Federation of Irish Sport Conference 2014- Picture Gallery

Jun 2, 2014

Federation of Irish Sport Annual Conference 2014, 29th May- ‘Shaping Sport’s Future’

Udo's Choice announced as sponsors of Triathlon Ireland's Coach Education Programme

May 28, 2014

Yesterday, 27^th May, 2014, Triathlon Ireland announced Udo’s Choice as official sponsors of the organisations expanding coach education programme.

With membership of Triathlon Ireland having grown 15% in 2013 and this year seeing membership increases of over 1000 on the same time as last year, the need for a world class coach education programme is evident. At elite level Ireland now has more triathletes than ever before vying for qualification for the Olympic Games in Rio, along with, for the first time ever, medal opportunities in paratriathlon at the Paralympic Games. The talent amongst the younger ages is also burgeoning with 17 athletes on the Irish Youth and Junior Squad, up from 6 just a year ago.

With nutrition and recovery being such a key ingredient in triathlon success the partnership is good news for Irish triathletes at all levels as they can now tap into the knowledge and expertise of the rapidly growing Co. Wicklow based brand.

Commenting on the partnership, Triathlon Ireland CEO Chris Kitchen said:

“It is fantastic to partner up with a company such as Udo’s Choice. Their sponsorship of the Triathlon Ireland Coaching Programme will not only enable us to drive this hugely important area forward but also is a great fit for the organisation with products that can be of real benefit to training. Coaching is a foundation to the development of triathlon and we look forward to a close working relationship with Udo’s Choice to help us develop and strengthen Triathlon in Ireland.”

Udo’s Choice is part of a family of brands from Naturalife Health, which also includes Cleanmarine Krill Oil and One Nutrition, all of which will be utilised by Triathlon Ireland as part of the sponsorship.

Announcing the sponsorship Naturalife Health director Darragh Hammond said:

“Triathlon Ireland and Udo’s Choice is an ideal partnership as the interest in endurance sports has quickly grown over the last number of years, particularly with those now keen to take part in triathlons. This is the perfect example of our focus on fuelling athletes and improving performance as triathletes are very aware of the nutritional requirements needed to compete at this level. Being a cyclist myself I know first-hand how closely nutrition is tied to performance”.

Over the course of the year Udo’s Choice will be teaming up with Triathlon Ireland at coach education courses and triathlon events around the country as well as providing a wealth of nutritional advice and tips on the Triathlon Ireland website and monthly newsletter.

Federation of Irish Sport Conference 2014- Partners and Exhibitors

May 24, 2014

Partners and Exhibitors at the Event

We are delighted to announce this years partners for the event are:

Coca Cola Thank You Fund– will distribute €125,000 in five grants of €25,000 in 2014. These grants will provide major funding for sport and activity programmes taking an innovative approach to getting local communities moving. Apply here

Diageo– kindly providing the Storehouse venue for the conference

JLT Ireland– in partnership with the Federation of Irish Sport, have introduced an insurance facility specifically designed for National Governing Bodies and sports clubs.Click Here for more information

Exhibitors at the event are:

Federation of Irish Sport Preferred Partners exhibiting-

Tifco Hotel Group/Crowne Plaza Hotels- hotels in Dublin and around Ireland (special rates for FIS members attending the conference)

Future Fit– helping sport reduce their energy costs

OSK– Auditors and Accountants

Print Depot– experts in printed communication

Exhibitors-

Failte Ireland Major Events Unit– support for bringing sports events and tourists to Ireland

MyClubFinances– fundraising solutions for your sport

Performa Sports– performance analysis in sport

Promocraft– high quality Irish made Awards and Gifts

RISC Manager– Regulatory and Compliance Software

UCD Centre for Sports Studies– launching a new MSc in Coaching and Exercise Science in 2014

2into3– Ireland’s specialist advisors and capacity builders for the not-for-profit sector

Supporters of the Event are:

JKS Communications– providing research led policy insights and public affairs programmes

Teamwear.ie– providing you with direct access to Europe’s Award Winning Teamwear at the lowest prices

TRB Associates – one of Ireland’s longest established recruitment consultancies

Delegate Pack information:

SportsJobs.ie – the specialist sports jobs and information board

Business Card Draw- Great Prizes offered on the day include:

• iPad Air (JLT)
• iPad Mini and 12month performance analysis software (Performa)
• Weekend family stay (Crowne Plaza Hotel Blanchardstown)- Two Nights Bed & Breakfast with Dinner on One Night for up to Two Adults & Two Children (under 12) sharing a twin room. The prize also includes a family ticket to one of the following attractions – Aquazone at the National Aquatic Centre, Dublin Zoo or Tayto Park.
• Energy Advice Voucher worth €2k (FutureFit)
• Tablet device (OSK)
• €250 voucher (Teamwear.ie)
• Case of Wine (RISC Manager)
• 2 Tickets to major sports events (FAI, GAA, IRFU)
• Panel Presentation gifts by Promocraft

Don’t forget to put your card in the bowl, If you’re not in you can’t win!

