Feb 26, 2018
Press Release: The Federation of Irish Sport announce shortlist for Irish Sport Industry Awards 2018
26 February 2018: The Federation of Irish Sport has announced the shortlist of finalists for the 2018 Sport Industry Awards. The awards, which this year are sponsored by insurance company JLT Ireland were set up in 2015 to highlight the contribution that sport makes to Ireland’s economy both directly and indirectly. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, 7th March in the Banquet Hall at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin 8. The Awards recognise and reward excellence in the business of sport, whilst simultaneously highlighting the contribution of sport to Ireland.
This year there will be two media awards to highlight the important role the media plays in sport in Ireland. These two awards are in collaboration with the Association of Sports Journalists in Ireland (ASJI). In all a total of 12 awards will be distributed on the night, reflecting the diverse nature of Irish sport.
Speaking at the announcement of the short-list, Mary O’Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport, said “The awards were set up to highlight the importance of the business of sport in Ireland. Today sport supports almost 40,000 jobs, represents almost €2.4 billion in household expenditure and has been estimated to contribute almost €1.9 billion in tourism revenue. And that is beyond all of the other contributions sport makes in areas such as health, inclusivity, diversity and reputation both at home and abroad.”
The winners will be determined by a judging panel drawn from both the business and sporting community. The panel is Cliona O’Leary, RTE Sport, Athlete Louise Galvin, Rory Sheridan, Diageo Ireland, Liam Harbison, Sport Ireland Institute, Larry Fenelon, Leman Solicitors, Cathal Dervan ASJI, Rob Hartnett, Sport for Business, Amanda Harton, JLT, Deirdre McDermott, OSK Accountants and Business Consultants, Mark Doyle, AIB and John Aherne, GolfGraffix, two of last year’s winners.
The full list of those shortlisted is as follows
Category 1: DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
AIB/GAA – Club and County
IRFU/Vodafone – Team of Us
Basketball Ireland – Overall Digital Strategy
Triathlon Ireland – Overall Digital Strategy
GAA – GAANOW
Motorsport Ireland– Overall Digital Strategy
Shamrock Rovers – #FootballLovesUs
Category 2. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AWARD
Louth LSP – Inclusibility Project 2017
Cricket Ireland – Get Into Cricket
Boxing Ireland – Cashen Vale Boxing Club
CARA – Fit4All
FAI – Inclusive NGB
Gymnastics Ireland – GymABLE
GAA – Healthy Club
Category 3. CAMPAIGN OR PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
Vodafone/ IRFU – Team of Us
AIB/GAA – Jeff and Kammy Journey to Croker
IRFU – Women’s Rugby World Cup
AIG – Dublin GAA
Lidl – Ladies Football
Largo Foods – Basketball Ireland
Category 4. GOVERNING BODY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Ladies Gaelic Football Association
Cricket Ireland
Gymnastics Ireland
Triathlon Ireland
Tennis Ireland
Swim Ireland
Category 5. LOCAL SPORTS PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD
Limerick Local Sports Partnership – Sports Inclusion Club
Waterford Local Sport Partnership – WSP Balance Bike Programme
Laois Local Sport Partnership – Transformation Programme for women over 50
Clare Local Sport Partnership – Active Primary Schools programme
Cork Local Sports Partnership – Cork Sports Ability
Category 6. SPORTS EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
LGFA – TG4 All Ireland Ladies Gaelic Football Finals 2017
IRFU – Women’s Rugby World Cup
IRFU – Six Nations Match Ireland vs England
Badminton Ireland – FZ Forza Irish Open 2017
Basketball Ireland – FIBA U18 Women’s Europeans
Category 7. BEST COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP AWARD
Lidl – Ladies Gaelic Football
Largo Foods – Hula Hoops Basketball Cup
AIG – Dublin GAA
Electric Ireland – Minor GAA
Fighter.ie – Broadcasting of Mixed Martial Arts
Category 8. JIMMY MAGEE AWARD FOR SPORT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Vincent Hogan – Irish Independent
Roy Curtis – Sunday World
Kieran Cunningham – Irish Daily Star
Malachy Clerkin – The Irish Times
Sinead Kissane – TV3
Niall Kelly – The42.ie
Keith Duggan – The Irish Times
Category 9. SPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Clubify – Community engagement app
SportsTechIreland – Developing Sport Technology Companies
SportsJoe.ie – Broadcasting Sport
Fota Island Adventure – Sport Experience and training
KitmanLabs – Athlete optimization system
Category 10. SPORTS MEDIA OUTLET OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Irish Times – Women in Sport
The 42.ie – Digital journalism
The Irish Examiner – Overall regional and national sport coverage
The Irish Independent- Tee to Green
Off the Ball.com – Digital Sports Show
Category 11. SPORTING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
Motorsport.ie – Broadcasting own content
Irish Sailing – Water Sport Inclusion Games
Dublin Simon Community – A Gym for the Homeless
Complyfile – Software Platform for Voluntary Organisations
Rowing Ireland – Get Going – Get Rowing
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For further information, visit www.irishsportindustryawards.ie and www.irishsport.ie.
