Mar 8, 2018
Press Release: Female Sports Win Big at Federation of Irish Sport Industry Awards Ahead of International Women’s Day
Páraic Duffy (GAA) and Dominic Casey (Rowing) Honored with Outstanding Contribution Awards
Thursday, 8th March 2018: In an apt turn of events, The Federation of Irish Sport has revealed that female sports took home the top prizes at last night’s (Wednesday) annual Sport Industry Awards, in association with JLT Ireland. Celebrating today – on International Women’s Day – will be Lidl and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association who scooped the accolade for Sports Campaign of the Year, while the IRFU was awarded Sports Event of the Year for the Women’s Rugby World Cup hosted in Dublin and Belfast last year. Both were praised for their considerable investment in raising the profile of women’s sport.
GAA Director General Páraic Duffy, who is due to step down later this month after 10 years of service, was awarded an Outstanding Contribution award alongside the O’Donovan brothers’ coach Dominic Casey who also received an Outstanding Contribution award for his considerable involvement in Irish rowing.
AIB has long been paving the way in sport sponsorship and 2017 was no different. The long-term GAA sponsor went home with Digital Engagement Community of the Year for its 12-month long Club and County #TheToughest campaign which received over 20 million views and 4 million social interactions.
The FAI has a history of developing specific programmes for people with disabilities, for asylum seekers, ethnic minorities and refugees. In 2017 the Association agreed to work with Cara on a five-year programme that will ensure diversity and inclusivity in all the Association does earning them the Diversity and Inclusion award.
Other winners on the night included Gymnastics Ireland who took home National Governing Body of the Year, Cork LSP won Local Sports Partnership of the Year, AIG and Dublin GAA scooped Best Commercial Sponsorship and Fota Island Adventure beat off stiff competition to take Sports Business of the Year.
Sporting Innovation of the Year was deservedly collected by the Dublin Simon Community. In the belief that homeless people need and deserve more purpose, wellbeing, intellectual stimulation, self-esteem and independence, they set up “The Wellbeing Room”. The gym which allows vulnerable adults to focus on their physical and mental health in a fun way has been a huge success – even allowing one individual of playing for Ireland in the Homeless World Cup.
The final two awards were the Jimmy Magee Award for Sports Journalism and Sports Media Outlet of the Year. The media plays a pivotal role in the business of sport and we in Ireland have always had both great journalists and media houses. The Federation would not however presume to be the best judge and so entered into partnership with the Association of Sports Journalists in Ireland (ASJI) to select the winners.
A superb and fearless writer, Vincent Hogan of the Irish Independent was honored with the Sports Journalist of the Year award. And OffTheBall.com was awarded Sports Media Outlet of the Year in recognition of its contribution to the Irish sporting landscape, continuing to go from strength to strength, and embracing all forms of communication from broadcast to digital.
Speaking at the awards, Mary O’Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport, said “It’s a privilege for us to celebrate so many passionate individuals and business here tonight at our third Sport Industry Awards. Our research proves time and time again the powerful contribution sport makes to the Irish economy, whether the €46 million in bed nights from events, the €350 – €800 million in sports tourism or the 40,000 jobs are supported by Irish sport. Awards like these are integral for us to continue to highlight the importance of sport within our society and to reward those that work so tirelessly to make a true difference.”
