Today, we are pleased to reveal two speakers who will be joining us on stage for The Sporting Year Ahead, in partnership with Teneo, in their newly appointed Commercial roles at two organisations at the very peak of Irish sporting rivalry.
Maura Ashe at Kerry GAA and Marcus Ó Buachalla at Dublin GAA are settling into their new roles as Commercial leads and will be joining us for a friendly chat about their journeys to get there and their hopes and plans for the months and years ahead.
It has become part of the event that we introduce new leaders in new positions, and that will also be part of one more of our speakers, to be named this week.
On Friday, we revealed that Karen Coventry, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland, accompanied by athletes competing in next Summer’s Special Olympics National Games, will be another of our keynote speakers at The Sporting Year Ahead in Dublin on Wednesday morning, January 21st.
The Games in June will be one of the largest sporting events of the year, with over 1,000 athletes and more than double that number volunteering to help at events taking place across Dublin and Kildare, and Meath
Last week, we were pleased to announce that Jarlath Burns, President of the GAA, will also be one of our keynote speakers at our annual Sporting Year Ahead Gathering for 2026.
He is a powerful and passionate speaker on the sport he loves, as well as on the wider societal influences in which the GAA plays a key role.
We are very much looking forward to talking with him on stage about his leadership, the challenges facing the GAA in 2026, and the opportunities it has to shape the island we live on.
This always popular event across our full sporting and business membership will take place at the Sugar Club in Dublin on the morning of Wednesday, January 21st.
Every year, we bring together speakers who will play a key role in shaping the year, and Jarlath Burns is very much in that category, leading the country’s largest civic organisation into the third year of his three-year term.
He is a powerful and passionate speaker on the sport he loves, as well as on the wider societal influences in which the GAA plays a key role.
We are very much looking forward to talking with him on stage about his leadership, the challenges facing the GAA in 2026, and the opportunities it has to shape the island we live on.
We will be naming additional speakers over the coming days, and look forward to seeing many old friends and new faces gather for this traditional kick-off or throw-in to the Sport for Business year.
This is always one of our most popular events of the year, and we are delighted to be staging it once more with our Partners Teneo, who will present exclusive insights from the Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Sentiment Index for the year ahead.
Tickets for members and a limited number for non-members are available now; secure your spot by booking at the link below.
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SPORT FOR BUSINESS
Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies and public institutions through high-quality journalism, events and insight. Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, while holding organisations to account on governance and sustainability.
Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practice and make better-informed decisions. Its work positions sport not just as entertainment, but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.
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