In the increasing pace and complexity of the commercial world of sport it is good to take time once in a while to mark the efforts of those who have gone before in the way in which sport has developed in Ireland.
Donagh Morgan retired from his position as Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Sport at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport at the end of last week.
Morgan has overseen the continued value of sport in successive Government budgets through some of the most challenging economic times in the state’s history. He has managed successive capital investment programmes that have and will deliver €150 million into the grassroots infrastructure of sport in this country.
Perhaps most importantly in the long run he has been a central figure throughout in the ongoing development of the national sports campus to the magnificent point it is today.
Donagh has been a great friend and supporter of Sport for Business as we built our reputation and credibility between the worlds of sport and business over the past four years.
His replacement Ken Spratt will continue the work with energy and intelligence but we did not want to let the moment pass without paying tribute to Morgan who has been, often behind the scenes, one of the most important characters in Irish sport over the last two decades.
We hope to catch up with him in a couple of weeks to look back on what he sees as the way that sport has changed here but for now we wish him all the best in what we hope will be a long and happy retirement from the front line of sport, politics and the public service.
