Jul 12, 2019
Freelancer Niamh Griffin wins the monthly Investec 20×20 Media Award with feature on the emerging importance of PE for sports participation for teenage girls
Niamh Griffin is the Investec 20×20 Media Awards winner for the month of June. Niamh is a freelance journalist, writing mainly about health and sport. Her work appears regularly in The Irish Times (sports pages) and The Irish Mail on Sunday in Ireland. Prior to that, she was the health correspondent for the Irish Mail on Sunday while she continues to write for The BMJ in the UK.
Niamh’s winning article published in the Irish Times entitled: “Leaving Certificate PE is a whole new ball game” is an enticing examination on the potential impact of PE becoming a Leaving Certificate subject. With compelling insights and anecdotes from a range of sources, it debates how the newly adopted Leaving Cert subject could pave the way for more teenage girls to find their sport by securing access to a wider variety of activities in a more formal and structured manner, thus reducing the high dropout rate for girls from sport.
Anna Kessel, Investec 20×20 Media Awards judging panel Chair, said: “It’s great to see the issue of school sport, and how to better engage girls in particular, given a prominent placing in a major publication like the Irish Times. This is a story that can encourage a change in attitudes to physical activity at a time when our kids are less active than ever. As someone who is unfamiliar with Irish state exams, it was great to read about the positive implications of PE becoming a Leaving Cert subject and how it will hopefully curb dropout rates for girls from sport. This new curriculum represents an exciting opportunity for more sports to reach new audiences and change the landscape of school sport for the 21st century.”
Michael Cullen, CEO, Investec said: “Niamh Griffin’s piece not only highlights the importance of physical education for teenage girls and keeping them moving but also emphasises the opportunities for girls to find their place and how they can fit into sport. Whether that’s learning how to coach their peers or harnessing technology to help improve physical performance, physical education can now help address many of the important issues highlighted by the 20×20 initiative.”
Mary O’ Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport added: “The Federation of Irish Sport welcomed the introduction of PE as a Leaving Certificate subject. Niamh’s article rightly points out how it will give girls the opportunity to take greater control while improving their knowledge and personal skills in sports and exercises of their choice. In doing so, it will enable girls to learn about how best to prepare their body and mind to enjoy sport and have a pathway to excel if that is their desire.”
The Investec 20×20 Media Awards recognise and reward excellence in Irish journalism focused on Women in Sport. Investec is a proud sponsor of 20×20, an initiative presented by The Federation of Irish Sport which calls on the people of Ireland to provide more support for women in sport. In demonstrating its commitment to the initiative, Investec has created this new awards scheme to help change the perceptions of women’s sport. The Investec 20×20 Media Awards recognises that increased visibility will lead to greater cultural recognition of girls and women in sport.
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For media enquiries please contact The Reputations Agency, (01) 661 8915: Gareth Field, 087 897 5484 gareth@thereputationsagency.ie or Catherine Walsh, 087 268 9532, catherine@thereputationsagency.ie.
The winning article can be found online at: https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/leaving-certificate-pe-is-a-whole-new-ball-game-1.3885222
To put forward an entry for July Investec 20×20 Media Award and to win €1,000, please visit: https://www.investec.com/en_ie/welcome-to-investec/press/2019-investec-media-awards.html.
May 10, 2019
20×20 AMBASSADOR, LOUISE QUINN HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF FEMALE SPORTING ROLE MODELS AND CALLS ON THE PUBLIC TO HERO THEIR HERO
‘IF SHE CAN’T SEE IT, SHE CAN’T BE IT’, the latest initiative from 20×20 calls on the public to “Hero Your Hero”
Dublin, 9th May 2019: Irish International, recently crowned Women’s Super League Champion with Arsenal and Three’s 20×20 Campaign Ambassador, Louise Quinn has paid tribute to the significant impact role models have had on her sporting career, citing the impact of her own role models [INSERT LOUISE’S ROLE MODELS]. Quinn is asking everyone to highlight the people who inspired or facilitated them to start playing, training or practicing using the hashtag #CantSeeCantBe.
Quinn was in Dublin to show her support for the second phase of 20×20, a national initiative for women in sport, which seeks to highlight the impact of ‘seeing’ and ‘being’ role models, and the essential part they play in getting women and girls into sport. By asking the public to Hero Your Hero on social media, 20×20 will showcase the importance of “seeing” female athletes and inspire everyone to “be” a role model in encouraging women & girls to get involved in sport.
