The Irish Sports Council today published a really interesting infographic showing the ISC in numbers. Included in it is the fact that 1.8m Irish adults are now walking regularly in Ireland as participation rates have increased over the period 2008/09 from 57.5% to 60.5%. To read more click here
An investment package of €33 million for Irish sport in 2013 by the Irish Sports Council was announced by Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring on 21st March. This money includes €19.3 million for National Governing Bodies of sport, €5.1 million for Local Sports Partnerships and €8.6 million for high performance sport.
Speaking at the launch Minister Ring said: “The Government has ensured that sport continues to receive significant financial support, and we protected funding for the Sports Council in this year’s Budget. The Sports Council’s new investment plan highlights the huge range of organisations that will get essential support this year. I know the Sports Council has made every effort to protect funding for organisations that need it most. Above all, everyone appreciates that the sports community spends this money well, and generates a good return for our communities, our society and our national spirit.”
The total for NGBs includes €10.8 million for the core activities of 59 sports, €7.6 million to support the participation programmes of the GAA, FAI and IRFU and €840,000 in dedicated Women in Sport activities across the NGB sector.
The national network of 31 Local Sports Partnerships will receive €5.1 million in investment to support their work in promoting participating in sport and physical activity especially in hard to reach groups. The Sports Partnerships offer a range of programmes including the Sports Inclusion Disability Officers.
Kieran Mulvey, Chairman of the Irish Sports Council said that “I want to pay tribute to the sports bodies who deliver such a variety of excellent opportunities in sport. The Council appreciates very much the support given to us by Minister Ring and his Department which allows us to continue our mission to improve the standards in high performance sport and to increase participation rates in sport. “.
86 athletes will receive individual grants totalling €1.7 million under the International Carding Scheme. 16 sports bodies will receive €5.5 million to support their Performance Plans in 2013 and the Olympic Council of Ireland (€412,000) and Paralympics Ireland (€910,000) funding allocations were also announced. One notable new programme is support of €275,000 to the IRFU to support their efforts to qualify a women’s team for the 7’s tournament in Rio 2016.
John Treacy, CEO of the Council said: “We have begun to implement the recommendations of the Carding Review and the London Debrief immediately. While there is still a substantial investment in the International Carding Scheme there is a move towards greater support to the Performance Plans of the NGBs”.
The Irish Sports Council will receive €43.153 million in grant aid from the Government in 2013. Today’s package of €33 million represents a large part of the Council’s investment in sport. This is the first year that Coaching Ireland, based at the University of Limerick, will operate as an integral part of the Council. Other important activities include the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Programme, the Institute of Sport and the National Trails Office. Other grant programmes include the Team Ireland Golf Trust, Sport for Older People and the Gaelic Players Association.
Alistair Gray’s article investigates how a relatively small region like Northern Ireland can possibly produce a succession of major winners in golf at a time when the competitive intensity at the top of the world game is at its greatest in living memory. Below is a summary of his findings.
Over the last two years I have been privileged to gain access to various individuals, including the golfers themselves, who gave me special insight into what influenced the positive development of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in their early years. The attached article reflects Malcolm Gladwell’s theories in Outliers, and is also a story of faith, hope and love.
In an era where hard science and medicine are often preferred to soft feelings and emotions, process promoted over people, and facts valued over opinion, I found there are special ingredients that had a profound influence on the way both golfers developed, albeit reaching the top (major victories) by different routes. Those ingredients are faith, hope and love – tough love at times, but genuine love and respect as shown to both. Faith, hope and love were evident in a number of critical areas:
• Support and encouragement to inspire and sustain them delivered by family, community and clubs
• In a talent development system, relatively unique to Ireland
• The culture that challenged and supported them to succeed while at the same time respecting their need to learn to play over receipt of instruction
• Encouragement to adopt values and mutual respect, and honouring the great game of golf
• Regular inputs from coaches and mentors to keep their emotional tank full, at the low points, as well as celebrating the Major victories.
Leaders of performance management systems will draw a number of conclusions and lessons from the development of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. They would do well to replicate the environment described above that continues to deliver outstanding performers, now driven by real role models and champions. They would be wise to challenge the hard:soft balance of their talent and performance development programmes to make sure there is room for faith, hope and love to prosper.
The IABA in partnership with Platinum One have announced a two-match international boxing event against France in Millstreet, Cork on 3rd May and Belfast Odyssey Arena on 5th May this year. The events will feature all of Ireland’s medal winners from the London Olympics. Speaking at the launch yesterday Katie Taylor said that ‘this is the best sporting team we have in the country at the moment. We always go away and come back with medals, constantly, so we’re hoping that we’ll get the support.’ Millstreet has some pedigree in hosting sporting events with Steve Collins beating Chris Eubank in 1995 in the WBO Super Middleweight title fight whilst the Odyssey Arena hosts numerous events including Tyson Fury’s bought last December as well as being home to the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team.
Read more about the event here
The National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA) is to go ahead with the further development of the site at Abbotstown with the creation of over 100 jobs for the local economy after the government gave the green light for the €7m next phase. Multi-sport all weather pitches and a public pavilion will be constructed under the plan. The GAA, FAI, IRFU, HSI and Irish Hockey all have plans to develop facilities at the site in addition to the existing completed projects such as the National Aquatic Centre. Commenting in the Irish Independent this week Barry O’ Brien, Chief Executive Officer of the NSCDA said that “We are driving the development of the Campus and we want to deliver it primarily for Irish athletes and players and all elements of sport in Ireland.”