Featured LSP: Limerick Sports Partnership

Feb 24, 2014

Background:

Limerick City and County Local Sports Partnerships merged to form Limerick Sports Partnership in January 2014.  The aim of Limerick Sports Partnership is “Getting Limerick Active” together with:

• Increasing participation in sport.
• Ensuring that local resources are used to best effect.
• A mechanism to co-ordinate the efforts of all key influencers to further develop sporting opportunities for local communities.
• A vital link between the needs of local people, the work of other sports organisations/officers and national agencies and state agencies.

Limerick Sports Partnership is now based in UL Sport Arena at the University of Limerick.  This location provides us with access to a weekly footfall of 12-15,000 people while also creating links and relationships from grassroots, education and professional sport.

The LSP is an inter-agency and multi-sector organisation established as a limited company with representatives from all the main statutory, community and voluntary fora represented on a dedicated Board of Directors.

The role of Limerick Sports Partnership is:

Information: establish a consultative forum, initiate research, compile a sports directory and database, and identify needs and resources to form the basis of local planning.  The LSP are in the process of developing a new website where we will have an a-z of sporting clubs/organisations throughout Limerick.  Our website will also be an information sharing hub for clubs and individuals who decide to become “LSP Members”.  An example of this will be creating a central hub for all walking related activities/resources. We will continue to provide information in relation to upcoming funding streams as soon as they become available.

Education: overall objective to provide quality opportunities for education and training at local level, provide training courses targeting volunteers, provide access to sports specific courses through the National Governing Bodies of Sport.  We run a number of education and training courses namely Child Protection in Sport Basic Awareness, Children’s Officer, Active Leadership and Sports First Aid.  Through our seminar series we continue to offer Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for all coaches and teachers.

Implementation: develop a strategic plan for local sport, select participation programmes for LSP’s modified to suit local needs, increase impact of national programmes delivered locally, market and promote sport.

In 2014 the Limerick Sports Partnership will develop a Strategic Plan, together with our Stakeholders and Partners, which will identify the requirements of targeted groups throughout Limerick.  We will endeavour to tackle the rise in obesity issue together with providing education and training to sporting clubs and groups so that proper Governance is in place throughout!

What we do

Jointly, in 2013, Limerick County and City Sports Partnerships had direct contact through targeted programmes with 20,046 participants from key target groups; disadvantaged youth, older adults, travellers, young people, teenage girls and mothers. Programmes included active girls and mothers, meet and train, gaelic for girls, people with disabilities, older adult sports fests, mass participation events (run/walks/jogs/cycles), school completion physical activity programmes, Link2BActive, girls outside, fittlesticks and fitwalk.  The LSP has developed strong links with youth organisations i.e. Limerick Youth Service and Foroige in supporting and delivering physical activity opportunities and programmes.

Key activities relating to mass participation and physical activity i.e. runs, walks and cycle series are delivered in targeted locations throughout Limerick.  The Sports Partnership run events under National Initiatives namely BikeWeek, Play Day, Mobility Week and World Heart Day.

The LSP run a number of schools initiatives namely Schools World Marathon Challenge, Sportshall Athletics, Kids Run for Fun and Splash & Dash.  These athletics and swim programmes are offered to all schools in Limerick and aim to get young people together with their families physically active.  The Sports Partnership offer specifically developed programmes to schools to assist with training for these events. We also deliver a Nutrition and Physical Activity Workshop to all classes in a selection of primary and post primary schools throughout the year.

The LSP deliver programmes and activities to schools, clubs, organisations and community groups where access to physical activity opportunities may not always be available.  We encourage and enable participation and physical activity for all and are able to do so because of the commitment and dedication of the staff and Board of Limerick Sports Partnership to “Getting Limerick Active”.

See more on our website www.cllsp.ie or www.limerickcitysports.ie

Follow us on “Facebook” and “Twitter”

Limerick Sports Partnership,

UL Sport Arena, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick

Tel: 061-333600 / Mobile: 087-2079172

Email: info@limericksports.ie

Paralympics Ireland announces 2014 Athlete Panel

Feb 24, 2014

Paralympics Ireland today announced its 2014 Athlete Panel. The panel of forty five athletes across eleven sports is comprised of those considered most likely to qualify for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. The panel will come together for the first time as a group in March when they meet for the initial multisport training camp of the Rio cycle, in Limerick.

Commenting on the announcement of the 2014 Panel Paralympics Ireland Performance Manager Dave Malone said; ‘Being named on the panel is always a notable step on the journey to secure Paralympic Games qualification for an athlete. We are looking forward to the first engagement as one entity in Limerick in what is set to be another busy year with a European or World Championships as the focus for the majority of athletes.’

The panel boasts several London 2012 medallists including athletes Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop, swimmer Darragh McDonald and handcyclist Mark Rohan. Also notable is the welcome return of the 7-a-side CP football squad who agonisingly missed out on London qualification. Promisingly, there is one athlete each from the two sports set to make their Paralympic debut in Rio; Canoeing and Triathlon, on the panel.