Three, one of the five official sponsors of 20×20 (and a supporter of the Women’s National Football Team), ‘showed its stripes’ today by announcing a once in a lifetime opportunity for girls in Ireland to play in the Aviva Stadium and be coached by Irish Internationals and Arsenal team mates Quinn and Katie McCabe. The winning players will be invited to bring their own role models to the match.
20×20, presented by the Federation of Irish Sport and conceptualized by Along Came A Spider, have today also released their second film in the 20×20 series that depicts the potential we all hold to be a role model for girls in sport and what a big impact this can have. The short film is the second of five to be released, each will cover a different theme impacting women in sport, and can be viewed at www.20×20.ie or across the campaign social channels, @20x20_ie on Twitter and @20×20.ie on Instagram.
Speaking today, Louise Quinn said, “I wouldn’t be playing football if it wasn’t for my Dad. He knew how to grow my love of sport. When the opportunity to be involved both with Ireland and professional football looked like a reality, knowing that the likes of Sonia O’Sullivan and Katie Taylor having achieved so much on the world stage made me think why couldn’t I too? Having people who believe in you and others who have already paved the way really does make a huge difference. I was lucky to have people in my life to encourage me, and others to inspire me, and we need to make sure this becomes not a matter of luck but a reality for all girls.”
Sarah Colgan, MD Along Came A Spider and Co-Founder 20×20 “20×20 has already mobilised a large part of the Irish public. We were blown away by the response to our first #ShowYourStripes call to action on International Women’s Day and we are not slowing down anytime soon. We want to continue to build on the momentum generated by the campaign to date to ensure we achieve our three goals; to increase participation in, attendance at and coverage of women’s sport in Ireland by 20% by 2020.”
Mary O’Connor, CEO Federation of Irish Sport “The importance of visibility cannot be overstated when it comes to the future of sport in Ireland. If women and girls don’t see themselves reflected in sport, they may not realise their potential and recognise their talent which is part of the reason there’s a high rate of girls dropping out of sport in their early teens. 20×20 creating Ireland’s first ever women’s sporting calendar leads us into an exciting summer of sport with the Women’s World Cup, Olympic Qualifiers for the Irish Hockey Team, a packed GAA championship, not to mention rowing and athletics summer series events.”
Gavin McAllister, Sponsorship Manager at Three said “Three are delighted to be involved in the 20×20 campaign and the momentum it has generated to date. It is clear that increasing participation, attendance at and media coverage of women’s sport is something that resonates with the Irish public. As of yet, the Irish Women’s Senior Team don’t yet play their games at the Aviva Stadium so we are delighted, as part of our support for 20×20, to be able to give 30 girls not just an opportunity to play football at the Aviva but to do so under the stewardship of two of Ireland’s best footballers, Katie McCabe and our 20×20 Ambassador, Louise Quinn.”
Watch the latest chapter video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DAr0bZQkaA
May 8, 2019
7th May marked a day full of exciting news for Cricket Ireland.
First-Ever Part-Time Contracts
The governing body unveiled the recipients of the first-ever part-time professional contracts for women cricketers in Ireland. The recipients of the six contracts are Laura Delany, Kim Garth, Mary Waldron, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis and Celeste Raack. Speaking about the contracts, Richard Holdsworth, Cricket Ireland Performance Director, explained “to have these players more available to practice, train and access the world-class support we have both from Cricket Ireland and the Sport Ireland Institute will give them all a great opportunity to improve and give ourselves the best chance of T20 World Cup Qualification, and further down the line an opportunity to be promoted to the ICC Women’s Championship.”
Beth Healy, Team Operations Manager
Along with the six part-time players contracts, Beth Healy was announced as the new part-time Team Operations Manager for the Ireland Women’s cricket team. Healy is an Events Manager with Pioneer Group, specialising in sports event management and consultancy. She has gained extensive experience in delivering successful and significant sporting events across the UK and Ireland, and was most recently Games Team Manager for the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC) for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018. She will continue to work part-time with Pioneer Group, while taking on the new role with the Ireland Women’s team, and will work under Head Coach Aaron Hamilton in the international squad structure.
Squad Announcements and Upcoming Fixtures
The announcement of the 13-player squad for the upcoming Ireland v West Indies Women’s T20 International series in late May rounded out the day of news for Cricket Ireland. Number 10 ranked Ireland will meet fourth in the world West Indies for three matches in late May. The squad for the series is Laura Delany (Captain), Kim Garth, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis, Louise Little, Sophie MacMahon, Lara Maritz, Naomi Matthews, Leah Paul, Celeste Raack, Una Raymond-Hoey, Rebecca Stokell and Mary Waldron.
