Mar 20, 2013
Alistair Gray’s article investigates how a relatively small region like Northern Ireland can possibly produce a succession of major winners in golf at a time when the competitive intensity at the top of the world game is at its greatest in living memory. Below is a summary of his findings.
Over the last two years I have been privileged to gain access to various individuals, including the golfers themselves, who gave me special insight into what influenced the positive development of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in their early years. The attached article reflects Malcolm Gladwell’s theories in Outliers, and is also a story of faith, hope and love.
In an era where hard science and medicine are often preferred to soft feelings and emotions, process promoted over people, and facts valued over opinion, I found there are special ingredients that had a profound influence on the way both golfers developed, albeit reaching the top (major victories) by different routes. Those ingredients are faith, hope and love – tough love at times, but genuine love and respect as shown to both. Faith, hope and love were evident in a number of critical areas:
• Support and encouragement to inspire and sustain them delivered by family, community and clubs
• In a talent development system, relatively unique to Ireland
• The culture that challenged and supported them to succeed while at the same time respecting their need to learn to play over receipt of instruction
• Encouragement to adopt values and mutual respect, and honouring the great game of golf
• Regular inputs from coaches and mentors to keep their emotional tank full, at the low points, as well as celebrating the Major victories.
Leaders of performance management systems will draw a number of conclusions and lessons from the development of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. They would do well to replicate the environment described above that continues to deliver outstanding performers, now driven by real role models and champions. They would be wise to challenge the hard:soft balance of their talent and performance development programmes to make sure there is room for faith, hope and love to prosper.
Mar 12, 2013
The IABA in partnership with Platinum One have announced a two-match international boxing event against France in Millstreet, Cork on 3rd May and Belfast Odyssey Arena on 5th May this year. The events will feature all of Ireland’s medal winners from the London Olympics. Speaking at the launch yesterday Katie Taylor said that ‘this is the best sporting team we have in the country at the moment. We always go away and come back with medals, constantly, so we’re hoping that we’ll get the support.’ Millstreet has some pedigree in hosting sporting events with Steve Collins beating Chris Eubank in 1995 in the WBO Super Middleweight title fight whilst the Odyssey Arena hosts numerous events including Tyson Fury’s bought last December as well as being home to the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team.
Read more about the event here
Mar 8, 2013
The National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA) is to go ahead with the further development of the site at Abbotstown with the creation of over 100 jobs for the local economy after the government gave the green light for the €7m next phase. Multi-sport all weather pitches and a public pavilion will be constructed under the plan. The GAA, FAI, IRFU, HSI and Irish Hockey all have plans to develop facilities at the site in addition to the existing completed projects such as the National Aquatic Centre. Commenting in the Irish Independent this week Barry O’ Brien, Chief Executive Officer of the NSCDA said that “We are driving the development of the Campus and we want to deliver it primarily for Irish athletes and players and all elements of sport in Ireland.”
Mar 6, 2013
The Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire was the venue for the ISA 7th Annual National Conference where over 200 delegates from the four corners of Ireland gathered on Saturday the 2nd of March. The guests attended 20 workshops where speakers presented on a range of diverse topics to suit all interests from ‘promoting your organisation’ to ‘strength and conditioning for athletes’ to ‘insurance for sailing clubs’.
Harry Hermon CEO of the ISA opened the conference with a talk outlining the growth of the organisation’s activities during the last fourteen years (now delivering on the goals set out in the organisations third strategic plan). He also highlighted the particular priorities the ISA had focussed on in 2012 and the success stories over the past year, particularly the performance of our sailors at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.
In the afternoon session BHP Insurances, the insurance brokers to the ISA and Federation of Irish Sport introduced the new ‘ISA Club & Commercial Training Centre Insurance Scheme’.
Gordon Mc Donagh (BHP) highlighted the importance of clubs having adequate insurances in place and also the value that a group insurance scheme can have for an NGB and its clubs.
The new ISA approved Scheme offers ISA member clubs the opportunity to avail of a quotation from BHP which promises to deliver:
✔ Comprehensive Cover
✔ Competitive Premiums
✔ Streamlined Administration and
✔ Excellent Service
Gordon Mc Donagh said that BHP Insurances were ‘delighted to be the appointed brokers to the ISA and proud to be the Sponsor of the ISA Sailing Achievement of the Year Award’.
Harry Hermon, CEO, commenting on the recent appointment of BHP as brokers to the ISA said that: ‘BHP Insurances have delivered significant savings for the ISA and have developed a club insurance scheme which we feel will have huge benefits for the ISA, its clubs and their members.’
The conference ended with a presentation from Pete Hogan, round the world sailor/artist/author, giving an enthralling account of his epic adventures. The ISA AGM/EGM and SailFleet AGM followed and the night ended with the ISA 7th Annual Awards Ball hosted by Bryan Dobson from RTE where Annalise Murphy picked up another accolade for ‘Sailing Achievement of the Year’, and John Twomey picked up the ISA President’s Award after competing in his tenth Paralympic Games.
The Federation of Irish Sport offers a new group insurance scheme specifically designed for National Governing Bodies, sports clubs and individuals. All members can benefit from improved levels of cover and reduced insurance rates. So to make sure that you and your members are fully protected contact Conn Mc Cluskey, Federation of Irish Sport on 01-6251155, conn.mccluskey@irishsport.ie or click here for more information.
Mar 6, 2013
1963 – WHAT A YEAR
JUNE … JFK COMES TO IRELAND
NOVEMBER … THE BEATLES COME TO IRELAND
DECEMBER… TENPIN BOWLING COMES TO IRELAND
To celebrate its 50th year in Ireland the sport of Tenpin Bowling together with the top Bowling Centres throughout the country have put together an exciting year long programme designed to bring the game to a new generation. March 11th thro to 15th has been designated as National Tenpin Bowling Week when ALL schools have the opportunity to avail of FREE bowling for their
students.
The process could not be any simpler. A phone call to any participating centre and the booking is complete in seconds. Information packs have been sent to all schools in the country and as capacity is limited it will surely be a case of the early bird catching the worm. Already in excess of 12,000 students have signed up. Each centre will offer students the opportunity to win valuable prizes on the day making this initiative something to be bowled over by.
Watch out for more exciting announcements from Tenpin Bowling throughout the coming year.
1963… 50 years ago to-day Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play.
2013 …“Bowling for All” wants you to play our game.
Full details on www.bowlingforall.ie
Mar 6, 2013
About the Seminar
New data will be presented by Sinéad
Kelleher of 2into3 on the subject of
fundraising, including:
• Trends in fundraised income across
the not-for-profit sector in Ireland
• The cost of fundraising in Ireland
This report is based on the analysis of
900+ accounts from organisations in the
not-for-profit sector in Ireland.
