Apr 16, 2018
You are invited to a FREE seminar on
Financing Sporting Ambition
Clann Credo Community Loan Finance
in association with Connacht GAA
Connacht GAA Centre
Cloonacurry, Bekan, Claremorris, Co. Mayo
Thursday April 26th from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm
Following the announcement of the 2017 Sports Capital Programme in December, many clubs have been busy finalising their project plans. Others are considering purchasing equipment and looking at sources of finance for future improvements to club facilities.
Loan finance is often needed for Sports Capital funded projects such as upgrades to playing surfaces, training facilities and buildings. The grant is only released once the associated works or equipment have been paid for, and many sports clubs encounter difficulties in accessing loans on reasonable terms.
The seminar is aimed at all sports clubs who have successfully applied for a Sports Capital grant, or who are planning sports development projects in 2018.
Speakers on the night will include:
Gerry McGovern President of Connacht Council GAA – Welcome
Tracey Hannon Western Representative, Clann Credo Community Loan Finance on how loan finance can boost club development projects.
John Prenty Secretary of Connacht Council GAA on supports available from the GAA
Charlie Lambert Mayo Sports Partnership on grants and supports available to clubs in Mayo.
John Gallagher Chairperson of Belmullet GAA Club on their experience of developing their clubhouse and stand.
For more information and to register click https://financingsportingambition.eventbrite.ie or call 01 400 2100
€10m Community Sports Loan Fund
Clann Credo’s new €10m Community Sports Loan Fund helps amateur sports clubs and community groups to access sports grants and funding by providing them with Community Loan Finance.
Clubs planning improvements to sporting facilities often face difficulties in accessing finance on reasonable terms. Committee or board members may be asked to give personal guarantees or even to borrow in their own names. Clann Credo never asks a volunteer to guarantee a club’s loan.
Clann Credo is a not for profit charity which not only considers the ability to repay a loan, but also the impact your project has on your community.
Clann Credo has already invested in more than 100 amateur sports clubs around the country, enabling more people to enjoy the benefits of sport, providing better facilities, better club houses, better training facilities, better equipment.
Some of the sports Clann Credo has funded include: GAA; Judo; Soccer; Watersports; Archery; Baseball; Gymnastics and Community field sports.
Unique Features
In all cases:
- Personal guarantees are NOT required
- Interest rates are affordable
- Clann Credo welcomes early repayments and does not penalise for early repayment, even when the interest rate is fixed
- No application form to fill in
- FREE Financial check by Clann Credo
- FREE Clann Credo specialist workshops places
- FREE 1-year membership of The Wheel (Umbrella community organisation)
- It supports voluntary effort because is also a voluntary organisation and registered charity.
For more information visit www.clanncredo.ie
Twitter: #10mSportsFund
Apr 6, 2018
March 2018
‘Actions Speak Louder than Words’, a women in sport event was jointly hosted last Thursday by the Olympic Council of Ireland and Federation of Irish Sport. 50 guests across Sporting Federations, Sport Ireland, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport alongside athletes and a number of media representatives attended the discussion around a proposal on how to support and enhance the position of women in sport in Ireland.
Guests enjoyed a reception in advance of the event where wine, tea, coffee and canapes were served. Sarah O’Connor, Head of Sport in Wilson Hartnell welcomed guests to the event, hosted in the picturesque setting and home of WH at 6 Ely Place with MC Evanne Ni Chuillinn beginning the evenings proceedings by welcoming President of the Olympic Council, Sarah Keane, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, Mary O’Connor as well as a number of VIP guests including incoming CEO of the Olympic Council, Peter Sherrard, Chair of the Athletes Commission, Shane O’Connor as well as Una May from Sport Ireland.
Sarah Keane spoke, followed by Mary O’Connor to introduce the event, discussing the importance of Women in Sport to them and not just that, but the importance of putting opinions and ideas into action.
Guests were then invited by Evanne Ni Chuillinn to join in an interactive session, splitting into five groups to offer opinions on one question each, with a list of five questions developed by Sarah and Mary in advance of the event.
- We propose setting up a Women In Sport foundation to take the movement forward. Do you agree, should there be an organisation at all? If so, what would the structure be? If not, what other options/alternatives are there.
- How do we resource a Women In Sport Foundation? What resources are likely to be required?