The match dates and locations are as follows:
- 26 May 2019 at YMCA Cricket Club in Dublin
- 28 May 2019 at Pembroke Cricket Club in Dublin
- 29 May 2019 at Pembroke Cricket Club in Dublin
All the matches are free entry and details regarding livestreaming of home fixture T20I matches will be announced shortly.
Other confirmed fixtures on the 2019 calendar are:
- 3 July: Ireland Women v Zimbabwe Women (Oak Hill); 50-over
- 5 July: Ireland Women v Zimbabwe Women (Oak Hill); 50-over
- 7 July: Ireland Women v Zimbabwe Women (Oak Hill); 50-over
- 10 July: Ireland Women v Zimbabwe Women (Stormont); T20I*
- 12 July: Ireland Women v Zimbabwe Women (Bready CC); T20I*
- 14 July: Ireland Women v Zimbabwe Women (Bready CC); T20I*
* Matches will form part of three double-header events in conjunction with Ireland Men and Zimbabwe Men
Mar 6, 2019
This International Women’s Day 20×20 are calling on all to #ShowYourStripes and pledge your action to support women and girls in sport. This call is for everyone – NGBs, Athletes, Coaches, Clubs, Participants, LSPs, Schools and the public. There are so many ways to get involved & you can find all the detail below. We cant wait to see you #ShowYourStripes this March 8th!
There are so many ways to #ShowYourStripes. Below are some suggestions:
If you’re female, age 1 to 100, you could pledge to find an activity that you love and keep it up – as a player, as a coach or as a supporter – from football to frisbee, cricket to canoeing, or tennis to triathlon.
If you’re a Sports Fan you could pledge to go to at least 3 women’s games or events this year or build awareness of women in sport by sharing coverage online.
If you’re a Player you could pledge to introduce one or more girls to your sport.
If you’re a Coach you could pledge to give some expertise to developing a female team or athlete.
If you’re a Teacher you could pledge to give more opportunities or support to girls when it comes to sport, to inspire them to get involved or to take the class to a female game or competition.
If you’re an Elite Athlete you could pledge to give a masterclass to girls who are aspiring to get there.
If you’re a Sports Club you could pledge to ensure parity with male and female athletes across the club.
If you’re a Journalist or Publisher you could pledge to give greater visibility to female athletes and teams.
And if you’re a Parent you could pledge to encourage your daughter to find or pursue a sport she loves or bring the whole family to see female athletes in action!
So, get to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram this March 8th and #ShowYourStripes
Feb 20, 2019
Speech by President Michael D. Higgins
at the Reception for the Cork Camogie Team
2018 All Ireland Winners
Áras an Uachtaráin
Tuesday, 19th February 2019
A Dhaoine Uaisle,
agus a Chairde Gael,
Is cúis mhór áthais dom fíorchaoin fáilte a fhearadh romhaibh go léir chuig Áras an Uachtaráin tráthnóna. Tugann sé sásamh faoi leith dom féin agus do Shaidhbhín ár n-aitheantas a thaispeáint díbhse, laochanna camógaigh atá tar éis an duais is tábhachtaí in bhur spóirt a bhuachaint. Cé go bhfuil roinnt míosa imithe ónar bhain sibh an éacht sin amach, is cóir go leanfar an ceiliúradh ar aghaidh go dtí seo ar a laghad!
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends, and of course, our Cork Camogie Team – 2018 All Ireland Winners! I am delighted to warmly welcome you to Áras an Uachtaráin this afternoon.
On behalf of everyone who loves sport, everyone who followed with great interest and pride the exciting and exhilarating All Ireland Camogie Final between Cork and Kilkenny in Croke Park last September, it is both a great pleasure and an honour to join with you and celebrate Cork Camogie Team’s marvellous achievement in winning the All Ireland Camogie Final, one of the largest sporting events in Ireland.
The 2018 All Ireland Camogie final was a most memorable and truly thrilling game from beginning to end, and this was most evident to me at the time, not only in the final heart-stopping moments of the game when Orla Cotter remained calm and composed under pressure to score the winning point that secured Cork’s fantastic win, but I was also struck by the great teamwork. This would not be possible if not for the dedication and commitment that you have all given and the hours of training, often in very cold and inclement weather that this beautiful country of ours offers us.
