Nov 12, 2024
Pictured above: Mary O’Connor CEO Federation of Irish Sport, Olympian Sarah Lavin, Phelim Mackin Coordinator Limerick Sports Partnership
Double Olympic hurdler Sarah Lavin was on hand to lend her voice to the launch of the 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards, a national celebration of the extraordinary individuals who contribute to the vibrant fabric of Irish sports.
Hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport and supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships these prestigious awards recognise the selfless volunteers who dedicate their time, skills, and passion to support sports clubs and community organisations across Ireland.
- Supported by the Sport Ireland National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships
- Nominations open from 12th November – 17th December 2024
- To nominate a volunteer visit volunteersinsport.ie
- #dedicatedtothededicated
The 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards will bring together individuals from all 32 counties to celebrate their commitment to fostering participation and ensuring that sport is accessible to all. Their contributions not only inspire communities but also enable clubs and organisations to thrive, supporting social cohesion and well-being across Ireland. Without their dedication, many sporting opportunities simply would not exist. Nominations are now open and the awards celebration will take place in Dublin in February 2025.
Ambassador for the 2024 Awards Track and field star and double Olympian Sarah Lavin commented: “High performance sport in Ireland as well as grassroots relies so heavily on volunteers. We cannot take for granted the time and dedication of people who step up and volunteer on a weekly basis. They deserve to be celebrated for the positive change they bring to communities across Ireland. It’s truly an honour to support this celebration of the people who make sport possible for all of us at every level.”
In every corner of the country, from city centres and suburbs to rural villages, over 460,000 volunteers work tirelessly each week to bring sport and physical activity to life for people of all ages*. The impact of their work is profound, providing multi-generational opportunities to engage in sport, build communities, and promote healthy lifestyles. The economic value of their contribution is estimated to be worth €1.5bn to the Irish economy**.
“The goodwill and work of volunteers cannot be taken for granted,” said Mary O’Connor CEO Federation of Irish Sport. “These awards are our chance to say thank you and in acknowledging the incredible efforts volunteers make, ensure that we continue to encourage more people to get involved and safeguard the future of sport in the country.”
The Volunteers in Sport Awards is a vital opportunity to recognise their efforts and to shine a light on the invaluable contribution they make to Irish sport and society.
A National Network of Support
Supporting the awards is the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships. Limerick Sports Partnership Coordinator Phelim Macken remarked: “The event is proudly supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), which work to increase participation in sport and physical activity by breaking down barriers and encouraging inclusivity. Through the work of the partnerships, more people across Ireland are getting active, and the Volunteers in Sport Awards is a fitting tribute to those who help make this possible”.
Nomination Process
Nominations for the 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards are open from Tuesday, 12th November 2024, until Tuesday, 17th December 2024. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate deserving volunteers from their club or sporting organisation who have made a significant contribution or impact to their local club or community. For more information and to submit a nomination, visit www.volunteersinsport.ie
ENTRIES NOW LIVE!
*Sport Ireland – Irish Sports Monitor 2023
** Sport Ireland – Economic Value of Sport Report 2021
Oct 16, 2024
♻ Following the recent launch of the MyWaste Sports club toolkit, supported by the Federation of Irish Sport, MyWaste are now inviting you to a FREE online masterclass designed specifically for sports club leaders like YOU!
Register today!
Event Details:
· Date: Monday, 21st October 2024
· Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
· Location: Online
👉During this webinar, you’ll discover:
✅ Winning strategies to eliminate single-use plastics and reduce your club’s environmental footprint.
✅Pro tips on implementing the FREE MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit, packed with resources to simplify your sustainability journey.
✅Inspiring stories from other clubs who are already scoring big with their waste management initiatives.
✅Live Q&A – Get all your burning sustainability questions answered by the experts!
💻Secure your spot now, click to register: https://dv4-com.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TF2LViFWQAyHr2t3AwsD_g#/registration
Don’t miss this chance to make a real impact – for your club, your community, and the planet. 🌎
Apr 9, 2024
Due to demand, The Federation of Irish Sport with support from the Sport Ireland Women in Sport fund are running a second Board Readiness Training programme for females who have recently been appointed to an NGB/LSP board or who have never served on a board of a sporting organisation but have an interest in this area.
