Donegal is to host an international sports conference as a key part of the county’s support for the Gathering.
The Dave Gallaher International Summer School will take place in July and aims to bring together a sporting audience to match the political one of the Magill Summer School in the same area.
Five days of debate of topical sporting issues will be backed up by sporting and cultural activities in and around the town of Ramelton.  The event bears the name of Dave Gallaher, hailed as one of the founding fathers of World Rugby as captain of the All Blacks prior to his death in World War One fighting for his adopted country.
Gallaher’s family hailed from Ramelton where he was born and from where they left as part of mass emigration in the late 19th century.
One element of the summer school will be the presentation of the Gallaher Prize, recognising exceptional achievement by an Irish person in the world of sport. The award will be given to somebody who has made a major contribution in their chosen sport or someone involved in the administration of sport in Ireland or throughout the Irish Diaspora.
Newstalk FM have come on board as a national sponsor of the school and George Hook will broadcast his programme live during one of the sessions.
Bryan Williams, President of the New Zealand Rugby Union has come on board as an international ambassador and the kiwi theme will be carried through by the playing of a Ki-O-Rahi tournament.  This traditional Maori sport will be seen on Irish soil for the first time.
Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for the event and if you would like to get in touch you can do so through Sport for Business.
There will be other sports gatherings and conferences taking place in Galway and Ballincollig during June and August in what should be a rich and varied season looking at the present and future of sport.