Nov 26, 2013
Wicklow Sports Partnership
BACKGROUND
The Wicklow Sports Partnership was established in 2008, and aims to
increase participation in sport and physical activity throughout Co. Wicklow. The Vision of Wicklow Local Sports Partnership is to “Increase participation in sport and physical activity in County Wicklow through the co-ordination and delivery of quality programmes, training and services”. The Mission of Wicklow Local Sports Partnership is to “Provide sporting and physical activity opportunities through partnership”.
What we do:
We provide support and assistance across a range of area’s such as Sports Development, Physical Activity Provision, Education and Training, Information Provision and Leadership & Management.
At Wicklow Local Sports Partnership our aim is to support increased participation in sport and active recreation throughout County Wicklow especially across specific target groups such as women & girls, youth, older adults, people with disabilities, unemployed, disadvantaged and minority groups. Wicklow Local Sports Partnership also works to ensure that local resources are put to best possible use.
Information:
Involving co-ordination of local sports information, initiating research, compiling a sports directory/ database and identifying needs and resources to form the basis of local planning and establishing a consultative sports forum.
Education:
Provision of quality opportunities for education and training at local level, including generic training courses in areas such as Code of Ethics, First Aid and Active Leadership while also supporting the delivery of sports specific courses in conjunction with the National Governing Bodies of Sport.
Implementation:
Implementation range of national programmes to encourage participation e.g. Buntus, Women In Sport, Go for Life. Programmes are delivered in areas such as Sports Development, Community Sport & Physical Activity, Schools Sport, Youth Sport & Sport and Inclusion. Wicklow Local Sports Partnership will also implement sports programmes in the context of the local strategic plan for Sport and Physical Activity and in line with Irish Sports Council priorities.
The next main event is the new men’s fitness program in Arklow at the end of November the implementation of the new fitness program will coincide with the ‘Operation Transformation’ TV Series which begins in January.
Social Media Links
Nov 8, 2013
LOCATION
National Sports Campus, Abbotstown.
DATE
27th October 2013
PARTICIPATING TEAMS/ATHLETES
56 athletes from all over Ireland and visiting athletes from the UK and representatives from the British Army Pentathlon team.
HOST
ABOUT PI
Pentathlon Ireland (PI) is the National Governing Body for the Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon which is made up of five disciplines; fencing, swimming show jumping running and shooting. PI (formerly the Modern Pentathlon Association of Ireland) was established in 2003.
EVENT HISTORY
First National Championships hosted in 2005.
EVENT PREPARATION
With five sports to include in a one day, event organisation was key to a successful competition. Preparations began 4 months prior to the event with volunteers working tirelessly in the build up to the competition day.
THE EVENT
(all photos by: Mel Doyle, www.meldoyle.ie)
VENUES
National Aquatics Centre (Swimming), National Horse Sport Arena (Show Jumping) and the National Modern Pentathlon Centre (Fencing, Shooting and running). The Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown (Presentation Evening).
VOLUNTEERS
Competition Director: David Lowe
Swim Director: Peta Scott
Riding Director: Carolyn Lanigan-O’Keeffe
Fencing Director: LT Hugh Ford
Shooting Director: Jim Bailey
Running Director: Paul Madden
Results Team: John Woodbridge (Sculptor results) with Heidi Haenschke, Louise Quinn, Ena Coleman and Ena Collins
Presentation Evening: Louise Quinn
Plus an additional 20 volunteers on the day to help the smooth running of all the disciplines.
HOW THE EVENT WAS STRUCTURED
The event was run as close to possible as a normal international event with all phases being completed in the one day. The competition was run across all age groups from Masters to Youth E (8-10yrs) with our youngest competitors just 8 years old.
The younger classes contested the swim, run and shoot disciplines with athletes in the Youth C age group (12-14) or older having the opportunity to compete in all five disciplines.
