Jul 12, 2012
Press Release from the Irish Sports Council
· Participation in sport increased from 34% in 2009 to 46% in 2011
· Sedentarism fell from 16% in 2009 to 13% in 2011
· Rates of volunteering in sport increased from 7% in 2009 to 15% in 2011
· Club membership has increased from 32% to 38%
· Attendance at sporting events rose from 17% in 2009 to 22% in 2011
· Personal exercise (11%) and swimming (10%) are the most popular physical activities
· Increased time a key factor in increased participation with notable increases among the unemployed as well as those among the younger and older groups of adults
The fourth Irish Sports Monitor report, for the year 2011, was published today by the Irish Sports Council. The report, written by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of the Council, measures adult participation in sport and physical activity and compares it with previously published information.
The report shows that there were very significant increases in the levels of engagement with sport across active and social participation measures. This occurred most notably in relation to active participation in sport which recorded a rise from 34% in 2009 to 46% in 2011.
Another key metric is the level of sedentarism which reflects the extent of inactivity within the population. Between 2009 and 2011 this measure recorded a decrease from 16% to 13%. This is important for population health as the biggest health gains are shown to be achieved when getting totally inactive people to participate in some form of physical activity.
Overall personal exercise is the most popular activity (11%). Swimming continues to grow (10%) and the apparent boom in running is captured with 7% participating. Soccer (6%), cycling (6%) golf (5%) and dance (4%) are also very popular.
The report was officially launched by Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring. Speaking at the launch in Dublin he said: ‘The growing participation in sport is great news, especially for all the people and organisations who work hard to get more people involved. I’m particularly happy to see that there are more volunteers, more people joining clubs, and more people attending sporting events. The Report shows that Government investment in sport is boosting sporting activity, and hopefully producing a healthier society’.
The Irish Sport Monitor reports a rise in levels of voluntary activity for sport between 2009 and 2011 from 7% to 15%. It is also significant to note the increase in club membership from 32% to 38% and attendance at sporting events for 17% to 22% including 8% who had attended a Gaelic football match. Each of these measures indicates that sport makes a very significant contribution to community and economic life in Ireland.
John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council: “The increase in participation and the decrease in sedantarism are significant and very important from a health point of view. The ISM reports on a notable shift in the behaviour of the Irish population which is the result of the interventions of many agencies, groups and individuals. The challenge now is to maintain the good work and keep Ireland active”
Changes ion participation between the two years varied across groups with significant increases being particularly notable among the younger (16 – 25 year old) and older (55+) age groups as well as among the unemployed suggesting the importance of free time as an influence on sporting behaviour. Despite the significant increases being reported it is interesting to note that there is a strong desire across the adult population to increase their current levels of activity with swimming, walking and cycling being particular favourites in this regard.
Kieran O’Leary, Research Director, Ipsos MRBI: “The wider context to this report is one in which Irish society is placing less focus on short-term economic gain and is taking a more holistic view on quality of life. This is clearly benefitting sport through increased active and social participation”
The Irish Sports Monitor (ISM) is a survey of participation in sport and physical exercise in Ireland, which began in 2007 and continued throughout 2008 and 2009. There was a gap in 2010 when there was a competitive process to agree the provider of the ISM to the Council. Based on regular interviews with adults aged 16 and over, the ISM is primarily designed to track levels of participation in sport and recreational exercise, both for the population as a whole and various subpopulations of interest. To achieve sufficient accuracy, it employs large annual samples: 8,749 in 2011, 9,781 in 2009; 6,829 in 2008; 9,767 in 2007.
You can view the full report here
Jun 14, 2012
The Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) American football event being organized by Global Football in Dublin and County Meath this summer is expected to have a positive €4.5 million economic impact in Ireland.
The figure was announced at a media gathering at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin where Irish American Football Association President Greg Loughran presented GIFT 2012 organizer patrick Steenberge with a customized Irish national team jersey.
GIFT 2012 will feature 12 high school and college teams from the United States and Canada playing a series of ‘Friday Night Lights’ double headers at 4pm and 7:30 pm on Friday, August 31 at Donnybrook Stadium and Parnell Park in Dublin and at Pairc Tailteann in Navan, County Meath. The competitive regular season games are being held on the eve of the September 1 Navy versus Notre Dame clash at the Aviva Stadium.