The full list of winners is as follows:
Category 1: DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
AIB GAA – Backing Club & County #TheToughest
Category 2. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AWARD
FAI – CARA/Sport Ireland Inclusive NGB
Category 3. CAMPAIGN OR PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR AWARD
Lidl – Ladies Gaelic Football
Category 4. GOVERNING BODY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Gymnastics Ireland
Category 5. LOCAL SPORT PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD
Cork Local Sports Partnership – Cork Sports Ability
Category 6. SPORTS EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
IRFU – Women’s Rugby World Cup
Category 7. BEST COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP AWARD
AIG & Dublin GAA
Category 8. JIMMY MAGEE AWARD FOR SPORT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Vincent Hogan – The Irish Independent
Category 9. SPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Fota Island Adventure – Sport Experience and Training
Category 10. SPORTS MEDIA OUTLET OF THE YEAR AWARD
OffTheBall.com
Category 11. SPORTING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
Dublin Simon Community – The Wellbeing Room
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT / CONTRIBUTION BY AN INDIVIDUAL TO IRISH SPORT AWARD
Páraic Duffy, GAA
Dominic Casey, Rowing Ireland
ENDS
For media enquiries contact:
Shane Nolan / Rachel Solon; Wilson Hartnell PR
shane.nolan@ogilvy.com / rachel.solon@ogilvy.com
086 0835402 / 087 6245326
Feb 27, 2018
Due to the adverse weather forecast for the next 24 hours, the Federation of Irish Sport Members Briefing Event scheduled to be held on 28th February is now postponed to 28th March 2018.
Please save the date.
All members will be notified in due course regarding the event.
Feb 26, 2018
Press Release: The Federation of Irish Sport announce shortlist for Irish Sport Industry Awards 2018
26 February 2018: The Federation of Irish Sport has announced the shortlist of finalists for the 2018 Sport Industry Awards. The awards, which this year are sponsored by insurance company JLT Ireland were set up in 2015 to highlight the contribution that sport makes to Ireland’s economy both directly and indirectly. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, 7th March in the Banquet Hall at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin 8. The Awards recognise and reward excellence in the business of sport, whilst simultaneously highlighting the contribution of sport to Ireland.
This year there will be two media awards to highlight the important role the media plays in sport in Ireland. These two awards are in collaboration with the Association of Sports Journalists in Ireland (ASJI). In all a total of 12 awards will be distributed on the night, reflecting the diverse nature of Irish sport.
Speaking at the announcement of the short-list, Mary O’Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport, said “The awards were set up to highlight the importance of the business of sport in Ireland. Today sport supports almost 40,000 jobs, represents almost €2.4 billion in household expenditure and has been estimated to contribute almost €1.9 billion in tourism revenue. And that is beyond all of the other contributions sport makes in areas such as health, inclusivity, diversity and reputation both at home and abroad.”
The winners will be determined by a judging panel drawn from both the business and sporting community. The panel is Cliona O’Leary, RTE Sport, Athlete Louise Galvin, Rory Sheridan, Diageo Ireland, Liam Harbison, Sport Ireland Institute, Larry Fenelon, Leman Solicitors, Cathal Dervan ASJI, Rob Hartnett, Sport for Business, Amanda Harton, JLT, Deirdre McDermott, OSK Accountants and Business Consultants, Mark Doyle, AIB and John Aherne, GolfGraffix, two of last year’s winners.
