A Look Back at 2025
We would like to wish all our members a very Merry Christmas and continued Sport and Physical Activity for 2026!
Please enjoy taking the time to have a look back at the work of the Federation on behalf of the sector during 2026.
Federation of Irish Sport Unveils New Award Recognising Community Sporting Excellence supported by Clann Credo – Community Loan Finance
The Federation of Irish Sport is delighted to announce the launch of a brand-new award category for the 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards – the Club/Community Sport Organisation Award, proudly sponsored by Clann Credo – Community Loan Finance.
This new award celebrates the exceptional volunteer-led sports clubs, community organisations, and groups that make an outstanding contribution to promoting sport, physical activity, and community well-being across Ireland. The award recognises excellence in inclusion, participation, leadership, innovation, and positive impact through sport.
To submit a nomination, visit: https://volunteersinsport.ie/make-a-nomination/
Hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport and supported by the Sport Ireland National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships, the awards honour the dedication, skills, and passion of individual volunteers from all 32 counties. This additional award shines a light on clubs and groups that operate entirely through volunteer effort and have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their members to help create participation, belonging and opportunity across diverse communities through sport.
Across Ireland, Clann Credo works with sports clubs and community groups of all sizes, helping them develop facilities and increase access to sport, particularly for young people and those who may face additional barriers to taking part.
“Clann Credo is proud to sponsor the Club/Community Sport Award as part of the Volunteers in Sport Awards. Every day we meet volunteers who are transforming their communities with energy and determination,” said Tony Marshall, Regional Manager at Clann Credo and a member of the adjudication panel. “This award recognises that commitment and celebrates the positive impact volunteers create right across the country.”
Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, added:
“We are delighted to have the support of Clann Credo for this new national honour championing the volunteer-led clubs that strengthen communities through sport and physical activity. This is a welcome addition to the 32 individual county recipients and marks an exciting expansion of the awards for 2025.”
A Celebration of Volunteerism in Irish Sport
Across Ireland, over 460,000 volunteers dedicate their time each week to ensure sport thrives in communities nationwide. More than 250,000 volunteer coaches contribute an estimated 1 million hours weekly, delivering vital opportunities for participation and inclusion. Their collective impact is valued at €1.5bn to the Irish economy, highlighting the immense contribution of volunteerism to society.
Nominations Open!
Nominations for the 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards, including the new Sports Club/Community Sport Organisation Award sponsored by Clann Credo, are open until the 15th December 2025.
The Awards celebration will take place on 26th February 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown, Dublin. To submit a nomination, visit: https://volunteersinsport.ie/make-a-nomination/
Celebrate Your Club Heroes: Enter the Volunteers in Sport Awards for your Chance to Receive a €200 Donation for Your Club!
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.
Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown named Best Workplace of the Year at Fingal Business Awards
Congratulations to the Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown on wining the Best Workplace Award at the Fingal Business Awards!
Fingal business community comes together for 2025 Gala 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.
Clann Credo Named Specialist Lender of the Year at the FS Awards 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.
2into3 Partner Event: Being Grant Ready Nov 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