Mar 25, 2013
The Federation of Irish Sport has teamed up with Future Fit in a programme sponsored by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) which is designed to increase energy efficiency of sports clubs thereby reducing operating costs.
It is estimated that clubs could save up to €3,000 a year through energy efficiency. This could amount to cost savings of in excess of €10 million across sports clubs in Ireland as a whole. Indeed, research from the SEAI would indicate that savings of 10-20% could be made by many sports clubs through behavioural and/or low cost changes.
The programme entitled “Energy Fit” is being run on a pilot basis initially and is entirely FREE for eligible clubs. Click here for the brochure which sets out criteria for inclusion in the programme and details of how to get involved.
It is intended that participation in the programme will not only help improve the financial standing of sports clubs at a time of unprecedented economic challenge but also enhance the environmental footprint of sports for the benefit of this and future generations.
We would ask that you would circulate details of the programme to your clubs and encourage them to get involved. Please do not hesitate to contact Paul O’Connor of Future Fit on 086 343 3368 or paul@futurefit.ie if you require further information or feel there may be specific sports clubs that might benefit.
The first EnergyFit Workshop takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, March 26th, 6.30 to 9.30pm in Sutton Golf Club. Future dates and venues nationally will be announced closer to the day. Dublin dates for your diary:
Dublin North,
Workshop 1 – When, March 26 – 6.30-9.30 pm Where: Sutton Golf Club What: How to read your bills, best tariffs, take meter readings, identify big energy users, identify savings
Workshop 2 – When, April 9th – 6.30-9.30 pm Where: TBD What: Register of saving opportunities, Energy Action plan,
Workshop 3 – When, April 29th – 6.30-9.30 pm Where: TBD What: Operations and maintenance check list, member engagement, review and recommendations
Dublin South,
Workshop 1 – When, April 2nd – 6.30-9.30 pm Where: TBD What: How to read your bills, best tariffs, take meter readings, identify big energy users, identify savings
Workshop 2 – When, April 15th – 6.30-9.30 pm Where: TBD What: Register of saving opportunities, Energy Action plan,
Workshop 3 When, April 30th – 6.30-9.30 pm Where: TBD What: Operations and maintenance check list, member engagement, review and recommendations
West Dublin
Workshop 1 – When, April 8th – 6.30-9.30 pm Where: TBD What: How to read your bills, best tariffs, take meter readings, identify big energy users, identify savings
Workshop 2 – When, April 22nd – 6.30-9.30 pm Where: TBD What: Register of saving opportunities, Energy Action plan,
Workshop 3 – When, May 6th – 6.30-9.30 pm Where: TBD What: Operations and maintenance check list, member engagement, review and recommendations
Mar 22, 2013
In a week where Ireland’s women won the Rugby grand slam and the Irish Sports Council provided over €840,000 in funding to ‘Women in Sport’ programmes for 2013 we take a look at the role of women in sport in Ireland. Speaking after the teams success in Rome this week President Michael D Higgins said that “This Grand Slam winning performance again highlights the ever-increasing success of women in sport in this country, and will contribute to further participation by women in sport and will help gain the due recognition that women’s sports deserves.”
40% of females currently partake in sport and 170,000 women volunteer in Irish sport each year. Athletics athlete, Fionnuala Britton, has consistently performed for Ireland, a double winner of European cross country medals as well as her recent bronze in the European Indoors. Her success is also reflected at grassroots level with over 50% of Athletics Ireland members being women. In addition, 40,000 women took part in the Dublin Flora Women’s mini marathon last year.
Katie Taylor is of course Ireland’s most successful female athlete ever with numerous European and World Championships medals and an Olympic Gold to show for her efforts. Perhaps Amy Broadhurst from Dundalk, the European Junior gold medalist, will join her on the podium in Rio. The IABA reports an increase in participation in women’s boxing in the past number of years since Katie’s success.
The Irish Sports Monitor 2011 suggested that middle aged women are more likely to sustain their involvement in sport than men, and may be more open to trying new sports, as well as showing an increase (since 2009) in participation in sport by adult women in all age groups. However, research in the UK (Loughborough University), shows that over half of girls are put off physical activity by their experiences of school sport and PE lessons (a phenomenon mirrored in Ireland). 45% think sport is too competitive, while over a third say their PE teacher only pays attention to pupils who are good at sport. The study also revealed that girls’ attitudes to PE are led by their peers, and that many feel uncomfortable taking part. 57% of girls agreed that girls drop out of doing physical activity because their friends do.
In Ireland perhaps we need to focus more on individual sports for girls, where they are shown to maintain interest and participation, as well as to diversify the offering of sport and physical activity at school. Research by Swim Ireland shows that women tend to swim more often than men and swim for health reasons rather than competition.
Sarah Keane, CEO, Swim Ireland set out her vision for women in sport in Ireland towards 2020 in our Annual Review:
Today in Ireland we have a host of top class sportswomen right across a whole range of sports. And yet do they get the credit they deserve in terms of sponsorship, facilities, funding or publicity?
The Irish Sports Council has a specific Women in Sport programme, funds female athletes through the carding system and the Irish Times holds the Women in Sport awards. Yet the fact remains that female sportspeople do not get anything like the same recognition as their male counterparts in similar positions.
No doubt Katie Taylor will have an excellent chance of being named Sports Personality of the Year for 2012 given her Olympic Gold Medal but we should not forget she was a three time World Champion already and has not yet received the award.
We are also lucky in Ireland to have a number of really talented and capable women in leading roles in sports administration right around the country. Not to mention the huge female volunteer base that sustains Irish Sport. Again however like the female athletes much of this work goes on under the radar. And yet all of these girls and women are exceptional and should most certainly be real role models for young Irish girls and women nationwide. 40% of females partake in sport and yet with the right encouragement and focus on some of the fabulous existing role models, this figure could be even more.