All age groups started with the swimming at the NAC. The competitors then split according to age groups with the older group completing their show jumping rounds whilst the younger age groups contested the fencing discipline. On conclusion, these groups swapped venues and contested their fencing and riding events to leave just the combined run/shoot event to determine the final placings for the National Titles. In Pentathlon, your points from your performances in the swim, fence and ride disciplines determine the handicapped start order for the final run/shoot event. This means that the leader of the competition begins on the starters gun with other athletes following at timed intervals according to their points deficit. This means the athletes to cross the finish line at the end of the combined run/shoot is the overall winner of the whole day’s competition. This lead to some fantastic finishes especially in the Youth B Boys category (15-16yrs).
Pentathlon Ireland organised a presentation evening with guest speaker; Kate Allenby MBE and Olympic bronze medallist from Sydney 2000 who presented the medals.
WHERE NEXT FOR THE IRISH TEAM
Traditionally the international pentathlon season runs from March to August so this is effectively the low season for our athletes. The majority of our High Performance athletes are in the beginning of a new phase of training for the 2014 season with a lot of our Youth athletes consolidating after a fantastic year of new experiences competing and training in modern pentathlon.
HOW THE EVENT WENT, QUOTE
Lindsey Weedon (Performance Director). The 2013 National Championships was a huge success and a real show case event for our new facilities at the National Sports Campus. Being able to train and compete in the five disciplines on one campus is something which is something our athletes have been dreaming about and, with continued hard work, will hopefully begin to translate into winning medals that they’ve also been dreaming about. The NSCDA and Horse Sport Ireland need to be recognised in helping to facilitate this development which will see the start of a new chapter for the association and the sport of modern pentathlon in Ireland.
In terms of the competition, it was an ambitious competition schedule to run all events on one day but with the dedication of a great team of volunteers we were able to make it work to a really high standard. Everyone was delighted with the way the competition ran and feedback about the event has been really positive.
SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
FOR MORE INFO SEE:
Nov 8, 2013
October was a busy month with sport represented at the Global Economic Forum for the first time and Budget 2014 not to mention developments regarding alcohol sponsorship & sport. The Federation are also contributing to a working group headed up by the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport and the Department of Health on the development of a National Physical Activity Plan. Further details are set out below:
1. Global Irish Economic Forum
Forum Reception
Sport was included for the first time at the Global Irish Economic Forum held in Dublin Castle on the 4th – 5th October. A reception held by the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport on the Thursday evening provided an opportunity for representatives from Irish Sport to meet with some of the Forum attendees.
Speaking at the reception, Minister Varadkar highlighted that Irish Sport is worth €2.4 billion to the economy and supports more than 40,000 jobs. He also outlined that more than 2% of Ireland’s total workforce work in a sport-related area, and that €818 million is spent annually by Ireland’s 12,000 voluntary sport clubs.
Minster Varadkar highlighted role of sport not just in terms of lifting morale but also its overall contribution to the economy saying, “Sport lifts the spirit in a way that no other sector can. It also makes a significant contribution to the economy, as shown by a recent EU study on the contribution of sport to economic growth. The report highlighted sport’s ability to develop other sectors of the economy including, tourism, fitness, the media, and education.”
The Minister went onto highlight that some 8,826 people are employed directly in the voluntary sport sector, which creates around one job for every €25,000 invested. He also noted that employment in sport is also growing – and cited an example from the GAA who now have 313 people are now employed in Games Development compared to 20 in 1991.
Minister Ring added: “Grants for sports capital projects play a very important role in supporting employment. For example, my officials have calculated that the €13.5 million allocated to sports capital subhead in 2013 will support almost 600 jobs in the construction and related sectors in 2013. Much of this will benefit job creation in rural areas.”
Minister Varadkar also said: “I set out four priorities for sport when I was appointed Minister. These were to re-start development of the National Sports Campus on a realistic level, re-launch the Sports Capital Programme, protect funding for sport through the Sports Council, and promote sport as an exam subject in schools. Work is progressing well in all these areas.”
“Furthermore, sports-based tourism is prioritized in the Programme for Government because it brings high-yield, high-value international visitors to the country. Sports tourists spend on average twice as much as general tourists, whether attending sporting events or taking part in sport. We have also focused on major events that attract large spectator numbers and overseas media coverage, like the Navy versus Notre Dame American football game, or the annual Irish Open golf event. Almost a fifth of all Gathering events this year were sports-related, while 254,000 Irish residents traveled domestically to sports events last year with an average overnight stay of two nights.”