- We need a plan to progress all of the talk. Discuss a potential vision, mission, values and strategic objectives
- There are a lot of different areas when we reference ‘Women In sport’. Name those that you feel should be covered by the work of this organisation or its alternative and why
- Are there any initiatives that could be taken forward by this organisation/its alternative that could really make a difference in this area and what are they?
Groups were then requested to present back their opinions and ideas following a 30-minute brainstorm to which Sarah Keane and Mary O’Connor offered closing discussions. Strong thoughts were presented by each group with real vision for change which The Federation and the Olympic Council will action over the coming months.
The event was concluded with a short drinks reception.
Agreed action:-
All feedback will be considered and a position paper will be prepared on this topic and will be available in due course.
Mary O Connor Sarah Keane
CEO Federation of Irish Sport. President
Irish Sport HQ, National Sports Campus Olympic Council of Ireland
Blanchardstown, Dublin1 5 Olympic House,
T +35316251155/ M +353860437884 Harbour Road, Howth, Co. Dublin.
www.irishsport.ie www.olympics.ie
Mar 20, 2018
Press Release:
Clann Credo team up with the Federation of Irish Sport to promote €10 million community sports loan fund. Clann Credo have funded over 100 sports projects to date
Tuesday, 20th March 2018, The Federation of Irish Sport has teamed up with Clann Credo, a charity that provides loan finance to community projects nationwide. Clann Credo recently announced details of a dedicated community sports loan fund of €10 Million. They have partnered with the Federation of Irish Sport to promote the availability of the fund to the Irish Sports Community, to assist in the financing of development or improvements to training facilities, club houses or the purchasing of equipment.
Clann Credo have funded over 100 voluntary sports clubs and community-managed sports facilities to date. Cherry Orchard Football Club, based in Ballyfermot, Dublin was one of the clubs that availed of a Community Loan from Clann Credo in 2016 to facilitate the development of an all-weather pitch. Other projects to receive loans include Cork Boat Club, Achill GAA Club and Tullow Tennis Club. These loans helped these clubs to maximise the impact of Sports Capital grants from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and spread the upfront cost of the investment over time.
The Sports Capital Programme is the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s primary means of providing Government funding to community based sports organisations. The programme has a hugely positive impact, facilitating the development or upgrade of sports facilities nationwide.
However, these grant schemes generally require clubs to pay for the project up front before drawing the grant. This is a real challenge to clubs who don’t have access to the necessary finance in advance. In addition, clubs are often asked to provide evidence of matched funding to qualify for a grant which can be difficult for sports clubs who don’t already have the funds raised.
Banks in these circumstances often look for personal guarantees from the club’s committee members who are volunteers, creating a barrier to finance for sports clubs in these circumstances. The Federation of Irish Sport and Clann Credo Community Sport Loan Partnership will allow sports clubs to access loans of up to €500,000 without the need for personal guarantees. The application process is user friendly with the focus in determining suitability for a loan being the impact of the project on the club and the community it serves as well as ability to repay.
Loans can be repaid over a 2 to 15-year period with the interest rates which typically range from 4.95% to 6.75% depending on both the term of the loan and the amount being borrowed.
Speaking at the announcement, The Federation of Irish Sport CEO, Mary O’Connor said:
“The 12,000 sports clubs nationwide play a vital role in communities right around Ireland. Ensuring adequate facilities are available and once available, are maintained and upgraded appropriately is a real challenge. Access to finance for clubs given their voluntary and not for profit nature through traditional financing channels usually doesn’t work so we are delighted that through this partnership we can highlight the availability of this tailored community funding scheme to Irish Sporting Organisations and their clubs.”
“Paul O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Clann Credo said:“Clann Credo have been providing Community Loan Finance to Ireland’s charitable and not for profit sector since 1996. Sport makes up a significant portion of Ireland’s not for profit sector and with more than 500,000 Irish adults volunteering, sport is the single biggest driver of volunteerism in Ireland. We are delighted to partner with the Federation of Irish Sport, as the representative body for Ireland’s National Sporting Organisations, to build on Clann Credo’s mission of providing finance to community groups throughout Ireland. This much-needed, dedicated fund will allow Ireland’s sports clubs to maximise the funding channels available to them to develop and upgrade their facilities and purchase equipment, all vital in ensuring communities have the opportunity to participate in sporting activities.”
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Wilson Hartnell
Sarah O’Connor / Shane Nolan
sarah.oconnor@ogilvy.com / shane.nolan@ogilvy.com
086 8048446 / 086 0835402
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
