation said: “These findings show that teenagers have a lot on their plate not only at school but literally as well, because many are eating too much unhealthy food. The high consumption of fast food and soft drinks – both high in calories – is of particular concern, especially as 1 in 5 young people is overweight or obese. Projects like Pumped are part of the mix to help educate our young people on how to live a healthy lifestyle. We know that an obese adolescent is more likely to become an obese adult and already show early signs of cardiovascular disease such as elevated blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as having an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle and prevention education at school through innovative projects like Pumped is key, because our young people are more likely to carry lifestyle habits learned during their younger years into adulthood.”
Sarah O’Connor, Chief Executive, Federation of Irish Sport, noted: “We would be concerned that only 34% of teens are aware that they should be getting 60 minutes of exercise per day necessary for optimum health as set out in international as well as domestic guidelines on physical activity. The survey results also indicate that there is much work still to be done around ensuring teenage girls remain involved in physical activity and in particular, partake in team sports which can provide very beneficial social and team-building skills for later life as well as a sense of belonging.”
Sinead Duffy, Head of Communications, Bayer, added: “We are delighted to launch the Pumped Schools’ Video Awards and to start a fun conversation with young people about the contribution of science to heart health. For over 150 years, Bayer has been a world leader in developing science for a better life and enhancing people’s health. With these awards, we want to encourage that sense of flair and innovation among teens by asking them to use all their incredible creativity and ingenuity in producing videos that hook their peers, cause them to sit up and take notice of the issues, and to take control of their health for a better future.”
More information on the Pumped Schools’ Video Awards competition can be found at www.pumped.ie and the closing date is December 2 2013.
Pumped Poster
Oct 3, 2013
Paralympics Ireland is hosting the 10th European Paralympic Committee General Assembly and Conference in Dublin this weekend.
The hosts are promoting this major international event as their contribution to The Gathering but outside of the opportunities available to show off a little bit of Ireland and the famous Irish hospitality, this is a very important weekend for the Paralympic movement.
A biennial affair that is being held in this country for only the second time – it took place in Malahide 12 years ago – the EPC General Assembly and Conference will bring more than 100 delegates from in excess of 40 countries to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood.
Starting tomorrow morning and drawing to a close on Saturday evening, the General Assembly and Conference will have even greater significance coming as it does just seven weeks before the world governing body, the International Paralympic Committee holds its General Assembly and Conference in Athens (November 22-24).
A lot of key issues surrounding the Paralympic sport are sure to be debated in the coming days.
Tomorrow’s conference programme will focus on policy, development, co-operation, gender equality and the continuing encouragement of youth participation, with contributions from many important stakeholders.
It will also see the EPC and the European Olympic Committee jointly signing a Memorandum of Understanding. This will represent a ground-breaking formal commitment from the two organisations that they will work together for the development of sport in Europe, particularly at youth level.
The EOC will be represented by their President, Pat Hickey. Mr Hickey will be joined by a host of other dignitaries, including EPC President John Petersson, IPC President Sir Philip Craven, Paralympics Ireland President James Gradwell, and CEO of the Irish Sports Council, John Treacy.
Paralympics Ireland will present a number of awards during tomorrow night’s official dinner at the Guinness Storehouse. The Irish Paralympic Order is the highest honour Paralympics Ireland can bestow, as it is a merit award for outstanding service to the Paralympic movement in Ireland.
Three deserving individuals will receive this award before a further trio of Paralympic legends will be inducted into the Paralympics Ireland Hall of Fame.
On Saturday, the General Assembly will hear reports on finances and budgets, while there will also be reports on the organisation of upcoming major events including the 2014 Winter Paralympics at Sochi and 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
A number of motions will be forwarded for discussion before the executive board elections will be held.
EPC president, John Petersson will be returned unopposed on Saturday and he is looking forward to a progressive and fruitful weekend in Dublin.
