The Federation of Irish Sport has announced the shortlist of nominees for eight categories of the Irish Sport Industry Awards, in association with Financial Broker.
The remaining 3 categories will be revealed at the awards ceremony at Dublin’s Westin Hotel on Thursday 25th May.
The Sport industry in Ireland supports 64,000 jobs, stimulates €3.3 billion in household spending, and generates €3.7 billion gross value added (GVA) to the Irish economy.
This year’s event will be the sixth staging of the Awards which recognise and celebrate the value of sport to society and reward excellence in the business of sport.
The 11 award categories celebrate a cross-section of organisations, people and capabilities that fuel and drive the management, funding, and sustainability of sport in Ireland. For the full list of nominees see below.
The awards ceremony will be attended by an audience of invited guests from across the sports sector with Deputy Niamh Smyth TD, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media delivering the keynote address.
A highlight of the evening will include the announcement of the award winners for the Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to Sport Award, the Jimmy Magee Sports Coverage of the Year Award as determined by the Association of Sports Journalists Ireland, to be presented by The Magee Family and the inaugural Women in Business in Sport Award, in partnership with KPMG.
The Judging Panel for the 2023 awards chaired by Rob Hartnett, Founder and CEO of Sport for Business comprises members of the sports sector from media, business, PR, and local and national representative bodies. They are Maeve Buckley, Jill Downey, Ciaran Medlar, Nora Stapleton, Kevin Moore, Alma Birbilaite, Brenda O’Donnell, Patrick Murphy and Aisling Hubbard.
“We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Irish Sport Industry Award categories, in association with Financial Broker,” said Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport.
“Sport is an integral part of Irish society, and we are really looking forward to celebrating and recognising the immense value of sport to the Irish economy.”
“I would like to say a big thank you to the national governing bodies, local sports partnerships and those in the sports sector that submitted entries this year. The standard and number of entries for 2023 have been phenomenal.”
“It is always a pleasure to judge great work and that is what we have seen this year,” added Rob Hartnett, Chair of the Judging Panel, CEO and Founder Sport for Business.
“The judges pored over nearly 100 submissions and we emerged with the best of the best.”
“Sometimes we fail to stop and recognise our achievements. That is why these awards are so important, and why chairing the judging panel is such an honour.”
The shortlist of Open Category Nominees
Best Sports Sponsorship
Fyffes Fit Squad – Titan Experience
Athletics Ireland, 123.i.e., National Cross-Country Championship
Electric Ireland, GAA Minor Championship ‘This is Major’
AIG Ireland, ‘Effort Is Equal’ – Futureproof Media
VHI, ‘More Than Running’ – Teneo
Best Use of Communications Platforms in Sport
Fifty-Three Six – FAI ‘Give a Little, Get a Lot’
Basketball Ireland, basketballireland.tv/Swish All Hoops App
Gymnastics Ireland – The Floor
Munster Rugby – Access Munster
Canoeing Ireland – WWW (Workouts, Wellbeing & Wellness)
Best Initiative to Promote Women in Sport & Physical Activity
Golf Ireland – LevelPar
Canoeing Ireland – Bridging the Gap
TITAN Experience, HER Outdoors week
Laois Local Sports Partnership – MenoWell Programme
Rowing Ireland – Get Going Get Rowing
Best Initiative to Promote Inclusivity in Sport & Physical Activity
IMART (International Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament), Mixed Ability Sport
Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown Sports Partnership, Inclusive Cycling For All
Sporting Pride, LGBTQ+ Learn to Swim Programme
Vision Sports Ireland, Zero Limits Track Day
Irish Sailing, Sailing For All
Local Sports Partnership of the Year
Mayo Sports Partnership
Meath Local Sports Partnership
Clare Sports Partnership
Laois Sports Partnership
Louth Local Sports Partnership
National Governing Body of the Year
Athletics Ireland
Vision Sports Ireland
Swim Ireland
Basketball Ireland
Canoeing Ireland
Best New Sports Business of the Year
Brace Social Ltd.
Her Sport
RugbySmarts
ForeFront Sports
Output Sports
Best Sports Business of the Year
Fifty-Three Six
Tixserve
TITAN Experience
Sports Key
Irish American Events Ltd.
To be announced on the 25th May 2023
Jimmy Magee FIS/ASJI Sports Coverage of the Year Award
Women in Business in Sport Award, in partnership with KPMG
Outstanding Achievement & Contribution to Sport Award