Federation of Irish Sport Conference 2014- Full details

May 23, 2014

MEMBERS EVENT- If you havent already booked, you can book your tickets here http://www.eventbrite.ie/e/federation-of-irish-sport-conference-2014-shaping-sports-future-tickets-6305819877

The 2nd Federation of Irish Sport Annual Conference #ShapingSportsFuture will be hosted at the Guinness Storehouse on Thursday 29th May 2014. Keynote speaker will be  Dr Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport. the schedule for the day is as follows-

15:30 Registration

16:00 Official Opening and Welcome Address- Sarah O’Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport

16:05 Keynote Address- Dr. Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

Overview of the industry, opportunities and challenges ahead

16:20 PANEL 1- The future funding of Sport in Ireland

How sport is funded in Ireland and how it best needs to be funded in future to ensure sustainability and success

Dr Leo Varadkar- Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Keynote speaker)

Leo Varadkar is a TD for Dublin West and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.  He is the youngest member of the Irish Government and was appointed to office by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny in March 2011.

First elected to Dáil Eireann (House of Representatives) in 2007, he is a former Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.  Prior to his election to the Dáil, he served as a member of Fingal County Council from October 2003. He received the highest vote in Ireland in the Local Elections of 2004, and was elected Leas-Cathaoirleach of the county.

He has taken a strong interest in political reform proposing and securing government support for a more transparent system of making public appointments and authored the first policy paper calling for a reduction in the number of State agencies.

Born and raised in the Blanchardstown/Castleknock area, Leo studied medicine in Trinity College, Dublin where he earned a BA, BAO, BCh and MB in 2003. He worked in several hospitals before opting for General Practice.

Bernard Allen- Board Member, Irish Sports Council, Chairman of the NGB Committee and former Minister for Sport

First elected to Dáil Éireann in 1981, Bernard Allen retained his seat at each subsequent general election until his retirement in 2011. A front bench spokesperson for Health, Social Welfare, Environment and Local Government, Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sport and Recreation, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Education and the Environment with special responsibility for Youth and Sport. Bernard is a member of the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland, Bol Chumann na hEireann, Golfing Union of Ireland, GAA and FAI.

Hugo MacNeill- MD, Goldman Sachs Ireland and Chairman, Ireland Funds

Hugo McNeil is Managing Director at Goldman Sachs (Ireland).  A former international rugby player, Hugo played for Ireland for eight seasons between 1981 and 1988 and scored ten tries.  In 1983 he toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions and he also played in the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. A graduate of Oxford, he is currently Chair of Ireland’s working bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.  Hugo is also Chair of the Ireland Funds.

Garrett Kelleher– Executive Chairman, Shelbourne Development Group and St Patrick’s Athletic FC

Garret Kelleher is the founder and Executive Chairman of Shelbourne Development Group and owner of League of Ireland football club St Patrick’s Athletic FC, as well as a significant shareholder in Dolmen Securities, a Dublin based regulated stock brokerage, investment advisor and corporate finance house.  Sponsorships of events have included the Irish Tennis Open in the past.

In 2013, Garrett Kelleher was named to the Advisory Board for the US-Ireland Alliance, a non-profit organization with a focus on educating Americans about Ireland and strengthening ties between the two countries through culture and business.  Kelleher also sits on the Board of Regents at Ave Maria University in Florida.

17:10 Audience discussion and Q&A

17:20 PANEL 2- The role of sport in Irish Society

The broader role sport plays in Irish society in terms of health, social inclusion, tourism, and international reputation

Andy Reed, OBE- Chair, UK Sport and Recreation Alliance

Andy is the Chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance. With a very strong background in the sector he served arguably the UK’s sportiest constituency – Loughborough – with distinction for 13 years. As an MP he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Kate Hoey while she was Sports Minister and also introduced the 10 Minute Rule Bill for Community Amateur Sports Club legislation as well as chairing various sports committees in parliament – including the CCPRs own Sports Caucus.