More than 2,300 visitors associated with the participating schools will arrive in Ireland specifically because of the GIFT 2012 spectacular, and would not be coming to Ireland if not for these games. Additional sports fans are expected to attend the games from across Ireland, Europe, the United States and even further afield. Tickets available at www.tickets.ie.gift2012 have been sold to overseas fans from Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, Austria and even Australia. Buyers from 13 different American States and 33 towns within Ireland have bought tickets.
“First and foremost we are showcasing high school American football at its very best and are providing the experience of a lifetime for the visiting players, coach, families and friends,” said Global Football President Patrick Steenberge. “But bringing this many people to Ireland specifically for this event also has a very positive impact in that the money they spend and the investment we make in staging the games benefits local businesses, people and the Irish economy.
“We believe this spending will have a positive impact on the Irish economy, and we hope in particular that local businesses benefit and that GIFT 2012 is able to leave a lasting impression for all the right reasons.”
The economic impact figure is calculated by measuring payments made by 2,300 travelers visiting for the GIFT event and their anticipated spend while in Ireland, including:
• Hotel nights during a four-day stay
• Travelers booked on Aer Lingus flights
• Meals at local restaurants and bars
• Public transportation and taxis
• Souvenirs and gifts
• Visits to tourist attractions
• Stadium rental costs
• Additional event operations costs
• Spend at stadium concessions
Visitors for the GIFT event will stay at the Citywest Hotel, Saggart; Bewleys, Leopardstown; Bewleys Newlands Cross; Green Isle, Newlands Cross; Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Newlands Cross; Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim; Royal Hotel, Bray and Newgrange Hotel, Navan.
Jun 1, 2012
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIR AMERICAN FOOTBALL BLUGOLDS HEAD TO IRELAND TO TAKE ON UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK VIKINGS IN CELTIC CLASSIC V
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is the latest school from the United States to head overseas on an American football and cultural sightseeing adventure with Global Football and will visit Ireland from June 9 to 16.
The Blugolds will face the University of Limerick Vikings at the Garryowen Rugby Club in Limerick in the ‘Celtic Classic V’ on Sunday, June 10, kickoff 2pm. The visiting party of 60 players, coaches, family and friends will then embark on a sightseeing tour before heading home.
The visit comes on the back of two recent Global Football tours to Italy for Adrian College and a Team Stars & Stripes all-star squad and in advance of the spectacular Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) 2012 that will see 10 high school and two college teams play at three venues in Dublin and Navan on Friday, August 31.
“What a thrill this will be for all the players, coaches and parents from Wisconsin-Eau Claire to travel to Limerick to play one of the top teams in Ireland,” said Global Football President Patrick Steenberge. “We have staged games in Ireland for many years, but have never had the chance to visit and play in Limerick, so I am also excited to check out the town and see the level of football played there. Coach Glaser brought a great group of guys and supporters to Spain three years ago, and they are all eager to play, then to tour the wonderful Irish island.”
UW-Eau Claire finished the 2011 college season with a 5-5 record, though the close score in three of those losses was within one touchdown. Head coach Todd Glaser has been at the helm since 2006 and guided the Blugolds to an NCAA Division III playoff berth for only the second time in program history in 2007. http://www.blugolds.com/sports/fball/coaches/index
The Blugolds are led on the field by junior quarterback Austin Neu, who led the entire Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in passing yards per game as he averaged 247.9 playing in 10 games. He threw 17 touchdown passes, third best in the league, and completed 65.7 percent of his passes (199-for-303), a school record for a single season.
Freshman kicker Josh Albrecht was second on the team in scoring with 59 points, a mark that also ranked sixth best in the league. He recorded nine field goals, which was the fourth most in a single season in team archives.
The University of Limerick hosts were formed in 1999 and won the Irish national championship Shamrock Bowl three consecutive years in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and the EFAF Atlantic Cup in 2010 when they were ranked among the top 20 teams in Europe.
Led by head coach Ciarán O’Sullivan, the Vikings are unbeaten in 2012 with a 7-0 record and close their regular season this Sunday, June 3 at home to the Tullamore Phoenix. They will enter the playoffs following the clash with UW-Eau Claire with high hopes of reaching a sixth Shamrock Bowl in team history on Saturday, July 14 at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.
“We are looking forward to this game immensely,” said UL Vikings Chairman Ian Cahill, who also wears number 22 for Limerick and plays on the defensive line. “We have had a great season so far and it will be a great challenge for us to test ourselves against an American college team.”
The game is sanctioned by the Irish American Football Association, which governs the fastest growing sport in Ireland.
After the Celtic Classic V game, the two teams will socialize together and the American visitors will experience the Irish national pride as Ireland’s soccer team opens its Euro 2012 campaign in Poland against Croatia in a game that will be shown live in bars and restaurants throughout the country.