“A General Assembly and Conference is an important event for all of us. For the EPC executive board, it is important to have feedback on the activities done in the previous two years and to have support for the future direction of EPC and its activities.
“For the members it is crucial to discuss, evaluate, inspire and get experiences from others and use the time to share knowledge and enjoy the time together with members from the Paralympic Family.
“I know that everybody within EPC together with our friends in Paralympics Ireland have worked hard to make the 10th EPC General Assembly and Conference the best ever. In this regard, I express my deep and grateful thanks to Paralympics Ireland for hosting this important event for EPC.”
James Gradwell, Paralympics Ireland president has emphasised Ireland’s role in developing the Paralympic movement.
“As one of the few NPCs to have participated in every Summer Paralympic Games, we were particularly delighted to see the enormous growth of the Paralympic movement since those humble beginnings in 1960, to the incredible success of the London 2012 Games.
“London 2012 was our greatest ever performance and we look forward to continuing to develop and nurture our wonderful movement with our colleagues in Europe and around the world.
Paralympics Ireland CEO, Liam Harbison believes that the Paralympic movement must continue to build on the giant strides made in recent years.
“Paralympics Ireland are proud to host our European colleagues over the coming days and pleased to play our part in ‘The Gathering’. London was a huge success for Paralympic sport globally but the nations need to continue working to ensure that re success in London is sustained and the movement reaches new heights at future Games.
“Discussions in Dublin this week and at the IPC General Assembly in Athens in November will play a key role in shaping and sustaining that success.”
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar welcomes the international visitors to the Irish capital this weekend and believes that it is a fitting venue for the EPC General Assembly and Conference.
“Ireland has a proud tradition in Paralympic sport and the Irish Paralympic team was magnificent in London, taking home a total of 16 medals including eight gold, three silver and five bronze medals. The Games have a very special place in the hearts of the Irish people and its many highlights will live forever in the memory.”
Oct 2, 2013
Offered by the Department of Applied Social Studies NUIM in partnership with the NYCI Child Protection Programme
The aim of the certificate in child protection and welfare is to provide those with a professional interest in, and responsibility for, child protection and welfare with the knowledge, skills and competences related to the key issues involved for their organisation. It will provide them with an up to date and comprehensive overview of child protection and welfare and how it relates to their area of work and/or organisation.
NYCI Child Protection Welfare Certificate_Brochure 2013-2014
NYCI Child Protection Cert 2013 – 2014_application form
Oct 2, 2013
Irish weightlifter Clarence Kennedy has claimed three bronze medals at the prestigious European Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.
This is the first European medal for Weightlifting Ireland and encouragement for all the many weightlifting athletes , volunteer officials and support staff in Ireland. Kennedy overcame athletes from Great Britain, Poland & Latvia to secure third place.
Kennedy (20) is already the highest ranked male Irish weightlifter of all time and is already focusing on the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Kennedy snatched an Irish record 148kg to win bronze in the first half of the competition and then went on to Clean and Jerk an Irish record 180kg to secure both the Clean and Jerk and overall bronze medals.
Watch Clarence in action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adj3wCNy_4w
Speaking afterwards, Weightlifting Ireland President Harry Leech congratulated Kennedy for his success in a performance which saw him beat athletes from powerhouses of European and World weightlifting:
“Clarence is an unprecedented phenomenon in Irish Weightlifting, with potential to become one of the greatest athletes Ireland has ever produced, from any sport. His result is a testament to his talent, hard work and perseverance and he is a credit to his family, who were present to see him win his three bronze medals,” he said,
“I hope that the Irish Sports Council will now agree to support Clarence as he is a phenomenal athlete with amazing potential. If Clarence is to reach the medal podium at European and World championships, and to grace the platform at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, he needs funding to train full time.”
A total of 5 Athletes from Ireland competed in different classes, with each athlete creating a new European PB.
Read More on Weightlifting Ireland Here: http://www.weightliftingireland.com/index.html