Now director of his own company, SajeImpact and Senior Partner at Green and Gold he leads his local county sports partnership, is chair of the voice of sports volunteers (SSPV) and of the BBL Foundation, as well as a board member of Special Olympics GB and Sports Chaplaincy UK.

He also sits on the board of International Aid agency World Vision UK. Andy continues to turn out for his beloved Birstall Rugby Club where he has played for the last 25 years. He is a co-founder of the Sports Think Tank – the UKs only independent think tank dedicated to sports issues. He was awarded the OBE in 2012 for services to sport and the community.

Brendan Kenny- Assistant Dublin City Manager

Brendan Kenny is Assistant Dublin City Manager. He has responsibility for Community and Social Development as well as Art, Culture, Recreation and Amenity Services in the City.

Part of this remit includes the strategic management of Dublin City Council’s Sport and Events brief including:

• Citywide Leisure & Fitness provision
• Sports Development and the Dublin City Sports Network
• Major Event Bidding, Promotion and Staging
• Tourism
• The provision of Sports centres, playing pitches, All weather facilities.
• The promotion of Social Enterprise and job Activation in Dublin City.

From 2007 to 2012 Brendan worked as Chief Executive of the Limerick Regeneration Agencies. Prior to 2007 he was Assistant Dublin City Manager with responsibility for Housing and Community Services.

Kate O’Flaherty – Director of Health and Wellbeing Programme, Department of Health

Kate O’Flaherty graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a BSc(Pharm) in 1993 and registered as a pharmacist  the following year. After completing an MSc in the School of Pharmacy in Trinity in 1997, Kate worked  in both community pharmacy practice and with the national drug addiction services. In 1999/2000 she undertook an MA in Journalism and subsequently worked for a number of years as a freelance journalist and communications consultant, specialising in health. She was the health feature writer for the (now defunct) Sunday Tribune newspaper from 2001-2003, and was shortlisted for a National Media Award in 2002.

Kate was recruited by the PSI in 2007 shortly after the introduction of the Pharmacy Act 2007 to manage the developing communications functions and requirements of the new regulatory body, This position also included the role as Irish lead for the 2013 International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Dublin Congress following the successful Irish bid for this event. In March 2010 Kate was assigned the additional role of Head of Pharmacy Practice Development with the PSI.

From 2008-2013 Kate worked with colleagues, Council members and stakeholders on a range of projects and initiatives in relation to the expansion of pharmacy services and development of the pharmacy profession. In July 2013, Kate was seconded from the PSI to the Department of Health to the post of Director of the Health and Wellbeing Programme.

This recently established Programme is primarily charged with coordinating the cross-sectoral implementation of the new National Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025 – Healthy Ireland., which is overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy chaired by An Taoiseach. A key initial and exemplar project under the Healthy Ireland Framework is the development of a National Physical Activity Plan.

Fiona Coughlan- Irish Rugby Captain and PE Teacher

Born in 1981 and raised in Clontarf, Dublin 3, Fiona played Basketball, Hockey and Gaelic Football in Holy Faith Clontarf growing up. She took up rugby when she went to study PE teaching in University of Limerick.  With 80 caps for Ireland Fiona’s honours include; 1 Grand Slam Championship, 2 Interprovincial Championships with Leinster. 11 All Ireland League Titles with UL Bohemians RFC and last year was named the Irish Times/Irish Sport Council Sportswoman of the Year. Fiona is currently a PE and Maths teacher in Lucan Community College in Dublin.

Keith McCormack, Director of Visit Dublin and Head of Events Ireland, at Fáilte Ireland

Keith’s responsibilities include the marketing and promotion of Dublin as a destination (including the Dublin Convention Bureau), and responsibility for the following tourism sectors in Ireland – cultural, sporting and business tourism events. He is also a Director of St. Patrick Days Festival Ltd.

Keith joined Fáilte Ireland from Greenstar where he was Head of Marketing with responsibility for B2B and B2C marketing segments. In particular, Keith had commercial responsibility for product innovation and development, and led a successful Greenstar re-entry into the Irish Household waste market. Keith has experience in product as well as the service industry, in particular the FMCG sector where he spent time at Glanbia where he was Head of Consumer and Trade Marketing for Yoplait and Trade Marketing Manager of Jacobs (Irish Biscuits). Keith’s experiences are around commercial strategy and implementation, with a particular focus on developing new products and bringing them to market.