For media enquiries contact:
Shane Nolan/Kate FitzGerald; Wilson Hartnell PR
shane.nolan@ogilvy.com / kate.fitzgerald@ogilvy.com
086 0835402 / 086 3873083
Feb 26, 2018
The Irish Sport Industry Awards in association with JLT Ireland will be hosted at the Smock Alley Theatre on 7th March, we had a great response to entries and below is a shortlist of those entered, winners will be announced on the night. For more information www.irishsportindustryawards.ie
Category 1: DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
AIB/GAA – Club and County
IRFU/Vodafone – Team of Us
Basketball Ireland – Overall Digital Strategy
Triathlon Ireland – Overall Digital Strategy
GAA – GAANOW
Motorsport Ireland– Overall Digital Strategy
Shamrock Rovers – #FootballLovesUs
Category 2. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AWARD
Louth LSP – INCLUSIBILITY PROJECT 2017 Cricket Ireland – Get Into Cricket
Boxing Ireland – Cashen Vale Boxing Club
CARA – FIT4ALL
FAI – CARA/Sport Ireland Inclusive NGB
Gymnastics Ireland – Gymable
GAA – Healthy Club
Category 3. CAMPAIGN OR PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
Vodafone/ IRFU – Team of Us
AIB/GAA – Jeff and Kammy Journey to Croker
IRFU – Women’s Rugby World Cup
AIG – Dublin GAA
Lidl – Ladies Football
Largo Foods – Basketball Ireland
Category 4. GOVERNING BODY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Ladies Gaelic Football Association
Cricket Ireland
Gymnastics Ireland
Triathlon Ireland
Tennis Ireland
Swim Ireland
Category 5. LOCAL SPORT PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD
Limerick Local Sports Partnership – Sports Inclusion Club
Waterford Local Sport – WSP Balance Bike Programme
Laois Local Sport Partnership – Transformation Programme for women over 50
Clare Local Sport Partnership – Active Primary Schools programme
Cork Local Sports Partnership – Cork Sports Ability
Category 6. SPORTS EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
LGFA – TG4 All Ireland Ladies Gaelic Football Finals 2017
IRFU – Women’s Rugby World Cup
IRFU – Six Nations Match Ireland vs England
Badminton Ireland – FZ Forza Irish Open 2017
Basketball Ireland – FIBA U18 Women’s Europeans
Category 7. BEST COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP AWARD
Lidl – Ladies Gaelic Football
Largo Foods – Hula Hoops Basketball Cup
AIG – Dublin GAA
Electric Ireland – Minor GAA
Fighter.ie – Broadcasting of Mixed Martial Arts
Category 8. JIMMY MAGEE AWARD FOR SPORT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Vincent Hogan – Irish Independent
Roy Curtis – Sunday World
Kieran Cunningham – Irish Daily Star
Malachy Clerkin – The Irish Times
Sinead Kissane – TV3
Niall Kelly – The42.ie
Keith Duggan – The Irish Times
Category 9. SPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Clubify – Community engagement app
SportTech – Developing Sport Technology Companies
SportsJoe.ie – Broadcasting Sport
Fota Island Adventure – Sport Experience and training
KitmanLabs – Athlete optimization system
Category 10. SPORTS MEDIA OUTLET OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Irish Times – Women in Sport
The 42.ie – Journalism off print
The Irish Examiner – Overall regional and national sport coverage
The Irish Independent- Tee to Green
Off the Ball.com- Digital Sports Show
Category 11. SPORTING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
Motorsport.ie – Broadcasting own content
Irish Sailing – Water Sport Inclusion Games
Dublin Simon Community – A Gym for the Homeless
Complyfile – Software Platform for Voluntary Organisations
Rowing Ireland – Get Going – Get Rowing
Feb 16, 2018
Federation of Irish Sport Welcomes Government’s Long-Term Commitment to Sport in Project 2040 Development Plan
Press Release
16th February 2018
The Federation of Irish Sport welcomes the Government’s long-term commitment to the development of sport in Ireland as outlined in its Project 2040 Development Plan published today. In particular, the Federation welcomes the commitment to: –
- a Sports Capital Fund of €100 million over the next 4 years
- the completion of the National Sports Campus by 2021 with more new facilities for sports such as cricket and tennis.
