The shortlist of nominees for the six open categories of the Irish Sport Industry Awards, in association with Clubforce, has been announced this morning and can be read in full below.
The remaining four closed categories will be revealed at the awards ceremony on 17th May.
The ten award categories celebrate a cross-section of organisations, people and capabilities that fuel and drive the management, funding, and sustainability of sport in Ireland.
The shortlist represents a who’s who of the Irish Sports industry and the quality of the entries received was of exceptionally high quality.
The Judging Panel for the 2022 awards was chaired by Rob Hartnett, Founder and CEO of Sport for Business and comprised members of the sports sector from media, business, PR and local and national representative bodies.
The group met in person earlier this week to thrash out the final shortlists and the winners who will be announced next week.
The other judges were Maeve Buckley, Leading Sport; Shane McArdle, Coordinator Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership; Nora Stapleton, Women in Sport Lead, Sport Ireland; Ian Mallon, Sportswriter The Pitch Irish Examiner; Jill Downey, Managing Director Core Sponsorship; Warren Healy, Founder Clubforce; Niamh Daffy, CEO Cara Sport Inclusion Ireland and Kevin Moore, Managing Director, Legacy Communications.
The awards celebrate and reward excellence in the business of sport, while simultaneously highlighting the contribution of sport to Ireland Inc. The Sport industry in Ireland supports 64,000 jobs, stimulates €3.3 billion in household spending, and generates €3.7 billion (GVA) gross value added to the Irish economy. The 2022 event on May 17th will be the fifth staging of the awards which recognise the invaluable relationship between business and sport in Ireland.
The nominees and winners will be celebrated at the Irish Sport Industry Awards ceremony, in association with Clubforce on Tuesday 17th May at The Westin Hotel, when Minister Jack Chambers TD, Minister for State for Sport and the Gaeltacht will deliver the keynote address to invited guests from across the sports sector.
“We are delighted to mark the return of the Irish Sport Industry Awards, in association with Clubforce,” said Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport.
“Sport is an integral part of the country’s social and economic fabric. The quality and the large number of entries received this year are testament to this. We are really looking forward to bringing together key stakeholders in the sports sector for this important evening of recognition in the 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. It was imperative for the Federation of Irish Sport to reinstate these awards following the lifting of restrictions and a very difficult two years for the sector.”
“The ability to pause, reflect on and celebrate work well done is often overlooked in the rush to be always looking at the next thing,” added Rob Hartnett.
“The Irish Sport Industry Awards give us reason to do that and the response this year was magnificent.”
“We have come through so many challenges since last we sought nominations, but this is proof positive that we met them with vigour and style.”
“Judging one winner among so many deserving organisations and campaigns has been incredibly hard, but the judges put in a huge amount of thought and effort to get it right, or at least as right as we think.”
“Congratulations to all the winners but also to those who entered. Your work has had an impact in a very positive way.”
Shortlist of Open Category Nominees
Best Sports Sponsorship
• SPAR Kellie Harrington Partnership
• Energia All Ireland League Sponsorship
• Sky Ireland and FAI Women’s National Team
• AIG Effort is Equal Sponsorship Portfolio
• Indeed Ireland Partnership with Team Ireland Tokyo 2020 Games
• Gala Retail Special Olympics Partnership
Best use of Communications Platform in Sport
• IRFU and TikTok
• AIG Show Your Skills campaign
• Gymnastics Ireland Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games social media campaign
• Her Sport
• Paralympics Ireland Team Ireland at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
• Football Association of Ireland No Ref. No Game. Campaign
Best Initiative to Promote Women in Sport & Physical Activity
• Rowing Ireland Women on the Water Programme
• Swim Ireland Women in Sport Leadership Programme
• Athletics Ireland Forerunners Programme
• Banbridge Rugby Football Club Development of women and girls’ rugby
• Irish Wheelchair Association 4-year Women in Sport Strategy
• Ladies Gaelic Football Association Learn to Lead Programme
Inclusivity in Sport & Physical Activity
• GAA Inclusivity Framework
• Sporting Pride Learn to Swim Programme
• Football Association of Ireland Football for All Programme
• The Sanctuary Runners inclusive running community
• Basketball Ireland implementation of Cara Xcessible initiative
• Donegal Sports Partnership Donegal Bay Inclusive Sports Hub
Local Sports Partnership of the Year
• Clare Local Sports Partnership
• Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership
• Laois Sports Partnership
• Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership
• Longford Sports Partnership
• Donegal Sports Partnership
National Governing Body of the Year
• Vision Sports Ireland
• Canoeing Ireland
• Special Olympics Ireland
• Badminton Ireland
• Irish Sailing Association
• Volleyball Ireland
Closed Categories to be announced on the night
Best New Sports Business of the year
Best Sports Business of the year
The Jimmy Magee Award for Sports Journalist of the year
Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to Irish Sport Award
Sport for Business Perspective
This has been a real affirmation of the quality of work taking place across the sector, and a pleasure to be involved in.
Sport for Business Partners