The full list of those shortlisted is as follows
Category 1: DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
AIB/GAA – Club and County
IRFU/Vodafone – Team of Us
Basketball Ireland – Overall Digital Strategy
Triathlon Ireland – Overall Digital Strategy
GAA – GAANOW
Motorsport Ireland– Overall Digital Strategy
Shamrock Rovers – #FootballLovesUs
Category 2. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AWARD
Louth LSP – Inclusibility Project 2017
Cricket Ireland – Get Into Cricket
Boxing Ireland – Cashen Vale Boxing Club
CARA – Fit4All
FAI – Inclusive NGB
Gymnastics Ireland – GymABLE
GAA – Healthy Club
Category 3. CAMPAIGN OR PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
Vodafone/ IRFU – Team of Us
AIB/GAA – Jeff and Kammy Journey to Croker
IRFU – Women’s Rugby World Cup
AIG – Dublin GAA
Lidl – Ladies Football
Largo Foods – Basketball Ireland
Category 4. GOVERNING BODY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Ladies Gaelic Football Association
Cricket Ireland
Gymnastics Ireland
Triathlon Ireland
Tennis Ireland
Swim Ireland
Category 5. LOCAL SPORTS PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD
Limerick Local Sports Partnership – Sports Inclusion Club
Waterford Local Sport Partnership – WSP Balance Bike Programme
Laois Local Sport Partnership – Transformation Programme for women over 50
Clare Local Sport Partnership – Active Primary Schools programme
Cork Local Sports Partnership – Cork Sports Ability
Category 6. SPORTS EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
LGFA – TG4 All Ireland Ladies Gaelic Football Finals 2017
IRFU – Women’s Rugby World Cup
IRFU – Six Nations Match Ireland vs England
Badminton Ireland – FZ Forza Irish Open 2017
Basketball Ireland – FIBA U18 Women’s Europeans
Category 7. BEST COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP AWARD
Lidl – Ladies Gaelic Football
Largo Foods – Hula Hoops Basketball Cup
AIG – Dublin GAA
Electric Ireland – Minor GAA
Fighter.ie – Broadcasting of Mixed Martial Arts
Category 8. JIMMY MAGEE AWARD FOR SPORT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Vincent Hogan – Irish Independent
Roy Curtis – Sunday World
Kieran Cunningham – Irish Daily Star
Malachy Clerkin – The Irish Times
Sinead Kissane – TV3
Niall Kelly – The42.ie
Keith Duggan – The Irish Times
Category 9. SPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Clubify – Community engagement app
SportsTechIreland – Developing Sport Technology Companies
SportsJoe.ie – Broadcasting Sport
Fota Island Adventure – Sport Experience and training
KitmanLabs – Athlete optimization system
Category 10. SPORTS MEDIA OUTLET OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Irish Times – Women in Sport
The 42.ie – Digital journalism
The Irish Examiner – Overall regional and national sport coverage
The Irish Independent- Tee to Green
Off the Ball.com – Digital Sports Show
Category 11. SPORTING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
Motorsport.ie – Broadcasting own content
Irish Sailing – Water Sport Inclusion Games
Dublin Simon Community – A Gym for the Homeless
Complyfile – Software Platform for Voluntary Organisations
Rowing Ireland – Get Going – Get Rowing
(ends)
For further information, visit www.irishsportindustryawards.ie and www.irishsport.ie.
For media enquiries contact:
Shane Nolan/Kate FitzGerald; Wilson Hartnell PR
shane.nolan@ogilvy.com / kate.fitzgerald@ogilvy.com
086 0835402 / 086 3873083
Feb 26, 2018
The Irish Sport Industry Awards in association with JLT Ireland will be hosted at the Smock Alley Theatre on 7th March, we had a great response to entries and below is a shortlist of those entered, winners will be announced on the night. For more information www.irishsportindustryawards.ie
Category 1: DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
AIB/GAA – Club and County
IRFU/Vodafone – Team of Us
Basketball Ireland – Overall Digital Strategy
Triathlon Ireland – Overall Digital Strategy
GAA – GAANOW
Motorsport Ireland– Overall Digital Strategy
Shamrock Rovers – #FootballLovesUs
Category 2. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AWARD
Louth LSP – INCLUSIBILITY PROJECT 2017 Cricket Ireland – Get Into Cricket
Boxing Ireland – Cashen Vale Boxing Club
CARA – FIT4ALL
FAI – CARA/Sport Ireland Inclusive NGB
Gymnastics Ireland – Gymable
GAA – Healthy Club
Category 3. CAMPAIGN OR PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
Vodafone/ IRFU – Team of Us
