Active Disability Ireland hosted the inaugural National Xcessible Awards on April 30th at the Johnstown House Hotel, celebrating a landmark moment for disability inclusion in Irish sport.
The prestigious ceremony honoured the remarkable progress made by National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) over the past five years in making sport accessible to all.
The Xcessible Awards were launched to recognise organisations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to fostering inclusive practices across the sporting landscape.
The event marked a major milestone in Ireland’s #JourneyOfInclusion, spotlighting transformative initiatives that break down barriers for people with disabilities in sport and physical activity.
“These awards are more than recognition — they are a celebration of meaningful change and a reflection of our shared vision for an inclusive sporting landscape in Ireland,” said Brenda O’Donnell, CEO of Active Disability Ireland.
“We’re incredibly proud to host this event and celebrate the contributions of so many passionate individuals and organisations.”
Master of ceremonies Rob Hartnett guided guests through the day, which was structured around the five pillars of the Xcessible Programme: Openness, People, Facilities, Activities, and Promotion.
These pillars reflect the comprehensive approach needed to embed inclusivity into the core of sporting organisations.
Awards were presented to a wide range of NGBs and LSPs that achieved Bronze and Silver status within the Xcessible framework, including Basketball Ireland, Golf Ireland, Swim Ireland, and Mayo Sports Partnership.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of Special Recognition Awards, honouring excellence in specific areas of inclusion:
Openness: Athletics Ireland
People: Golf Ireland
Activities: Canoeing Ireland
Facilities: Mayo Sports Partnership
Promotion: Kildare Sports Partnership
Outstanding Contribution: Oisín Jordan, Special Olympics Ireland
“These awards are about celebrating the people and organisations that have made inclusion a priority,” said Brian O’Callaghan, Chairperson of Active Disability Ireland.
“Their work is changing lives and making sport truly welcoming for everyone.”
Senator Nikki Bradley closed the ceremony with a powerful reflection on her own experiences as a person with a disability in sport.
She praised the dedication of NGBs and LSPs and emphasised that true inclusion goes beyond ticking boxes — it requires intentional, lasting change.
“The Xcessible Programme is a valuable resource helping organisations take meaningful, impactful steps toward genuine inclusivity,” she said.
The Xcessible Programme, launched as a pilot in 2020, provides a structured, three-stage pathway — Bronze, Silver, and Gold — guiding organisations in embedding inclusive practices across all operations. It is underpinned by the Sport Inclusion Disability Charter and supports a whole-organisation approach to inclusion.
The National Xcessible Awards will be held biennially, encouraging ongoing collaboration and innovation in the sector.
For more information about the programme and future awards, visit www.activedisability.ie or follow Active Disability Ireland on social media.
Award Recipients – National Xcessible Awards 2025
National Governing Bodies (NGBs)
Bronze & Silver: Basketball Ireland, Golf Ireland, Gymnastics Ireland, Swim Ireland
Bronze: Athletics Ireland, Badminton Ireland, Canoeing Ireland, Hockey Ireland
Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs)
Bronze & Silver: Mayo Sports Partnership
Bronze: Carlow, Cavan, Clare, DLR, Kildare, Laois, Meath, Sligo, Waterford Sports Partnerships
Further Reading for Sport for Business members:
Check out Sport for Business coverage of inclusion
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
Taking the time to recognise achievement, share the experience and learn from each other is sometimes overlooked but this was a great opportunity to do so in an especially important sector.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The Active Disability Ireland Annual Conference will take place on December 3rd, 2025, again at Johnstown House
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