An estimated 500,000 people in Ireland are considered to be part of a volunteer force in Irish sport that is worth an estimated €3 billion in value that would otherwise have to be found through funding.
Considering that is 75 times the amount provided through grant funding from central government and 30 times the amount provided through sponsorship it is in every way a very big number.
Yesterday Minister Michael Ring handed out the National Volunteers in Sport Awards to 10 deserving winners from a total of 342 names that had been submitted as part of the annual Federation of Irish Sport run process.
“The work of volunteers is the foundation on which sport in Ireland is built – without volunteers there would be no sport in Ireland,” said Minister Ring.
“These awards allow us to honour some of the real heroes of Irish sport working behind the scenes.”
“Volunteers are a vital part of every club and sporting organisation around the country and are doing wonderful work for sport in their communities.”
The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Sean Naughton who at 81 years of age was celebrating seven decades of involvement in Athletics. He achieved the qualifying time for the 100 metres in the Melbourne Olympics but did not get to travel. He established Neagh Athletics Club and built Ireland’s first indoor track. He is still involved in coaching and has never earned a cent from his involvement.
“I think anyone in sport will tell you that when you do things voluntarily you get a much bigger kick out of it,” he said in a piece in this morning’s Irish Times.
The Times was one of the supporters of the awards as well as the Irish Sports Council, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and RTE.
“Volunteers play a vital role in sustaining the high level of sporting activity in Ireland with all the associated health and social benefits, and contribute significantly to the development of sport in Ireland, added John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council.