Panel Discussion
On the Saturday morning a panel comprised of Minister Michael Ring T.D., Martin Naughton (President, Glen Dimplex Group), Eugenie Buckley (Suiko Consulting), Paraic Duffy (Director General, GAA), Hugo Mac Neill (Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Ireland) and Kevin O’Brien (Cricket Ireland) lead a discussion moderated by Newstalk’s Ger Gilroy on “Promoting the interest of Ireland and its people abroad through Sport”.
A significant number of Forum attendees sat in on the panel discussion and there was some good interaction with the floor. Recognition that sport had the potential to contribute to Ireland beyond the confines of the sporting activity itself was highlighted with tourism, health and Ireland’s reputation abroad the main focus.
The following initiatives the group felt would be worth examining in more detail:
a) The establishment of a sport specific agency or bidding entity to develop sports tourism in Ireland. The entity would be charged with bringing specified targeted sports events to host in Ireland in accordance with a sports tourism strategy. The success of the Army V Navy American Football match was cited as a very well executed example of the potential of sports events to make a much wider contribution to tourism and the economy.
b)Trade missions could accompany suitable Irish Sporting Tours or Events Abroad. The power of sport in building relationships as well as its association with business life was mentioned. It was felt that the participation of Irish teams or athletes in international events or tours may provide a suitable platform on which to build trade missions. Kevin O’Brien cited the example of where he accompanied Enterprise Ireland on two separate trips to India to highlight Ireland’s education system with a view to attracting Indians to our third level universities and institutions.
2. Budget 2014
The Federation has been liaising with the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport in the aftermath of Budget 2014. The Department have stated that they are working to minimize the reduction in the current funding to sport announced in the recent budget. It is hoped that the final figure for 2014 will be confirmed in December.
Details around the level of funding to be made available to the National Sports Campus Development Authority are also yet to be confirmed although in what is good news for Irish Sport, it is hoped the available monies will be such to allow for the commencement of the development of the National Indoor Training Arena.
The Budget announcement also contained confirmation that there will be a new round of the Sports Capital Programme in 2014. This was the subject of a number of priority questions in the Oireachtas on November 7th. In responding to questions Minister Ring confirmed that details of the new programme were currently being developed and that he hoped to be able to make an announcement before the end of the year. He confirmed that his Department had developed a new portal www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie which will provide information on the new programme and through which applications will be managed. Organisation interested in applying for capital grants should register on the portal. A full transcript of the parliamentary questions can be downloaded at http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail2013110700010?opendocument#H00450
3. Sponsorship of Sport by Alcoholic Drinks Companies
The Government confirmed, as part of the 24th October announcement on the new alcohol policy, that the issue of alcohol sponsorship and sport was to be examined by a working group comprised of representatives from key government departments. The working group is due to report back within a year.
4. National Physical Activity Plan
As party of the Government’s “Healthy Ireland” Policy, the Department of Health and the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport are leading a working group to examine the development of a National Physical Activity Plan. The Federation of Irish Sport has been included in the working group along with the Irish Sports Council and representatives from the HSE, Department of Children & Youth Affairs, the City and County Managers Association as well as DCU’s Dr. Catherine Woods.
Nov 8, 2013
SWIM IRELAND AWARDED TOP PRIZE OF €25,000 BY COCA-COLA THANK YOU FUND
COCA-COLA AWARDS €125K TO ORGANISATIONS PROMOTING HEALTHY ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
Swim Ireland was today named as the overall winner of this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund and was awarded a top prize of €25,000. Swim Ireland was one of eleven non-profit organisations promoting healthy and active living in Ireland and Northern Ireland to benefit from an overall annual Coca-Cola Thank You Fund of €125,000. FIS was present at the event which was attended by Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, was held in the National Sports Campus.