The programme will give an overview of the following topics.
- Sporting landscape
- Sport and Gender Equality
- Legal context
- Governance
- Sporting Boards
- Membership
- Strategy
It will take place online via zoom on the following dates (Course is 4 weeks long)
- Wednesday April 17th 7-9pm
- Wednesday April 24th 7-9pm
- Wednesday May 1st 7-9pm
- Wednesday May 8th 7-9pm
Presented by Sarah O Shea
Sarah O’ Shea is a qualified solicitor and holds an International Masters in Sports Law and Management. As a consultant Sarah works with a variety of sporting bodies including Sport Ireland, Rowing Ireland, Golf Ireland, Irish Boxing, Gymnastics Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland, Irish Squash, Irish Canoeing, and various others. She provides consultancy services including governance, strategic planning, training and advisory. She also works for two pharma clients providing governance consultancy services. With a colleague Sarah also designed and delivers a Women in Sport Leadership programme which has seen over 400 women attend since 2020.
It promises to be both informative and interactive programme that will ensure candidates are prepared to operate effectively at board level.
The programme is free, but places are limited and will be on a first come first served basis.
If you are interested or need more information, please contact alison.deane@irishsport.ie
Deadline for applications is COB on Friday April 12th 2024
Apr 8, 2024
Presented by our proud partners: 2into3 and OSK
In this members only event, our partners at 2into3 will discuss maximising your funding potential through grant availability, fundraising strategy, and sharing tips on creating maximum impact with limited resources. This topic will be led by 2into3’s funding advisory team Rob Foley and Patricia Keenan, who have previously occupied senior positions in sporting organisations, whilst others have more than two decades of experience in voluntary and professional roles within the sports sector.
Additional contribution will be made by partners OSK, Deirdre McDermott Audit Partner with details on how to approach grant funding from an accountancy perspective, the treatment of them from receipt of the award letter to full transparency of the financial process. There will also be an inclusion of an anonymised case study.
Topics include:
- The importance of diversifying your funding model
- Grant Availability for Sports Organisations
- How to ensure your organisation is ‘Grant Ready’
- Reviewing your Fundraising Strategy
- Ensuring your Fundraising Strategy is Sustainable
- Creating high impact with limited capacity
Meet the Speakers
Patricia Keenan, Director of Grants & Economic Services 2into3
- Patricia holds over a decade of experience in the public and voluntary sector across the island of Ireland and in London.
- She has worked for local authorities, government departments and social enterprises at a senior level before embarking on consulting in 2005.
- To date, the Grants & Economic Services team have secured over €3m in capital project funding for sporting bodies and non-profit organisations. In the latest round of Sports Capital Grant applications, Patricia helped 14 clubs and sporting organisations to secure a total of €2 million in grants.
Rob Foley, Head of Fundraising Advisory Practice 2into3
- Rob pioneered the development of wealth screening services for fundraising organisations in Ireland through prospect research specialist, Prospect 23, much of his work now centres on relationship-based fundraising campaigns, wider strategy development and board engagement.
- Rob offers a range of fundraising services, including fundraising research, fundraising strategy review, strategy development and campaign support. Most recently, Rob worked with Feed Cork to diversify their income stream through a tailored fundraising strategy.
Matt McKerrow, Associate Consultant 2into3
- Matt McKerrow is an Associate at 2into3, delivering strategy and governance assignments with non-profits, particularly sporting organisations.
- Matt brings extensive knowledge and expertise developed over two decades in CEO and government peak body roles spanning the Irish, Australian and New Zealand not for profit and high-performance sporting contexts.
- Prior to 2into3, Matt served as CEO of a number of Irish governing bodies of sport – including Hockey Ireland, Cycling Ireland, and Triathlon Ireland.
Deirdre McDermott, Audit Partner OSK
- Deirdre is Audit Partner in OSK and specialises in providing audit and business advisory services to owner-managed businesses.
- A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Deirdre has worked in audit for over 20 years and has gained extensive experience and business knowledge across a range of industry sectors.
- Deirdre’s passion for sport and sporting background makes her the ideal adviser to members of the Federation of Irish Sport.
- Deirdre has previously lectured in financial management at UCD and in Sports Management. She has also lectured on the Executive Administration & Risk Management Programme for the World Academy of Sport.
