Dec 5, 2025
Sports clubs across Ireland are being invited to take part in the 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards, supported by the National Network of Local Sports Partnerships, where each county’s award recipient will secure a €200 donation for their club.
Nominate & Win: How It Works:
- Honouring volunteers in all 32 counties
- €200 donation to each county recipient’s club
- Entries close 15th of December
- Nominate now at volunteersinsport.ie to be in with a chance
The 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards will bring together volunteers from all 32 counties to celebrate their commitment to fostering participation and ensuring that sport is accessible to all. Over 460,000 volunteers work tirelessly each week to bring sport and physical activity to life for people of all ages.
This year’s awards place a renewed focus on celebrating volunteers, clubs and community by supporting them with a €200 donation awarded to the affiliated club or sporting organisation of every county level award winner.
Nominations are open until Monday 15th December, and the awards celebration will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown in Dublin on 26th February 2026.
Dec 3, 2025
Congratulations to the Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown on wining the Best Workplace Award at the Fingal Business Awards!
Nearly 500 business leaders gathered at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport on Friday 14 November for the Fingal Business Awards 2025. Hosted by Fingal Chamber with support from Fingal County Council, the gala recognised excellence, talent, customer service and sustainable impact across 24 categories, with more than 90 organisations represented from every part of the county.
Now in its 21st year, the awards showcased the strength and diversity of Fingal’s economy. The region is in a strong moment: part of Ireland’s fastest-growing area, home to major employers, ambitious start-ups and a young, diverse workforce shaping what comes next. That energy was evident throughout the evening, which opened with a performance from the Fingal Mummers and continued late into the night with live music from Marvin and The Grooves, giving guests plenty of time to network, reconnect and celebrate.
Sustainable Business Impact Awards
Workplace Award – Sponsored by Adare HRM
Crowne Plaza Dublin Blanchardstown
For full awards details click here.
Dec 2, 2025
Clann Credo Named Specialist Lender of the Year at the FS Awards 2025
Congratulations to our Partners Clann Credo who recently celebrated recognition of their work in social finance.
Clann Credo – Community Loan Finance has been recognised as Specialist Lender of the Year at the 2025 Business & Finance Media Group FS Awards, sponsored by Centralis Group.
The award highlights the growing importance of social finance in supporting local ambition, particularly within community and sporting organisations across Ireland. For almost three decades, Clann Credo has backed volunteer-led projects that strengthen participation, inclusion, and local resilience — from pitch redevelopments and community centres to youth facilities and rescue services.
Speaking after the announcement, Mary Lawlor, CEO of Clann Credo, said:
“This award is a real milestone for our small but mighty team — and for the communities, social enterprises, and organisations we’re privileged to support across Ireland. It recognises that innovation in finance is as much about people as it is about products. We’re incredibly proud of our team, and grateful to all those community leaders and volunteers who trust us to stand with them as they deliver positive change.”
Clann Credo’s model is built on the belief that finance should be accessible, fair, and focused on impact. Today, the organisation is working with over 700 active community projects nationwide, helping groups turn ideas into action through flexible loan options tailored to how community development actually works.
The award also places a spotlight on the vital role that community finance plays in Ireland’s sporting landscape. Many clubs, facilities, and sports organisations rely on a mix of grant aid and social finance to move projects forward — and Clann Credo continues to play a key role in ensuring those projects succeed.
As Mary Lawlor added:
“This achievement isn’t just about Clann Credo — it belongs to every community group and volunteer whose ambition drives the work we do. We look forward to continuing to invest in communities, and in the belief that doing good and doing business can go hand in hand.”
For sports organisations seeking guidance or support on financing facilities or community-led projects, Clann Credo remains ready to help — always with people, impact, and local ambition at the centre.
Nov 25, 2025
The Federation was delighted to co-host a webinar for members with our Partners 2into3 on the practical steps members can take to make their CSFF grant applications more robust. Expert insights were shared by Patricia Keenan the Director of Funding Services at 2into3. She has worked for local authorities, government departments and social enterprises at a senior level before embarking on consulting in 2005. She has a track record of delivering 50+ webinars and in-person events to over 5,000 attendees and has directly supported more than 80 CSFF grant applications across a wide range of sports with a 93% success rate overall. The event proved very popular with member and there was excellent engagement.
The Community Sport Facilities Fund is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.
- The Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, has allocated over €1.4 billion to almost 19,000 projects since 1998.
- The programme prioritises participation, accessibility, and sustainability, with targets including 60% national participation in sport by 2027.
Being Grant Ready for CSFF – tell the story!
1.Who are the people that will benefit from this project?
2.What would you like to fund? Ambition…
3.Why should you get this over another application?
Once you answer these then think about….