This year FIS partnered with the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, our third year of being involved with the fund. FIS members and sports clubs have benefited from the fund since its inception in 2011 with 1 NGB and 1 Sport Club (Special Olympics and Titans Basketball Club) winning prizes. In 2012 the top prize winner was the Irish Olympic Handball Association and two sport clubs also picked up prizes (Ballina Boxing Club and Ballyduff AFC). This year a total of 4 FIS members and one sports club were awarded prizes for the excellent projects, including the winner; Swim Ireland, The Camogie Association, Irish Hockey Association, Irish Basketball Association and also Monkstown Boxing Club.
The top prize of €25,000 will enable Swim Ireland make their ‘Swim for a Mile Challenge’ a reality. The winning initiative, to be launched in December this year, will challenge members of the public to compete in an- all Ireland event to swim a mile with Swim Ireland providing a training program, advice and motivation for all those wanting to take on the challenge.
Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, said at the presentation: “Swim Ireland is a very deserving winner, its Swim for a Mile Challenge initiative will be encouraging those that have been out of the water for a while to dive back in. I would like to applaud Coca-Cola on this, the third year of their Coca-Cola Thank You Fund. It is a very real example of business working to promote healthy, active communities. The 11 organisations that will share in this generous fund will be making a significant difference in communities around the island of Ireland.”
“Thank you to the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund! This award will make our Swim for a Mile Challenge a reality,” said Sarah Keane, Chief Executive Officer of Swim Ireland. “The aim of the program is to promote swimming and its many health benefits. Swimming is such an inclusive sport – open to everyone, of any age and all fitness levels. We are thrilled to be rolling out this exciting project, and are so grateful to Coca-Cola for their support.”
“The funding awarded to each of the 11 winners will result in exciting, diverse initiatives designed to promote healthy, active lifestyles being realised across the island of Ireland. I would like to congratulate all of the entries on their creativity and passion, the calibre of the proposals received by Coca-Cola this year was very impressive. I would also like to thank Minister Ring for his continued support, and our panel of judges that had the onerous task of selecting a shortlist from over 300 entries,” said Ailish Forde, Director, Public Affairs and Communications Coca-Cola HBC Ireland.
The sucessful projects were chosen following a public vote on the shortlist, which accounted for 50% of the final score. A judging panel including Sarah O’Connor, Chief Executive, The Federation of Irish Sport; Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive, The Wheel; James Laverty, NICVA; fitness expert Karl Henry; nutritionist Paula Mee, Fine Gael TD Eoghan Murphy and Erica Roseingrave , Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland, awarded the remaining votes.
The ten other non-profit organisations which will each receive €10,000 from the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund to carry out projects promoting healthy and active living in Ireland and Northern Ireland were also named today. They are:
- Dundalk Simon Community – This project will involve a 20-week programme focused on fitness and well-being. It will run over 3 mornings a week and will focus on improving fitness levels and promoting healthy lifestyles amongst the users of Simon’s service in Dundalk.
- Europa Donna Ireland Limited – This project will encourage breast cancer survivors to take part in dragon boating, a fun, new sport. Such physical activity helps improve survival rates of people with a diagnosis of Breast Cancer and can help with certain symptoms. This project will be rolled out in multiple counties.
- Inkwell Youth Group – ‘Eat Well. Think Well. Be Well.’ promotes healthy lifestyles among Irish university students. Through an upgrade to the training kitchen, this project will be better able to give students the knowledge and skills to eat well on a budget. This is a Galway based initiative.
- Irish Basketball Association – Basketball Ireland’s National 3on3 Programme’ will be rolled out on a national basis throughout local area boards. The games will be tournament based and aimed at young men and women. Again this will reach multiple counties.
- Irish Hockey Association – H3 (Healthy Heart Hockey) is a physical well-being programme that celebrates the benefits of active lifestyles, providing nutritional education and an opportunity to attend a local fun game-based festival. Again this will reach multiple counties.
- Listowel Community Centre – This initiative will enhance mental resilience through active lifestyle coaching in secondary schools, focusing on transition year students in ten schools across the county for ten weeks aiming to permanently affect healthy and active lifestyle practices. This is Kerry based.
