Aug 24, 2016
Now that the curtain has drawn on Rio 2016, Irish sport can reflect on what has been a largely successful Olympic Games for Team Ireland, writes James Galvin.
We have had some wonderful achievements at these Games. Many of our athletes broke national records and achieved career bests, making Irish sporting history in doing so.
The performance (and antics) of brothers Gary and Paul O’Donovan will long live in the memory. Not only did the Skibbereen pair show spectacular athleticism in claiming silver in the lightweight double sculls rowing, they also emerged as Irish heroes with their charisma, charm and wit. This was Ireland’s first ever Olympic medal in rowing, and I think it is safe to say that we certainly haven’t seen the last of the brothers ‘pulling like dogs’ on the international stage.
And who could forget Annalise Murphy, who bounced back terrifically from her disappointment in London four years ago to win silver in the Laser Radial. The delight on the Dun Laoghaire native’s face when she stepped up on the podium at Martina de Gloria melted the hearts of the nation. After coming so agonisingly close in London, nobody could deny her this success.
Team Ireland at the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony
In athletics, Thomas Barr came within 0.05 seconds of a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles, breaking his own national record in the process. Fionnuala McCormack and Paul Pollock performed admirably in the marathon, finishing 20th and 32nd respectively. Rob Heffernan followed up his bronze medal from London with a 6th place finish in the 50km walk in the scorching Rio sunshine, while Brendan Boyce also finished in the top 20. An honourable mention must also go out to Sara Treacy, who qualified for the 3,000m steeplechase final.
Elsewhere, Ireland won its first ever men’s badminton matches at an Olympic Games when Scott Evans qualified for the last 16. The scenes of his wild, shirtless celebrations will live on in our memories for years to come. In cycling, Dan Martin finished an impressive 13th in the men’s road race and in rowing Claire Lambe and Sinead Jennings came 6th in the lightweight double sculls final.
Another big success for Ireland came in the pool, when 23 year-old Oliver Dingley defied the odds by qualifying for the 3m springboard final and finishing 8th. Dingley was the first Irish diver to qualify for the Olympics since 1948. The Irish also finished 8th in the Eventing Team final in a team made up of Clare Abbott, Jonty Evans, Mark Kyle and Padraig McCarthy. Judy Reynolds also made it to the dressage final.
Annalise Murphy celebrates her Laser Radial silver medal
The men’s hockey team made it to the Olympics for the first time since 1908, and were the only non-professional team competing in the tournament. Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern finished 10th in the final of the men’s 49er. And over the last few days of the Games, Natalya Coyle and Arthur Lanigan O’Keefe finished 7th and 8th in the modern pentathlon.
Other notable achievements included Fionnuala McCormack, who clocked 2:31:22 in the marathon, knocking 22 seconds off her personal best in the process. We also had our first ever female gymnast and track cyclist at the Games in Ellis O’Reilly and Shannon McCurley, and an honourable mention must also go out to gymnast Kieran Behan who performed fantastically despite suffering a serious knee injury.
So although it may not have shown in our final medal count, Team Ireland did enjoy significant improvements across the board. Our team of 77 athletes was the largest Ireland has sent to an Olympics since 1948, and when you consider that 127 of the 205 nations who attended the Games have gone home empty handed, we have without a doubt punched above our weight on the international stage once again. The return on investment in Irish sport is clear to see.
But, as we know, the benefit of sport to society stretches far beyond those competing at the elite level. People who regularly partake in sport enjoy huge improvements to their personal health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Indeed, those who take part in sport are, on average, 14 years younger in health terms.
Sport extends across virtually every county, town and village in the country, with more than 500,000 volunteers taking part in it nationwide. Therefore, sport is a huge player in both social inclusion and community development.
Thomas Barr breaks a national record in the 400m hurdles
And that’s not all. Sport also stimulates the economy in a variety of different ways. It supports 40,000 jobs across every constituency in Ireland and it generates a massive €1.9 billion in household spending annually. Sport is also responsible for €1 billion in annual tourism receipts.
The Federation and its members are working tirelessly throughout the country in promoting the wide and varied benefits of sport. Our members’ work has contributed tenfold to a healthier Ireland, both economically and personally. And their success at the Olympics proves that investment in sport is, in fact, working and Ireland is reaping the benefits.
So congratulations to all of Team Ireland, their coaches, support staff, families and friends on a memorable Olympic Games. And best of luck to all of the Irish athletes taking part in the upcoming Paralympic Games. We are already looking forward Tokyo 2020.
James Galvin is the CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport – The Voice of Irish Sport. Follow the Federation on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Jul 28, 2016
CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport James Galvin has described Gary Keegan’s resignation as a “huge loss” to Irish sport, while also wishing him all the best in his new business venture.
Sport Ireland announced today that Keegan will be stepping down as the Director of the Irish Institute of Sport in September to take up a new business venture after eight years in the role.
Speaking about the news, Galvin said: “Gary Keegan’s vision in developing high performance sport has been a revolutionary development that has really put Irish sport on the map.