The UW-Eau Claire party will spend time sightseeing in Ireland, visiting Limerick, Killarney, the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle and Dublin.
May 30, 2012
Coca-Cola today launched the ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ and announced the availability of €125,000 in funding to community and voluntary groups promoting active lifestyles throughout the islandof Ireland. The ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ is open for entries from today until July 6th, 2012and will be accepted through www.coca-cola.ie.
The ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’, which is being supported by The Wheel and The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA), has been developed to support innovative projects and initiatives that are helping people and communities adopt and enjoy more active lifestyles.
Speaking today, Erica Roseingrave, Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola HBCIreland said: “In 2011 Coca-Cola Company celebrated its 125th birthday and marked the occasion in Ireland with the launch of the ‘Coca-Cola 125 Years Thank You Fund’. The Fund recognised the very worthwhile work that is happening in communities all over the island. We were overwhelmed by the response that the Fund received with a total of 600 worthy applications. Fifteen grants were awarded to support initiatives in three broad areas: Youth programmes, Environmental projects and programmes supporting active lifestyles. The majority of applications were in this last category so as a result this year we have decided to make this area the focus of the fund.”
“Through the Fund we not only want to support relevant initiatives which are already in place, we particularly want to hear from organisations that have new and innovative ideas, which they want to introduce and require funding to make happen.”
A total of €125,000 is available for distribution through the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund to eligible organisations. Ten projects will €10,000 grants and this year, an outstanding overall winner will be awarded funding of €25,000. The project selected will represent best practice and will be a creative, innovative initiative capable of being replicated in other communities.
As the official partner to the ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive of The Wheel said: “The Wheel is delighted to be partnering with Coca-Cola again this year for the ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’. The Coca-Cola Company is to be commended on its continued investment in communities in Ireland, particularly at a time, when many community and voluntary organisations are trying to meet an increasing demand for their services with less money. Corporate leaders, like Coca-Cola, are helping to meet a growing funding gap for many organisations and we would expect this to be a keenly contested application process. I would encourage any organisation with an innovative solution in this area to apply.”
The ‘Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ is open for entries from today, 30th of May until the 6th of July. All applications will be accepted online at www.coca-cola.ie. After the entries are closed a judging panel consisting of Coca‑Cola, The Wheel and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action will create a shortlist of 45 organisations which will be published on the www.coca-cola.ie website onSeptember 1st, 2012. The public vote will account for 50% of the final decision and a vote by an expert judging panel will account for the remaining 50%. The winners will be announced by November 2012.
Full details on ‘The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund’ can be found at www.coca-cola.ie.
May 30, 2012
A weekend of watersports for everyone
Today Tuesday 29 May, the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) with the assistance of TV personality Kathryn Thomas launched SAIL SPREE a new initiative to encourage people to get on the water over the weekend of 23/24 June 2012.
The campaign is similar to the nationally acclaimed ‘Culture Night’ whereby clubs and training centres all over Ireland will open their doors to the public to try sailing, windsurfing, power boating or jet skiing. Many clubs will also provide on shore activities including entertainment, food, drink and music guaranteeing a great day out for all the family.
Commenting on today’s launch ISA Chief Executive Harry Hermon stated “We are surrounded by a beautiful natural resource which provides us with unlimited capabilities for recreation. The ISA is passionate about introducing new people to the excitement of sailing, windsurfing and motorboating. No matter what your age, location or budget, whether you want to join in a fun recreational hobby or competitive sport, there will be a club or school near you offering that very service. We hope that opening our doors for Sail Spree will encourage local communities to try something new and explore the possibilities on their doorstep”.
Sail Spree has been developed in acknowledgment of the increased interest in sailing over the past number of years. Events such as the Volvo Ocean Race and the Tall Ships Festivals have brought sailing into the public eye and have undoubtedly sparked intrigue in this thrilling outdoor sport. With the Olympics only two months away and with eight sailors representing Ireland at the Games, sailing will continue to capture the nation’s attention.
Probably the biggest event running during Sail Spree will be Seafest 2012, hosted in Rathmullan on Lough Swilly, Donegal. The event will incorporate all forms of sailing, from dinghies to cruisers as well as windsurfing and powerboating. Combined with this festival of the sea will be food festivals and a plethora of on shore activities and entertainment too numerable to mention. The event will offer spectators and participants the opportunity to join in the fun on and off the water.