- a new Large Scale Infrastructure Fund of €100 million for larger sports projects.
The Federation welcomes the commitment to funding of facilities that undoubtedly will positively transform the sporting landscape. We remain conscious however of the importance of the availability of qualified people and targeted programmes to allow the potential of any sports facility to be maximised. In this regard, we will continue to work on behalf of our members to ensure that the current funding that plays a crucial role in supporting these people and programmes increases in the coming years.
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For further information, please contact:-
Mary O’Connor, Chief Executive, Federation of Irish Sport Tel: 086 0437884
Feb 6, 2018
From Athletics Ireland
The President and Board of Athletics Ireland have today announced the appointment of Hamish Adams as their new C.E.O. The decision was ratified last night at an Athletics Ireland board meeting and Hamish will succeed John Foley who is retiring at the end of April, 2018. Hamish will join Athletics Ireland in May having spent five years as C.E.O of Rowing Ireland.
Commenting on his new role, Hamish Adams said “I feel very privileged to take up the role of Chief Executive of Athletics Ireland. I look forward to engaging with all the Athletics Ireland stakeholders. Ireland has a proud history and tradition in athletics and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth at the commencement of my role as C.E.O in early May. High Performance and coaching as well as the national health agenda to increase physical activity levels are areas I am especially passionate about and I plan to contribute significantly in these areas with the Athletics Ireland Team”.
Commenting on the new appointment, President of Athletics Ireland, Georgina Drumm said “The board is delighted to welcome Hamish as the new C.E.O of Athletics Ireland. We were overwhelmed with the interest in the role which gave a positive reflection on how our sport is viewed. We are pleased to have someone of Hamish’s calibre and experience to be joining our team”.
She added “I would like to thank John for the significant contribution he has made to every aspect of our sport over an eight year period as C.E.O and he will continue to do so until his retirement in April 2018.”
ENDS
Claire Shannon – Claireshannon@athleticsireland.ie
Feb 2, 2018
NGB Funding Key to an Active and Healthier Ireland
02 February 2018,
Sport Ireland announced on Thursday, 1st February, details of grant funding of €20.7 million to National Governing Bodies to support both day to day operations (€10.8 million) and high performance programmes (€7 million) of 56 different sports. A further €600,000 was announced to support women in sport programmes.
Investment is on a similar to 2017 with Sport Ireland funding still some way off the peak of €57 million achieved in 2007. These monies exclude the funding made available to the three field sports namely, the FAI, IRFU & GAA which amounted to over €7 million in 2017. 2018 investment is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. It was confirmed that €1.9 million in direct athlete investment is to be confirmed in coming weeks.
Commenting on the announcement of this year’s Sport Ireland NGB grant funding, Federation of Irish Sport CEO, Mary O’Connor said,
“Funding levels to NGBs are broadly in line with 2017. This is to be expected given as announced in the Budget Sport Ireland funding remained more or less flat on last year’s level. NGBs have a vital role to play in ensuring a more people have access to sporting opportunity. This is because each of our member organisations plays a key role in ensuring their sport happens in Ireland.
NGBs are responsible for development programmes, programmes targeted at encouraging hard to reach elements of society, coach education, training officials, child protection, high performance as well as administration of competition is vital to ensure an increase both in opportunities to participate in sport and allowing those who do partake to fulfil their potential whatever that may be.
We were heartened that in his leadership election manifesto the current Taoiseach and a former Minister for Sport outlined his intention to double the funding available to sport over the next seven years. We do hope that we will begin to see delivery on that commitment in this year’s budget as all of our members are committed to assisting in the delivery of the vision of a more active and healthier Ireland a reality. However, resources both financial and human are vital in ensuring this can and will happen.”
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