The Volunteers in Sport Awards took place yesterday with a celebration of everything that is good about playing your part in the sporting ecosystem.
“Volunteering is the backbone of sport in this country,” said guest of honour Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education Thomas Byrne.
“From the grassroots to the board room we need volunteers, we depend on volunteers.”
The Awards are organised by the Federation of Irish Sport and were backed this year by the Local Sports Partnerships up and down the country who do a huge amount of work in helping volunteers to organise events and look and learn from outside their own club or sporting body.
A large number of the sporting NGB’s were present yesterday as well, paying their own tribute to the winners from their particular sports.
Gary Stewart, CEO of the Irish Sport Industry Awards NGB of the Year, Volleyball Ireland spoke of Greg Wiechec who won the Longford award.
“Greg founded Longford Smashers just over five years ago and has grown a brilliant, inclusive and multi-cultural club. There are players from ten different countries participating every week from across the Midlands.”
The main award for Outstanding Achievement went to Aislinn Nugent from Valleymount LGFA in Wicklow.
The club had no outlet for women and girls 20 years ago but over that period she has been instrumental in creating what is now a thriving club.
Keen to stress that this was a team effort, it nonetheless always requires one to push when others tire, to lead when others falter and to make things happen when the easier option is to leave it be.
Nugent was awarded the LGFA Committee Officer of the year last year by the LGFA and will need top create more space on her shelf after yesterday.
READ MORE ABOUT THE AWARDS AND THEIR SPONSORSHIP IN 2023
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