Travelling south and the islands off the Cork coast will also be providing a host of activities in conjunction with the Sail Spree celebrations. Heir Island Sailing School, in Roaring Water Bay is providing a weekend of sailing, games, food and drink to keep its visitors entertained.
With 14 venues already registered in the Cork county, the public have plenty of options to keep them occupied. Kinsale Yacht Club will be hosting a special event on the Saturday to create awareness of the wonderful opportunities for children and adults with disabilities who would like to try sailing. As the home club for John Twomey, Anthony Hegarty and Ian Costello, the Providence Resources Irish Paralympic Sailors, Kinsale Yacht Club are experienced in the areas of support, advice and information for anyone with a disability hoping to get into sailing.
On the east coast, Wexford Harbour Boat & Tennis Club will be hosting its Sail Spree event to coincide with the John Barry Maritime Festival 2012. The weekend will play host to a number of activities and give attendees the opportunity to try sailing, power boating, windsurfing and jet skiing.
2012 will be a big year for sailing in Ireland. One of the most prestigious events in world ocean racing; the Volvo Ocean Race is returning to Galway Bay and the Tall Ships will be hosted in the Dublin Docklands. Derry city will host the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in June, Cork Week takes place in July and the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth World Championships will be held in Dublin Bay in July for the first time. There will be no shortage of international level competition on offer for spectators.
The pinnacle of the international season will be Ireland’s participation in the London Olympics where eight sailors in five boats will compete. The Providence Resources Irish Olympic Sailors have been identified as a ‘genuine prospect’ for a medal winning opportunity this summer. Many of those competing have come up through the ranks of the ISA Performance Pathway and Sail Spree will provide an opportunity for the next generation of Olympic contenders to discover the sport.
For more details of events in your area check out the website www.SailSpree.ie.
May 29, 2012
“Saying Thank You to Ireland’s Team of Sporting Volunteers”
London 2012 bound Sycerika McMahon paid tribute to the volunteers who played a vital role in her sporting career, when she helped launch the 2012 Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards today.
McMahon was joined at today’s launch at the Aviva Stadium by Dublin under-21 footballer Philip Ryan and fitness trainer to the Dublin Hurling Panel, Martin Kennedy.
McMahon said “It is impossible to get to the Olympics irrespective of the sport without a huge number of people making sacrifices to get you to that point. This includes friends, family, coaches but also the people at my club and school who invested me at the beginning when I was just another child learning to swim.”
Martin Kennedy, left, fitness trainer to the Dublin Hurling panel, swimmer Sycerika McMahon and Dublin Under-21 footballer Philip Ryan, in attendance at the launch of the 2012 Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards. Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit: Paul Mohan
Kennedy meanwhile explained his role with the Dublin Hurling Panel, “Dublin Hurling is a perfect example of the huge positive impact volunteerism is having on Irish Sport. The current group of Dublin Senior hurlers, whom I am lucky enough to be involved with as a professional coach, have arrived at this elite stage of their sporting careers as a result of the hours of passion, dedication and effort that volunteers afforded them as they developed as players and athletes in their local schools and GAA clubs. The work of the volunteer is really the foundation of Irish Sport and formal recognition and appreciation for their efforts is well deserved.”
This is the fourth edition of the Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards, which is an initiative of the Federation of Irish Sport in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council, the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport and The Community Foundation of Ireland. The first awards were presented in 2007 and are designed to recognise the contribution of the 450,000 Irish adults who volunteer in sport every year. Sport remains the single biggest driver of voluntary activity in Ireland
Members of the public are invited to nominate an individual whose contribution to their sport has made a real difference and to provide details on the person nominated. Ten winners will be selected to receive an award from the nominations received. An Overall or Lifetime award to honour a volunteer, who has consistently given of their time for a sport, a team, or an event over many years, will also be awarded. Full details of the scheme and how to enter can be found on line at www.volunteersinsport.ie. The website includes a nomination form and guidelines for the 2012 awards. Nominations can be made by clubs, individuals or sporting bodies.
Previous winners include John O’Shea father to Euro 2012 bound John O’Shea, Brian Craig of Sailing who is largely responsible for attracting the Youth World Sailing Championships which will see 300 sailors from 70 countries descend on Dun Laoghaire in July, Dublin City Marathon organiser Jim Aughney and coach to Olympic Silver Medallist Kenny Egan, Gerry Fleming who has been coaching at Neilstown Boxing Club for more than 20 years.
The deadline for nominations for the 2012 Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards is 3rd August 2012.