Alongside those named an additional twenty athletes from eleven sports will attend the Limerick camp under Paralympics Ireland’s new Fast Track Programme.  This programme provides ring fenced supports for promising athletes that have emerged from the post London 2012 talent search.

With the 2016 Paralympic Games Qualification guide recently published by the International Paralympic Committee targets can clearly be set ahead of the qualification period opening early next year. 2014 will provide many competition opportunities with European Championships in Swimming, Athletics and Football, and World Track and Road Championships in Para-cycling, amongst others (detailed below).

Some notable retirements following the 2012 Games include six time Paralympian Catherine Walsh who claimed tandem cycling silver and bronze in London. Distinguished and decorated Boccia players Gay Shelly and Tom Leahy step aside after five and eight Paralympic Games respectively. Following Equestrian Dressage team bronze at London double Paralympian Eilish Byrne and horse Youri have retired, as has fellow double Paralympian table tennis player Eimear Breathnach who now chairs the Athletes Commission at Paralympics Ireland.

2014 Paralympics Ireland Athlete Panel

Athletics (7)  Jason Smyth (Derry), Michael McKillop (Antrim), Orla Barry (Cork), Catherine O Neill (Wexford), Nadine Lattimore (Clontarf, Dublin), John Mc Carthy (Cork), Deirdre Mongan (Galway), Heather Jameson (Garristown, Dublin)

Boccia (2)   Roberta Connolly (Foxrock, Dublin), Johnny Cronin (Cork)

Canoeing (1)  Pat O’Leary (Galway)

Cycling (7)  Colin Lynch (Based in UK), Mark Rohan (Westmeath), Enda Smyth (Santry, Dublin), James Brown (Based in UK) + Brian MyCrystal (Pilot), Katie George Dunleavy (Based in UK) + Eve McCrystal (Pilot)

Equestrian (2)  Helen Kearney (Wicklow), James Dwyer (Waterford)

Football 7-A-Side (14)  Senior Panel -Brian Mc Gillivary (Firhouse, Dublin) ,Simon Lestrange (Mullingar), Joe Markey (Monaghan), Luke Evans (Artane, Dublin), Gary Messett (Wicklow),Daragh Snell (Wicklow), Eric O Flaherty (Galway), Daragh Byrne (Santry, Dublin), Podge Leacy (Wexford), Peter Cotter (Cork), Aaron Tier (Limerick), Tom Badun (Drogheda), Dillon Sheridan (Ballyfermot), Ryan Nolan (Wicklow)

Sailing (3) John Twomey (Cork), Ian Costello (Kerry), Austin O’Carroll (Cork)

Shooting (1)  Sean Baldwin (Kildare)

Swimming (5) Ellen Keane (Clontarf, Dublin), Darragh McDonald (Wexford), Laurence McGivern (Down), James Scully (Meath), Jonathan McGrath (Clare)

Table Tennis (2) Philip Quinlan (Sandymount, Dublin), Rena McCarron (Donegal)

Triathlon (1)   Michael Delaney (Dublin 3)

2014 Key International Competitions

4-11 Apr; IPC Powerlifting World Championships, Dubai

10-13 Apr; UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Mexico

20-22 June; ETU Triathlon European Championships, Austria

17-26 July, IPC Shooting World Championships, Germany

20 July – 4 Aug; CPISRA Football 7-a-side European Championships, Portugal

4-10 Aug; IPC Swimming European Championships, Holland

18-23 Aug; IPC Athletics European Championships, Wales

24-13 Aug; FISA World Rowing Championships, Holland

25-29 Aug; FEI World Equestrian Games, France

28 Aug – 1 Sep; UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships, USA

6-15 Sep; ITTF Para Table Tennis World Championships, China

8-21 Sep; IFDS Sailing World Championships, Spain

19-28 Sep; BISFED Boccia World Championships, China

TBC; ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, Italy

Sports Council Announce Investment Strategy for 2014

Feb 17, 2014

The Irish Sports Council announced an investment plan of €25 million for 2014 on February 12th. This investment includes €11 million for National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs), €5 million for Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) and €8.7 million for High Performance Sport and provides an overview of the Council’s investment strategy for 2014.

€10.6 million will be allocated to support the core activities of 59 Governing Bodies of Sport. In addition, €583,000 will be dedicated to Women in Sport activities across the NGB sector. This investment will look to continue the support of participation programmes which has seen considerable increases in membership including Athletics Ireland (49,000 members) and Cycling (20,000 member).

The National Network of Local Sports Partnerships will receive €5.01 million to support their work in promoting participating in sport and physical activity. In 2013, over 200,000 people took part in local participation programmes while mass participation events such the An Post Cycle Series and Operation Transformation National Walks and Fun Runs attracted over 35,000 participants.