AIB/GAA – Jeff and Kammy Journey to Croker
IRFU – Women’s Rugby World Cup
AIG – Dublin GAA
Lidl – Ladies Football
Largo Foods – Basketball Ireland
Category 4. GOVERNING BODY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Ladies Gaelic Football Association
Cricket Ireland
Gymnastics Ireland
Triathlon Ireland
Tennis Ireland
Swim Ireland
Category 5. LOCAL SPORT PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR AWARD
Limerick Local Sports Partnership – Sports Inclusion Club
Waterford Local Sport – WSP Balance Bike Programme
Laois Local Sport Partnership – Transformation Programme for women over 50
Clare Local Sport Partnership – Active Primary Schools programme
Cork Local Sports Partnership – Cork Sports Ability
Category 6. SPORTS EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
LGFA – TG4 All Ireland Ladies Gaelic Football Finals 2017
IRFU – Women’s Rugby World Cup
IRFU – Six Nations Match Ireland vs England
Badminton Ireland – FZ Forza Irish Open 2017
Basketball Ireland – FIBA U18 Women’s Europeans
Category 7. BEST COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP AWARD
Lidl – Ladies Gaelic Football
Largo Foods – Hula Hoops Basketball Cup
AIG – Dublin GAA
Electric Ireland – Minor GAA
Fighter.ie – Broadcasting of Mixed Martial Arts
Category 8. JIMMY MAGEE AWARD FOR SPORT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Vincent Hogan – Irish Independent
Roy Curtis – Sunday World
Kieran Cunningham – Irish Daily Star
Malachy Clerkin – The Irish Times
Sinead Kissane – TV3
Niall Kelly – The42.ie
Keith Duggan – The Irish Times
Category 9. SPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Clubify – Community engagement app
SportTech – Developing Sport Technology Companies
SportsJoe.ie – Broadcasting Sport
Fota Island Adventure – Sport Experience and training
KitmanLabs – Athlete optimization system
Category 10. SPORTS MEDIA OUTLET OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Irish Times – Women in Sport
The 42.ie – Journalism off print
The Irish Examiner – Overall regional and national sport coverage
The Irish Independent- Tee to Green
Off the Ball.com- Digital Sports Show
Category 11. SPORTING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
Motorsport.ie – Broadcasting own content
Irish Sailing – Water Sport Inclusion Games
Dublin Simon Community – A Gym for the Homeless
Complyfile – Software Platform for Voluntary Organisations
Rowing Ireland – Get Going – Get Rowing
Feb 22, 2018
The Federation of Irish Sport is looking forward to hosting its third annual Irish Sport Industry Awards in association with JLT Ireland, on 7th March 2018, at the Smock Alley Theatre Dublin 8.
The 12 award categories being presented on the night are:
- Digital Engagement Community of the Year
- Diversity and Inclusion Award
- Campaign or Program of the Year
- Governing Body of the Year
- Local sports partnership of the Year
- Sports Event of the Year
- Best commercial partnership
- Jimmy Magee award for Sports Journalist of the Year
- Sports Business of the Year
- Sports Media Outlet of the Year
- Sporting Innovation of the Year
- Outstanding achievement or contribution by an individual to Irish sport
#SportMatters
Feb 16, 2018
Federation of Irish Sport Welcomes Government’s Long-Term Commitment to Sport in Project 2040 Development Plan
Press Release
16th February 2018
The Federation of Irish Sport welcomes the Government’s long-term commitment to the development of sport in Ireland as outlined in its Project 2040 Development Plan published today. In particular, the Federation welcomes the commitment to: –
- a Sports Capital Fund of €100 million over the next 4 years
- the completion of the National Sports Campus by 2021 with more new facilities for sports such as cricket and tennis.
- a new Large Scale Infrastructure Fund of €100 million for larger sports projects.
The Federation welcomes the commitment to funding of facilities that undoubtedly will positively transform the sporting landscape. We remain conscious however of the importance of the availability of qualified people and targeted programmes to allow the potential of any sports facility to be maximised. In this regard, we will continue to work on behalf of our members to ensure that the current funding that plays a crucial role in supporting these people and programmes increases in the coming years.
(ends)
For further information, please contact:-
Mary O’Connor, Chief Executive, Federation of Irish Sport Tel: 086 0437884
