The success of Annalise Murphy has moved sailing onto a new level of awareness and profile according to Irish Sailing Association Performance Director James O’Callaghan on Newstalk over the weekend.
Highlighting the benefits of the Try Sailing initiative as an entry level that is open to all, O’Callaghan covered the funding of sport in all its forms.
“Our main backers have been Sport Ireland who have been supporting Annalise since she was 15 years old but the sport budget has not grown in the past four years, which is understandable.”
“Our taxpayer funding is a little under €1 million but we are competing against funding in the UK which runs to 25 times that amount.”
“Commercial support has also been important with Providence Resources at national level and each of our sailors being encouraged to develop personal contacts.”
“The Irish Sailing Foundation is the third element of fundraising and we are the first performance sport to really develop a programme of reaching out to philanthropic donors.”