Teamwork and unity are, of course, paramount in our everyday lives but it also strikes me how wonderfully typical the family connections in Gaelic games are and I am delighted to see that great example in the Murray family – with Aoife Murray (Goalkeeper and Captain), Paudie Murray (Manager), and Kevin Murray (Selector); a truly winning combination!
It was very clear to me on that exciting All Ireland Final Day in September that yours is a team of great unity and mutual respect, always encouraging and championing each other.
Each and every one of you deserve a special mention for your outstanding contributions and achievement and I would like to commend you all for the great example you are to our young people.
Leadership, working as a team, and respect for others are important themes of Gaelic Games and indeed of all sports, and these are qualities that translate right across into community work and everyday life regardless of where you live.
The members of the Cork Camogie Team possibly know more than anyone else that in sport there is never certainty about the outcome, there are no certain winners, but there are always courageous and committed athletes. That is part of the challenging journey each participant in sport must travel, one of the challenges they face and overcome again and again, and it does not get progressively easier.
All of you know only too well how tight the margins are between winning and losing, at the level of competing in excellence, how much courage it takes to face up to those margins, to accept the risks, to commit to the ethic of competing, of being tested rigorously and accepting the outcome whatever it is.
We are very proud of you and are very grateful to you for going the distance in your training and participation, making so many sacrifices, to be the very best.
Your experiences and achievements will serve to inspire the imagination of others, making you inspiring role models for Ireland’s young women.
There is widespread agreement on the importance of sport in the overall development of the human person. It is vital that women participate in sport and are given every opportunity to do so, both from a lifestyle and enjoyment perspective. Irish women’s sport has never been stronger and in recent years the achievements of our female sports stars have contributed enormously to the overall success of Irish Sport. Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael are among those leading the way in providing sporting opportunities for young women throughout Ireland.
Throughout my Presidency I have sought to champion, advance and celebrate women’s achievements, highlighting the need for gender equality in every aspect of life, at home, abroad, and in sport.
It has been a pleasure for Sabina and I to celebrate International Women’s Day here at Áras an Uachtaráin every year and I am delighted to support the – 20×20 If You Can’t See It, You Can’t Be It – initiative; a movement which will shift cultural perception of women’s sport by committing to increase media coverage of women in sport by 20% – because if she can’t see it, she can’t be it.
We will all remember that wonderful day in late November last year, when UNESCO announced recognition of Ireland’s unique sports, Hurling and Camogie, on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
That global acknowledgement of the unique and cultural significance Camogie and Hurling, and of the important role Gaelic games play in Irish society is a tribute to the Gaelic sports associations whose work and volunteering ethos form the beating hearts of so many communities all over the island of Ireland and, indeed, all across the world, as Gaelic games are now played on every continent.
UNESCO’s recognition of the important role Gaelic games play in society, that they are an intrinsic part of Irish culture; they play a central role in promoting health, well-being and inclusiveness, highlights yet again that team spirit, respect for skill, excellence and creativity that are at the very heart of Irish society.
Is féidir linn a bheith brodúil as ár n-oidhreacht Gaelach. Ár dteanga, ár gcultúr, ár gceoil agus ár gcluichí gaelacha. Is féidir linn misneach a bheith againn inár n-ábaltacht deis a thabhairt do phaistí fud fad na tíre, agus i go leor áiteanna thar lear in a bhfuil pobail gaelacha, deis a thabhairt do chailíní agus buachailí óga páirt a ghlacadh sna cluichí seo agus gach tairbhe a bhaint astu.
We can all be very proud of our native sports and of our international reputation for creativity, a reputation which is greatly enhanced by our sportswomen and men and by the countless volunteers who have passed on their love of the game to future generations.
You, our leading Irish sportswomen, will push open the gates to sport for more young women. You inspire future generations of girls to benefit from being more physically strong, mentally healthy, and, most important of all, equal.
You are the female role models that our young women of today and subsequent generations will want to emulate.
To the coaches, families, partners, administrators, officials and supporters, I thank you for everything you have worked to achieve, the long hours, the training sessions, the willing on, the guidance, the sacrifices you had to make to be there for the team, not to mention the heart-stopping moments, that your relatives and the wider public endured during the competitions themselves!
Comhghairdeas libh go léir arís. Go raibh míle maith agaibh
Feb 7, 2019
Investec has, today, launched the inaugural Investec 20×20 Media Awards, to recognise and reward excellence in Irish journalism focused on Women in Sport. Investec is a proud sponsor of 20×20, an initiative presented by The Federation of Irish Sport which calls on the people of Ireland to provide more support for women in sport. In demonstrating its commitment to the initiative, Investec has created this new awards scheme to help change the perceptions of women’s sport. The Investec 20×20 Media Awards recognises that increased visibility will lead to greater cultural recognition of girls and women in sport.