“His commitment and passion in his pursuit of developing the Irish Institute of Sport was outstanding. The facility is now a state-of-the-art, national sporting asset, and it has significantly enhanced our reputation internationally. Indeed, the Irish Institute of Sport is now a world leader for producing high performing athletes and coaches, and this is largely due to Gary’s hard work.
“There is no doubt that Gary Keegan will be a huge loss to Irish sport. Nonetheless, I would like to wish him the best of luck in his new business venture.”
During his tenure, Keegan established the Irish Institute of Sport as one of the world leaders in the preparation and development of not just high performance athletes, but also high performance coaches.
The Institute has grown to become a significant catalyst in driving the evolution of high performance sport in Ireland and now supports 20 sports and over 250 athletes.
Jul 27, 2016
The Manager of the Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership, Shauna McIntyre, has been selected as the latest addition to the Federation of Irish Sport’s Board of Directors. Her election was ratified at the Federation’s Annual General Meeting, which took place at Irish Sport HQ on Wednesday, 27th July.
Shauna will replace Aideen O’Connor as the Member Category 5 repressentative on the Federation’s Board of Directors. Aideen informed the Board of her decision to resign from the Board earlier this month, so we would like to take this opportunity to thank Aideen for her outstanding commitment and contribution to the Federation over the past two years.
Shauna joined the Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership in April 2015. Prior to taking up her current role, Shauna held various other positions of general management in the sport and health sectors, including management positions in both a health centre and three sport/fitness centres.
Shauna has a passion for sport and physical activity, and during her career she has witnessed first-hand the many economic, health and social benefits it can offer to society. In her role as Manager of the Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership, Shauna is determined to lead her team in building and expanding upon the very positive work already being carried out in the promotion of sport in Ireland.
She believes that strategic partnerships, continued investment, engaging with the local communities and participation levels are vital elements in the continued growth of sport in Ireland.
Jul 27, 2016
The Federation of Irish Sport’s Activities Report 2015-2016 was released today (Wednesday, 27th July) at the company’s Annual General Meeting.
The report provides a detailed account of the Federation’s activities over the past 12 months since last year’s AGM.
To view the report, click here: FIS Activities Report 2016
Jul 19, 2016
The Federation of Irish Sport is delighted to welcome LawOnline on board as our newest Preferred Supplier.
LawOnline is a new legal service for individuals and businesses. In brief, it allows individuals and businesses to draft highly bespoke legal documents online across a broad range of areas such as Employment, Debt Recovery, Company Formation, Commercial Leases, Powers of Attorney, Wills etc. at a very competitive cost. You can also have your document reviewed by LawOnline’s solicitors if you wish at a small extra cost.
LawOnline’s technology is similar to that in use internally in many major global law firms, and LawOnline is now making this available to Irish businesses and individuals.
But what benefit is this to Irish sport?
LawOnline’s Wills service specifically enables the making of legacy gifts to amateur Irish sports clubs.
A gift or an inheritance made to an amateur Irish sports club is exempt from tax in the hands of the club to the extent that the Revenue Commissioners are satisfied that it has been, or will be, applied to purposes which are either ‘public’ or ‘charitable’.
LawOnline enables you to either draft your Will or – if you already have made a Will – to amend it. Their drafting processes also specifically cater for individuals who wish to make a legacy gift to an amateur Irish sports club.
Find out more about LawOnline’s unique service by clicking here.
Jul 13, 2016
Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD today (Wednesday, 13th July) announced an investment package of €7.4 million from Sport Ireland to support grass roots development in rugby, football and Gaelic games.
The announcement follows the €19.1m investment in National Governing Bodies of Sport, €1.8m in direct athlete investment and €5.4m to support the national network of Local Sports Partnerships.
Announcing the package, Minister O’Donovan said: “I’m delighted to announce this significant investment in sport for young people. It is important that opportunities exist for young people to participate and today’s investment will support the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU in continuing their extensive participation programmes aimed at encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in field sports. This investment represents a significant contribution to our communities and to the health and well-being of our young people.”
Today’s announcement will see €2.4 million invested in the GAA, €2.7 million in the FAI and €2.36 million in the IRFU, which will support coach development, club support, under-age programmes, volunteer support programmes, community schemes, referee development and targeting at-risk communities.
Kieran Mulvey, Chairperson of Sport Ireland explained: “We are delighted to announce this investment today. This investment supports Sport Ireland’s strategic aim of increasing participation in sport throughout Ireland. These field sports are based on a shared ethos of developing the grass roots of the games, growing participation numbers and targeting communities outside of the traditional base of the sport.”
Speaking at the announcement at the National Sports Campus, CEO of Sport Ireland John Treacy highlighted the importance of this investment: “Sport Ireland shares a common goal with the GAA, IRFU and FAI to increase participation in sport and physical activity. Today’s investment highlights Sport Ireland’s strategic aim of increasing participation from every age group and from all social backgrounds throughout Ireland, removing barriers that prevent participation in sport.”