- Louisburgh HQ – The Louisburgh area has potential for 6 activity routes they want to promote and develop. These routes will be used for cycling and walking by locals and visitors to our area. The twin goals are to highlight the area’s natural beauty and engage more people in exercise.
- Monkstown Boxing Club – BoxClever’ will consist of a 40 week development programme in partnership with Monkstown Community High School to deliver a newly developed non-contact boxing and after schools programme for Year 8 & 9 pupils. This is based in Northern Ireland.
- The Camogie Association – The parents of camogie-playing girls (aged 12-14) will be encouraged to join their daughters and try out the sport through a 6 week programme that will include a focus on healthy eating. Again this has multiple county reach.
- The Prince’s Trust – This project is an individually tailored personal development programme combining one-to-one support and group activities delivered by a dedicated team aimed at the most marginalised and disengaged young people aged 16 to 25. This is Northern Ireland based.
More information about the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund is available at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.
Nov 4, 2013
Mountaineering Ireland
Mountaineering Ireland is the representative body for walkers and climbers in Ireland. It is recognised as the National Governing Body for mountaineering, hillwalking, rambling and climbing by both the Irish Sports Council and Sport Northern Ireland. Founded in 1971, Mountaineering Ireland exists to represent and support the walkers and climbers of Ireland and to be a voice for the sustainable use of Ireland’s mountains and all the places (coastline, crags, forests) we use.
Mountaineering Ireland has a number of sub-committees, including an Access and Conservation Committee that supports Mountaineering Ireland’s environmental initiatives and a Mountain Training Board that supports the delivery of personal skills and leadership awards such as
Mountain Skills, Lowland Leader Award, Mountain Leader Award, Climbing Wall Award, Multi Pitch Award and others. These schemes and awards are used by both club members and as vocational awards for those working in the adventure activities and outdoor education sector.
There are ten members of staff at present based at offices in Irish Sport HQ, Dublin 15 and Tollymore National Outdoor Centre, Co. Down.
Membership: 11,509
Number of Clubs: 168
2013 Highlights:
Competition climbing is growing hugely across the globe and over the past 5 years it’s growth in Ireland has been significant. This has seen the development of new national climbing centres (Gravity and Awesome Walls) and more regional climbing centres (Cork, Belfast and Derry) opening shortly. Other local walls (Kilfinane, Upperchurch, Artane, etc.) have also developed recently. This greater access to better facilities has raised the profile of young Irish climbers and one of those, Dominic Burns, is the 2013 European Youth Cup Bouldering Champion and he is ranked number 1 in the World.Mountaineering Ireland developed a new strategic plan through significant engagement with our members. The plan (SDP 2014-2017) will see Mountaineering Ireland work to deliver on 7 key objectives:- supporting participation in our sport, improving personal skills and standards and encouraging adventure opportunities for everyone.
Get Ireland Walking is an Irish Sports Council initiative led by Mountaineering Ireland. Get Ireland Walking exists to support people to get walking in their communities for health, wellbeing and fitness. A focus of year one has been to bring all interested stakeholders together, build the base of walking groups throughout Ireland and support groups and stakeholders with appropriate services and resources. See www.getirelandwalking.ie
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Fact File
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52% of members are female
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Ireland boasts a world number 1 ranked climber
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Key Programmes that Mountaineering Ireland run:
Access and Environment
Most walking and climbing activities in Ireland take place in the natural environment, therefore access to the outdoors is absolutely fundamental to the sport of mountaineering. An appreciation and understanding of the environment can greatly enhance our enjoyment of our activities in the outdoors. Mountaineering Ireland’s work on access and conservation is focused on two core objectives:
- To secure continued access to mountain areas and crags
- To promote the conservation and responsible use of the mountain environment.
In 2013, this has involved developing, with other stakeholders, initiatives such as Helping the Hills, Club Environmental Officers’ Programme, the National Uplands Working Group, contributing to the Irish Uplands Forum, Comhairle na Tuaithe, and other regional upland forums.