€8.7 m will be invested directly into high performance sports bodies. This investment will continue to build on the success of high performance sport in Ireland which saw a record 67 medals achieved last year at European and World events across a multitude of sports. In 2014, the Council will continue to implement the recommendations of the London Debrief and International Carding Scheme. For the first time Golf will be supported as a single entity by the Council. The establishment of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland is a major development which brings the three golfing organisations together in a joint structure to develop golf in Ireland to its full potential.

2014 promises to be another incredible year of sporting events. One of the highlights of the year will be the Special Olympic Ireland Games taking place in Limerick in June. To support the success of the games, the Council has made an additional provision of €200,000 available to Special Olympics Ireland.

Kieran Mulvey, Chairman of the Irish Sports Council said that “I want to acknowledge the sports bodies and partnerships that provide opportunities to support our mission to increase participation in sport and enhance high performance. I also want to acknowledge the Council’s commitment to the Governance Code for Community and Voluntary organisations. This code for good governance will further strengthen our sector, providing a guide on policies and procedures that will empower all Council funded bodies and assist them in achieving excellence in all areas of their work”.

In addition to High Performance, Governing Bodies and Participation, the Council will continue to lead the development in areas such as Anti-Doping Coaching, the Institute of Sport, National Trails and Research.

John Treacy, CEO of the Council said: “In addition to today’s investment announcement, the Council is also committed to building capability across the sports sector organisations. The strategic provision of Organisational Capability Building services in the areas of Project Management, Governance, Risk Management, Strategic Planning, Change Management, Employee Performance Management and Organisational Leadership will be a priority in developing the sporting sector”.

Irish Sports Council Supporting NGBs in 2014

• Confederation of Irish Golf commences work
• Special Olympics Ireland host summer games in Limerick
• Rolling out Organisation Capability Building Programme
• Supporting NGBs grow membership and drive participation in sport
• Funding 26 NGBs for Women in Sport Programmes
• 59 NGBs will receive funding for core activities
• 18 sports will receive support to deliver High Performance Plans
• 2 more (Gymnastics and Clay Pigeon Shooting) will receive support for high performance projects
• Coaching Ireland delivering services directly to NGBs
• Institute of Sport working in partnership with NGBs to deliver services directly to athletes and coaches
• Local Sports Partnerships work with NGBs at community level to deliver programmes to target groups
• Supporting Sport HQ at the National Sports Campus @ Abbotstown

Irish Sports Council Supporting LSPs in 2014

• Investing in 30 Local Sports Partnerships to support the Participation strategy
• Delivering the An Post Cycle Series across five counties to over 16,000 participants
• Investing in the Sports Inclusion Disability Programme including support to 16 Sports Inclusion Disability Officers throughout the network.
• Working with Operation Transformation to deliver National Walks and 5k Fun Runs to over 35,000 people
• Investing in the Women in Sports programme to deliver activities across in local communities
• Supporting innovation in sport through initiatives such as Park Run

See more here

GAA Handball: John Kelly appointed Handball Manager

Feb 14, 2014

John Kelly has been appointed as the new National Handball Manager for the GAA. The Longford native takes over from Tony Hannon who had been acting National Manager and departed the post last November. 

A member of the Ardagh St Patricks GAA club in Longford, John has been employed as Fixtures and Events Officer for the past 5 years with the Association and now takes the step up to National Manager. “I am very honoured to have been appointed to the position of National Handball Manager” Kelly said, “In the past five years I have met some incredible people in the sport and have seen the terrific work that is being done at grassroots level and it is a credit to all the volunteers out there. My job is to maintain this great work and build our Association from here as the clubs and the volunteers are the lifeblood of our Association.”

One of his main aims will be to increase the profile of the game here in Ireland and throughout the World.

“We currently boast the top Mens & Ladies Handballers in the World in Paul Brady and Aisling Reilly. This is something not many Irish Sports can say. Paul Brady has been one of the most phenomenal athletes in Irish Sport in the last decade but has not always got the recognition his brilliance deserved. Others like Fiona Shannon, Aisling Reilly, Catriona Casey, Robbie McCarthy and Eoin Kennedy to name a few have raised the standard of the sport significantly in recent years and my aim is to try and raise the profile of GAA Handball to ensure that the talent in our sport gets the recognition it deserves and also our sport grows and appeals to people all over Ireland and indeed worldwide”

He also believes that there is a very bright future for GAA Handball with the talent that the sport currently has at Juvenile level.

“There is great work currently been done at schools level and at Juvenile level throughout the country and it is imperative that we give these players the best possible opportunity to succeed in the sport”

John Kelly was educated at St Mel’s Longford and DIT, graduating with a Degree in Marketing and E-Business. He has previously worked for Celtic FC, AIB, CDC Software and Mars Ireland aswell as his previous role in GAA Handball.

His first official function will be at GAA Handball Congress on Sunday 9th February which takes place in Clare.

Read More Here: http://www.gaahandball.ie/