I.Where is the project
II.How much will your ambition cost? How much funding would you like to get from the Community Sport Facilities Fund? How will you match this?
III.When will you complete the work?
Members can look back at the full webinar. To request the link and slideshow presentation, please email info@irishsport.ie
Nov 20, 2025
- Published on: 19 November 2025
- Last updated on: 19 November 2025
The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport has today published its Sectoral Plan under the National Development Plan (NDP) Review identifying capital projects and programmes which will be progressed over the period 2026 – 2030. A review of the National Development Plan was carried out across Government in 2025. On foot of this process, a revised National Development Plan was published in July. This plan recognises that to invest in infrastructure and address the infrastructure deficit is the best way to safeguard our economy, drive growth and opportunity, protect jobs, increase competitiveness and ensure prosperity for our people and communities. This is particularly so at a time of growing international uncertainty.
In line with the Programme for Government, a review of the NDP was completed in July this year. As part of that review, €2.22 billion was allocated for capital investment to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for the period 2026 – 2030.
Nov 11, 2025
Media Release
Ireland Women’s International Footballer, Amber Barrett Kicks Off the 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards with the Federation of Irish Sport
- Supported by the Sport Ireland National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships
- Nominations open from 11th November – 15th December 2025
- New Club/Community Award Announced
- To nominate a volunteer visit volunteersinsport.ie
Tuesday 11th November 2025; Ireland Women’s International Footballer, Amber Barrett was on hand to lend her voice to the launch of the 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards, a national celebration of the extraordinary individuals who contribute to the vibrant fabric of Irish sports.
Hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport and supported by the Sport Ireland National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships these prestigious awards recognise the selfless volunteers who dedicate their time, skills, and passion to support sports clubs and community organisations across Ireland.
The 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards will bring together individuals from all 32 counties to celebrate their commitment to fostering participation and ensuring that sport is accessible to all. Their contributions not only inspire communities but also enable clubs and organisations to thrive, supporting social cohesion and well-being across Ireland. Without their dedication, many sporting opportunities simply would not exist.
A new addition to the 2025 awards is the launch of a brand-new award – the Club/Community Sport Organisation Award. This award recognises a volunteer led sports club, community organisation, or group that has made an outstanding contribution to promoting sport, physical activity, and community well-being. It celebrates excellence in inclusion, participation, leadership, and positive impact through sport.
In every corner of the country, from city centres and suburbs to rural villages, over 460,000 volunteers work tirelessly each week to bring sport and physical activity to life for people of all ages*. Over 250,000 coaches volunteer 1 million hours a week to Irish Sport**. The impact of their work is profound, providing multi-generational opportunities to engage in sport, build communities, and promote healthy lifestyles. The economic value of their contribution is estimated to be worth €1.5bn to the Irish economy***.
There are also two closed categories of Outstanding Achievement Award and the addition of a Lifetime Achievement Award. These prestigious awards are not open for public nomination. Recipients are selected by the Judging Panel from entries received from the County Volunteers, based on outstanding merit, impact, or long-term contribution.
Ambassador for the 2025 Awards Ireland Women’s International Footballer, Amber Barrett, who has scored nine goals in 55 senior games, said: “Volunteers are the unsung heroes of sport in Ireland. They are the ones who connect clubs with communities, who help kids to chase their dreams and fulfil their potential, who bring joy to families and who make a lasting difference in people’s lives. It’s fantastic to have these Awards to recognise those who make such a positive impact as Irish sport simply would not be the same without our volunteers.”
“The goodwill and work of volunteers cannot be taken for granted,” said Mary O’Connor CEO Federation of Irish Sport. “These awards are our chance to say thank you and in acknowledging the incredible efforts volunteers make, ensure that we continue to encourage more people to get involved and safeguard the future of sport in the country.”
A National Network of Support
Supporting the awards is the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership Coordinator, Shane McArdle, remarked: “This is the third year that the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships have come together to enthusiastically support the Federation of Irish Sports in hosting these important awards. In our work to promote participation all across the country, we see the immense value of volunteers in every club and across every sport. These awards provide a great opportunity for these clubs to recognise and celebrate these volunteers who make a difference in so many people’s lives. We encourage all clubs to nominate their invaluable champions.”
Nominations are now open, and the awards celebration will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown in Dublin on 26th February 2026.
To submit a nomination, visit www.volunteersinsport.ie
*Sport Ireland – Irish Sports Monitor 2023
** Sport Ireland – Spotlight on Coaching Report 2024
*** Sport Ireland – Economic Value of Sport Report 2021
ENDS
For more information Contact:
Clare Louise O’Donoghue, Head of Commercial & Marketing, Federation of Irish Sport
Mobile: 086 0437887, Email: clarelouise.odonoghue@irishsport.ie