18:20 Audience Discussion and Q&A

18:30 Close

18:30 Reception drinks and open mic session with MC Adrian Barry from Off the Ball on Newstalk

Chatting to a host of guests from the world of Irish Sport

Panel 1- Liam Harbison, Paralympics Ireland and Ciaran Gallagher, Gymnastics Ireland

Panel 2- Hamish Adams, Rowing Ireland and Harry Hermon, Irish Sailing Association

Presentation- CARA National Inclusion Awards 

19:45 Dinner

22.00 Carriages

MC for the Conference: Caroline Murphy- RTE Broadcaster

MC Caroline Murphy is a well-known broadcaster who can be heard presenting ‘It Says in the Papers’ on Morning Ireland.

She has had a successful and varied career in Sport, from her early days as a Presenter Reporter in RTE Radio Sport, to the 13 years she spent as an RTE TV Sports producer.  During those years she was responsible for many of the station’s top sporting transmissions, including Sydney 2000 and The Sunday Game as well as the station’s hockey and tennis coverage.

Since leaving RTE in 2002, Caroline has qualified as an Organisational Psychologist and she now combines her work as a broadcaster and producer with a communications consultancy.  Caroline is married to RTE’s Sean O’Rourke.

Partners and Exhibitor Details click here– win prizes on the day!

For more details on the conference please contact: Conn McCluskey, 083-1285169 or conn.mccluskey@irishsport.ie

Paralympics Ireland publishes new strategic plan entitled Securing Success Together

May 22, 2014

Paralympics Ireland remit extended to lead talent ID and athlete development pathway

Paralympics Ireland today published its new four year strategic plan entitled Securing Success Together before an audience of its member sports at an event in Bewley’s Hotel Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. The plan outlines a new strategic direction for the organisation which will see it lead the development of a sector wide talent identification model, and athlete development pathway for Irish Paralympic Sport.

Following an extensive and inclusive consultation process across all the key agencies and individuals within Irish Paralympic sport the need for a coordinated and managed approach to athlete development was identified.

Whilst it was acknowledged by all stakeholders that elite Irish Paralympic sport has witnessed unprecedented growth on the back of the heights of London 2012, in order to secure sustained success the movement must move in a coordinated manner to prioritise the development and implementation of a research led talent ID model, and clear athlete pathway right from entry at participation level, through to podium.

The strategy outlines the key steps that Paralympics Ireland needs to take to see this key goal move from research, build, and pilot phase through to the implementation which will commence in 2017. If the sector can work as one entity towards this shared vision the lasting rewards will be evident from Tokyo 2020, the 2024 Games, and beyond.

In officially launching the strategy Paralympics Ireland CEO Liam Harbison stated: “Paralympic sport globally faces a new reality on the back of the huge success of London 2012. The level of athlete performance continues to break new ground, making it essential that Paralympics Ireland moves to develop a talent ID model and performance pathway to secure long term success.”

Recognising a lack of influence within the international movement the plan includes a strategy to increase Irish representation at International Paralympic Committee (IPC) level. Whilst awareness of Paralympic sport nationally has increased there is a recognised need to deepen understanding of it through a series of communications activities. Driving greater investment from state agencies, and commercial partners is also a stated goal.

Irish Sports Council CEO John Treacy gave his backing to the strategy; “I would like to commend Paralympics Ireland for their continuous drive to advance the Paralympic movement and for the publication of a clear, concise, and focused strategy. The Irish Sports Council has been a long term partner of Paralympics Ireland and is committed to supporting this strategic plan not only in relation to Rio, but beyond through the Talent ID and Development model.”

The audience heard how the plan can be delivered to best effect from three expert speakers; Liam Moggan of Coaching Ireland, Rob Hartnett of Sport for Business, and Mick O’Keeffe of Pembroke Communications.

Three of Ireland’s leading Paralympic athletes were also on hand to add their support to the plan; Double Paralympic gold medallist at 800m & 1500m Michael McKillop, double swimming world championship bronze medallist Ellen Keane and Irish Cerebral Palsy football team captain Luke Evans. All three have their individual European Championships on the horizon this summer, in Swansea, Eindhoven, and Portugal respectively.

To download a copy of the Securing Success Together please http://www.paralympics.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/PI-Strategic-Plan-2014-Low-Res.pdf