Broadcast, print and online journalists are invited to ‘show their stripes’ and submit entries on Women in Sport via www.investec.ie/20×20 from February to November, with a winner announced each month. Entries to the awards can be submitted by nominees themselves or on behalf of journalists by editors or peers across the media spectrum. Investec’s expert panel of judges will select one outstanding piece of journalism to award each month recognising and acknowledging that journalist’s contribution to women’s sport. The monthly winner will receive a prize of €1,000. An overall annual winner will be announced in December 2019 and awarded the Investec 20×20 Media Award Winner title – ‘If She Can’t See It, She Can’t Be It’ Winner 2019.
Each entry will be examined by an independent panel of judges, comprising of sporting and business leaders. The 2019 judicial panel comprises: Anna Kessel (Chair); Mary O’Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport; Michael Cullen, CEO, Investec; Sarah Colgan, CEO, Along Came A Spider and 20×20 co-founder and Gordon D’Arcy, former Irish International Rugby Player.
The Investec 20×20 Media Awards is about recognising excellence amongst the Irish journalism community in the reporting of women’s sport and the profiling of female athletes. Investec wants to lead the charge and tackle the lack of visibility of Irish sportswomen and aims to drive more print, online and broadcast media coverage in women’s sport. Entries are welcomed from all media. This can include game-changing profiles of inspirational sportswomen, investigative news, opinion pieces, business interviews, articles and interviews from boxing to golf to hockey and every other sport in between.
20×20 commissioned Nielsen Sports to monitor media coverage of sport in the period before launch. The 20×20 Nielsen Sports Study found that just 3% of Print and 4% of Online coverage was dedicated to women’s sport in Ireland.
Based on Nielsen Sports research, 20×20 has estimated television coverage of women’s sport is less than 12%. The 20×20 Nielsen Sports research, launched today, found that 59% of Irish people believe that the media should do more to promote female sport, with 57% wanting to see equality in female and male sporting role models in media. The research also found that 63% of people would like to see Ireland’s sportswomen become national heroes in the same way as our sportsmen.
Anna Kessel, Investec 20×20 Awards judging panel Chair, said: “In celebrating women’s sports journalism the Investec 20×20 Media Awards are sending out a very powerful message: women’s sport is amazing, and of value. For every sports editor who’s ever wondered if it’s worth covering; to every coach who questioned whether girls needed encouraging, and to every sports’ governing body deliberating over how much to invest in their female athletes this year, this initiative makes it clear: women’s sport matters. For that very reason, it is an absolute honour to be part of these ground-breaking awards.”
Michael Cullen, CEO, Investec said: “The Investec 20×20 Media Awards is all about championing women in sport and calling on all media to use their skills, bravery and diligence to support women in sport. In working to increase media coverage for women’s sport by 20% it is fitting that as an official sponsor of 20×20, we recognise and reward media for promoting women in sport – ‘If She Can’t See It, She Can’t Be It’. Investec wants to help change perceptions of women in sport by celebrating and recognising outstanding contributions to journalism in Ireland, and celebrate the contribution of journalists from across the media spectrum – the professionals who act as an independent voice – who challenge pre-conceptions, ask hard questions and push for answers.”
Sarah Colgan, CEO Along Came A Spider and Co-Founder 20×20, added: “The 20×20 campaign is starting to gain real momentum since the initiative launched in October 2018. Media companies have organically picked up on this very important national topic and have taken positive steps towards delivering on one of the key objectives of 20×20, which is to increase the level of coverage of women’s sport across media by 20% by the end of 2020. The Investec 20×20 Media Awards will help us get there.”
Mary O Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport added: “It is hugely important to recognise the work of the media and their value to the 20×20 campaign. As we know, the pillar to increase media coverage by 20% by 2020 relies intrinsically on the hardworking journalists covering women’s sport week in and week out and their colleagues who in the past may not have had the same drive or opportunity to report on women’s sport. I have no doubt that the Investec 20×20 Media Awards will not only encourage more coverage of our female athletes, coaches and teams but also showcase some of the inspiring female sporting role-model stories from around the nation. I look forward to enjoying the submissions to the awards and the fantastic female success stories they will tell.”
www.investec.ie/20×20