Mountain Training
Mountain Training on the island of Ireland is supported by two mountain training boards; Bord Oiliúint Sléibhe, which is the training sub-committee of Mountaineering Ireland and Mountain Training Northern Ireland. Currently, a process is ongoing to integrate both training boards in Mountaineering Ireland. Mountain Training can be summed up as the provision of personal skills and leadership training schemes and awards. These schemes and awards support both participation in our sport and also those that work in the outdoor industry.
Youth and Talent Development
Mountaineering Ireland’s youth programme includes both support through Mountaineering Ireland’s affiliated clubs and also through other youth organisations, including Scouting Ireland. The Youth Climbing Series is a series of fun climbing competitions specifically for young people with the emphasis on enjoyment. It attracts hundreds of entrants across Ireland. The Aspirant Mountaineers programme focuses on students and young people between the ages of 18 – 23 and provides development opportunities in Ireland’s mountains before taking part in a winter skills programme in Scotland.
Mountaineering Ireland’s Talent Development programme provides a pathway for talented young climbers to progress into national development squads and the national climbing team.
Girls Outside and Women with Altitude
The Irish Sports Council’s Women in Sport programme has allowed Mountaineering Ireland develop the Girls Outside and Women in Sport programmes targeting long term female participation in our sport. Mountaineering Ireland’s membership is now 52% female with greater participation of women in all aspects:- leadership, competitions, etc..
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What are the key events to look forward to in 2014?
Calendar of Events
Club challenge and hillwalking events take place throughout the year and dates of those events are available closer to the event date.
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How can people get involved in ?
To find a club close to you or to join as an individual member of Mountaineering Ireland, go to www.mountaineering.ie
Our website has lots of infiormation on accessing hillwalking and climbing, equipment and skills and the options of training schemes and awards that are available.
Also, please visit some of other sites;
www.womenwithaltitude.ie
www.helpingthehills.ie
www.getirelandwalking.ie
www.girlsoutside.ie
Social Media Channel Links:
Oct 15, 2013
Issued by the Federation of Irish Sport the representative body for Ireland’s Governing Bodies Sport and Local Sports Partnerships.
We are extremely disappointed with today’s announcement which sees a further 8% reduction in current funding for Irish Sport with funding to the Irish Sports Council believed to be in the region of €40 million for next year – a reduction of approximately €3 million on 2013. This is the funding that enables over 100 Irish Sports organisations to run sports development programmes essential to delivering sporting opportunities to all, provide much needed support to grassroots clubs and volunteers as well as providing assistance to our international athletes.
This is the sixth year in a row for cuts – investment in sport already having fallen by some 25% – and now sees Irish Sport back to 2006 levels of support. This is particularly damaging given that consistent government investment in sport only commenced in a meaningful way in 1999 and broke the €30 million barrier for the first time in 2004.
Funding for sport through the Irish Sports Council now amounts to a spend of just €8.73 per citizen. This latest reduction is particularly disappointing given the fact that investment in sport today is likely to have a significant impact in reducing the health spend in future years – a budget line that has caused continuous difficulty for the Government not just in the run up to this budget but over the last number of years.
The overall investment in sport at €40 million for 2014 represents just 0.3% of the €13.3 billion projected health spend.
We are also disappointed that our pre-budget submission in which we set out a proposal where an investment of just €1 per citizen could create 150 jobs immediately seems to have received little or no consideration. These were jobs which Irish Sport felt would be become self-sustaining over a two to three year period and for which, 2,000 graduates with sport specific training are qualifying every year.
That the potential of this proposal has not been grasped is all the more disappointing given the Government’s insistence that job creation is the way out of our current economic troubles.
Cuts to sports funding are at odds with wider government policies and counter intuitive as sporting events have proven to be key drivers in boosting tourism figures during the Gathering. As we slowly emerge from recession it is short sighted and unnecessary to target one of the performing sectors in the economy which has the potential to further create sustainable, indigenous employment and economic growth. The cuts come at a time of increasing market volatility affecting the funding models of many of our leading sporting organisations further jeopardising the future of sports development in Ireland.
We urgently request a meeting with the Minister and his officials to address our concerns and propose alternative innovative ways forward.
Sarah O’ Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport 086-8048446 sarah.oconnor@irishsport.ie