For details to register email: info@irishsport.ie
Jan 31, 2024
🌟 Exciting Presentations Ahead at the Federation of Irish Sport Annual Leaders Forum 2024🌟
🏆 About the Event: The Federation of Irish Sport proudly presents its highly anticipated Annual Leaders Forum. This inaugural gathering of the Federation brings together department officials, sector leaders, commercial partners and senior management of our member organisations to discuss and learn about latest policy developments directly relating to the sector, and importantly to connect with peers in sport.
🎤 Keynote Speakers: Prepare to be inspired by our line-up of esteemed keynote speakers who are at the forefront of shaping the future of sport in Ireland. Gain valuable insights and strategies to elevate your organisation and drive positive change in the sporting community.
🤝 Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow attendees, create new partnerships, and exchange ideas during pre and post-event networking. Build relationships that will propel your initiatives forward and contribute to the growth of Irish sports.
🌟 Highlights:
- Engaging panel discussions
- Informative sector specific presentations
- Exclusive networking opportunities
We’re thrilled to announce the line-up of dynamic presentations and discussions featuring prominent figures in the sports and not-for-profit sector:
🎤 Mary O’Connor: Launch of FIS Strategic Plan (2024-2029) Be part of the unveiling of the Federation of Irish Sport’s ambitious Strategic Plan for the next five years. Discover the vision, goals, and initiatives that will drive the future of Irish sports development.
🎤 James Lavelle: Update on the National Sports Policy (2018-2027), followed by a Q&A Gain insights into the progress and impact of the National Sports Policy and participate in a lively Q&A session with James Lavelle, providing valuable perspectives on the future of sports policy in Ireland.
🎤 Tim Duggan: Pension Auto-enrolment: What it means for the Sports sector employers and employees Explore the implications and opportunities of Pension Auto-enrolment for both employers and employees in the sports sector, presented by Tim Duggan Assistant Secretary General at Department of Social Protection.
🎤 Éilis Murray: Overview of the new National Philanthropy Policy (2024-2028) Delve into the details of the newly introduced National Philanthropy Policy and its potential impact on the sports sector, presented by Éilis Murray, CEO Philanthropy Ireland.
🎤 Dennis O’Connor & Rob Foley (2into3): Keynote Address on Philanthropy & Sport: Participation, Performance, and Potential Join Dennis O’Connor, CEO and Rob Foley, Director of Fundraising from 2into3 as they explore the intersection of philanthropy and sports, highlighting the crucial role it plays in fostering participation, enhancing performance, and unlocking potential.
🎤 Matt McKerrow (2into3): Roundtable and Q&A with Industry Experts Engage in a dynamic roundtable discussion and Q&A session moderated by Matt McKerrow Associate Consultant from 2into3, featuring insights from industry experts including Dennis O’Connor, Rob Foley, Patricia Keenan, Director of Grants 2into3, James O’Callaghan, Performance Director at Irish Sailing, and John Feehan CEO of Basketball Ireland.
We look forward to these insightful presentations and discussions that will help shape the future of Irish sports.
Oct 25, 2023
The Federation was delighted to host a special member gathering in-person and live streamed event which brought together our members to hear from insights from their peers about increasing your sporting organisation’s commercial viability, delivering successful sporting events, running promotional campaigns, and reaching a wider audience.
We would like to sincerely thank Caroline Donnellan, Director of Marketing and Brand at Sky for sharing their concept and strategy behind their partnership with the FAI Women’s National Team and supporting their World Cup campaign with the multi award winning Outbelieve sponsorship campaign.
To view the recording click on the image.
The event moderated by Jill Downey, Chief Sustainability and Sponsorship Officer at Core featured a roundtable panel discussion with our members Anne McCormack CEO Hockey Ireland, Nathaniel Cope Head of Communications, Media & Digital Basketball Ireland, Patrick Haslett of Impact3Zero and Andrew May CFO Cricket Ireland. To conclude there was a spotlight on our Partners HBV Live with CEO Heatley Tector, Ross McMullen MD of Camden Promotions and Ronan Burns Head of Sales and Business Development at Future Ticketing.
A huge word of thanks to our hosts at HBV Live for their hospitality, professionalism and excellent studio facilities.