Sport is for everyone and that includes women. Women’s passion and commitment no matter the nature of their involvement in sport is just as fierce as men’s. I would hope that by 2020 female participants in sport feel their contribution is as recognised and as valued as that of men and that girls and women of all ages are encouraged to get involved in sport to the same extent as their male counterparts… truly sport for all.
Mar 21, 2013
“We must join forces to end racism, and sport can help reach this goal. On this International Day, let us recommit to ending racial discrimination and realizing our vision of justice, equality and freedom from fear for all.” – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
According to the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace, well-designed sport activities that incorporate the best values of sport – self-discipline, respect for one’s opponent, fair play, and teamwork – can help integrate marginalized groups and teach individuals the values necessary to prevent and resolve social tensions and conflicts.
Read this article in today’s Journal.ie
Mar 21, 2013
Today is both World Down Syndrome Day and World Poetry Day so we thought we would mark the occasion by reminding people of this inspirational poem recited by Tim Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman, at the Closing Ceremony of the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea where our Special Olympic Ireland Athletes did us proud:
Thank you for the volunteers who pushed the chairs with wheels
The MATP medals that made us know how winning feels
Thanks for all those docs for feet and eyes and ears
And for the teeth they cleaned so we can smile from all our ears to ears
Thanks for cheers and hockey pucks when they hit the back of the net
For officials who kept the rough and tumble safe so parents wouldn’t fret
Thanks for smiles that sneak out from the corners of shy eyes
Thanks even for the times they stopped our hearts and made us cry
Thanks for skates so sharp and music in our figures
Thanks for all the ways that dancing on the ice made us feel bigger
Thanks for skis and gates and boards that fly down magic mountains
For Young leaders dancing Gangnam style and for swimming in winter fountains
Thanks for Banda, Kyi, and Lee who came without a fuss
Thanks for when they told us that the athletes should lead us
Thanks for little athletes who learned to jump and shoot a ball
Thanks for every family member, first fans, cheering for us all
Thanks for Gareth Cowin who broke our hearts in tears of sadness
You’ll never leave us Gareth, your spirit will forever surround us
Thanks for global messengers of peace, sport and of acceptance
We’ll follow you wherever you go – all the way to the world’s end
Thank you even for the struggles and bones that broke and simplicity and weakness.
We know that they’re all a part of harmony that more is sometimes less
Thank you to the source of snow and ice, the color blue
Our joy is from our common heart in the love that sparkles true
Thanks for all Korea and the powerful chairman Na
The Revolution she will lead will take us to the stars
We thank you God, Allah, Adonai, and consciousness
We believe in gentle dignity because your spirit is in us.
Thank you to the volunteers who made us feel the magic Ah
2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games, the best games yet, hurrah, bravo, kamsahamnida!!
To read more about World Down Syndrome Day click here
To read more about World Poetry Day click here
Mar 21, 2013
The Irish Sports Council today published a really interesting infographic showing the ISC in numbers. Included in it is the fact that 1.8m Irish adults are now walking regularly in Ireland as participation rates have increased over the period 2008/09 from 57.5% to 60.5%. To read more click here
Mar 21, 2013
An investment package of €33 million for Irish sport in 2013 by the Irish Sports Council was announced by Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring on 21st March. This money includes €19.3 million for National Governing Bodies of sport, €5.1 million for Local Sports Partnerships and €8.6 million for high performance sport.
Speaking at the launch Minister Ring said: “The Government has ensured that sport continues to receive significant financial support, and we protected funding for the Sports Council in this year’s Budget. The Sports Council’s new investment plan highlights the huge range of organisations that will get essential support this year. I know the Sports Council has made every effort to protect funding for organisations that need it most. Above all, everyone appreciates that the sports community spends this money well, and generates a good return for our communities, our society and our national spirit.”
The total for NGBs includes €10.8 million for the core activities of 59 sports, €7.6 million to support the participation programmes of the GAA, FAI and IRFU and €840,000 in dedicated Women in Sport activities across the NGB sector.
The national network of 31 Local Sports Partnerships will receive €5.1 million in investment to support their work in promoting participating in sport and physical activity especially in hard to reach groups. The Sports Partnerships offer a range of programmes including the Sports Inclusion Disability Officers.
Kieran Mulvey, Chairman of the Irish Sports Council said that “I want to pay tribute to the sports bodies who deliver such a variety of excellent opportunities in sport. The Council appreciates very much the support given to us by Minister Ring and his Department which allows us to continue our mission to improve the standards in high performance sport and to increase participation rates in sport. “.
86 athletes will receive individual grants totalling €1.7 million under the International Carding Scheme. 16 sports bodies will receive €5.5 million to support their Performance Plans in 2013 and the Olympic Council of Ireland (€412,000) and Paralympics Ireland (€910,000) funding allocations were also announced. One notable new programme is support of €275,000 to the IRFU to support their efforts to qualify a women’s team for the 7’s tournament in Rio 2016.
John Treacy, CEO of the Council said: “We have begun to implement the recommendations of the Carding Review and the London Debrief immediately. While there is still a substantial investment in the International Carding Scheme there is a move towards greater support to the Performance Plans of the NGBs”.
The Irish Sports Council will receive €43.153 million in grant aid from the Government in 2013. Today’s package of €33 million represents a large part of the Council’s investment in sport. This is the first year that Coaching Ireland, based at the University of Limerick, will operate as an integral part of the Council. Other important activities include the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Programme, the Institute of Sport and the National Trails Office. Other grant programmes include the Team Ireland Golf Trust, Sport for Older People and the Gaelic Players Association.
