Through Sport Ireland’s Active Cities project, the 5 cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford are focused on getting those who are least active in our society active. To enable this, the 8 Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), who are facilitating the project, are seeking to take a multi-sectoral approach to reducing the barriers to participation in physical activity, increasing access for everyone, and enhancing the choice and opportunities available for all to take part. 

This will require significant collaboration, partnership and planning. At a local level, the local Active Cities Officers are looking to engage all relevant organisations who directly and indirectly impact on physical activity levels, to broaden the conversation and create a greater awareness of the need for all stakeholders to be involved. With only 42% of adults and 13% of children in Ireland meeting the recommended levels of physical activity, (ISM 2021), and the negative impact this has on the health, environment, economy and community of our cities, there is a clear need to work together to address the issue. 

Evaleo President Gabriel Messmer National Active CIties Officer Mary Corry

President of Evaleo, Gabriel Messmer and National Active Cities Officer, Mary Corry at the International House of Sport, Lausanne.

 At a national level, the 8 LSPs are working as a collective under the guidance of National Active Cities Officer, Mary Corry. She noted that “learning from each other is key to both understanding the challenges, and identifying practical solutions to increase physical activity levels, but it’s also important to connect internationally and explore the networks and resources available and learn from best practice”.

On a two day visit to Geneva & Lausanne, a representation from the Active Cities project met with President of Evaleo, Gabriel Messmer, and Global Active City Manager, Michael Gross to discuss the challenges and opportunities. 

Evaleo is an international non-profit organisation with a goal to inspire and enable people to adopt an active, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle. To achieve this, they carry out a mission of education, development, and active promotion. They are a worldwide alliance of experts, professionals, and partners, federated around the common vision of sustainable health and well-being for everyone, and acting together through the implementation of programmes and interventions aimed at generating positive, long-term impacts. 

The Global Active City initiative has been developed under their guidance, and provides the Active Cities project in Ireland with a vision for the future. There are cities around the world who have received Global Active City certification, and through this on going process, these cities have become a place where everyone can be active. 

Over the coming years, the focus for the Active Cities project is to build a greater understanding among all stakeholders on the need for increased physical activity levels but also the collective responsibility on us all to address the challenge. 

For more information on Active Cities, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or check out www.sportireland.ie/activecities #ActiveCities

 

 

 

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, together with Sport Ireland, yesterday launched the new national outdoor recreation strategy, “Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors”. Please find this strategy attached.

Over the next five years, Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors will shape the future of outdoor recreation in Ireland. It will provide a strong strategic focus to underpin the unprecedented investment in the sector with €1.6 billion invested over the past four years. This investment is just the start and will be built upon over the coming years, where Sport Ireland is co-leading on the implementation of this policy. 

Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors will bring a cohesive and joined-up approach to the development of outdoor recreation infrastructure at both a national and county level, where Sport Ireland’s Local Sport Partnerships and National Governing Bodies for sport will play a key role in both participation opportunities and establishing partnerships. 

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 Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys speaking at the launch said:

“Our Rural Future sets out a long-term vision for a vibrant and sustainable rural Ireland, transforming the quality of life and opportunities for people living in rural areas.

Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy is integral to this transformation. Significant stakeholder and public engagement has been at the core of the development of this strategy. I would like to thank the members of Comhairle na Tuaithe and its subgroups for their tireless work in developing this strategy. Thanks to the high level of stakeholder and public engagement Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors is a truly collaborative strategy that will set the stage to strengthen and support the sustainable development of the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland for years to come. This is a forward-thinking strategy that will act as a steppingstone for the future of the outdoor recreation sector and it is also a strategy that will adapt over time to meet the ever changing needs of the outdoor recreation sector.” 

 CEO of Sport Ireland, Dr. Úna May, commented:

“Sport Ireland has worked diligently over the years to bring outdoor recreation to the fore in Ireland through collaboration with trail management and volunteer groups, local authorities, state agencies, outdoor National Governing bodies for Sport and our Local Sports Partnerships. This work has laid the foundation for this strategy to develop with a focus on structure, expertise and capacity that will put the sector in a strong position in five years’ time. Working closely with Comhairle na Tuaithe, the countryside council, throughout the development of this strategy, the relationships between all stakeholders have strengthened to ensure the future success of this important policy. This collaboration has spanned government departments, state landowners, farming organisations, recreation providers and National Governing Bodies, as well as two open public consultations. The actions that have emerged are approaching the challenges and opportunities in a cohesive, integrated approach. This level of collaborative working will no doubt ensure that Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors will be a strong and successful strategy for the next five years and will be a strong base to build on for the future of the outdoor recreation sector. Sport Ireland is looking forward to the implementation of the strategy, taking up our leadership role and working alongside stakeholders in the outdoor sector.” 

 

 
XCT Countdown NowEmpowering clubs to positively and meaningfully provide opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sport and physical activity.
 
Sport and physical activity play such an important role in peoples’ lives, contributing positively to their physical, mental and social wellbeing.
"If I did not have my sports, then I would lead a very lonely life.” (Cara Survey Respondent)
 
Cara Sport Inclusion Ireland, recognise how valuable participation sport and physical activity can be for people with disabilities, whether that be through playing, participating, volunteering, coaching, officiating etc. there is a role for everyone in their local sports club.

  • Five Active Cities to be rolled out in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford
  • Aim is to provide increased opportunities for city residents to be active in their communities.
  • Creating change for those who are economically, socially or educationally disadvantaged or those who have a disability. 

local Active Cities

Attending the launch for Active Cities were Active Cities National Officer, Mary Corry, DLR Sports Partnership Sports Coordinator,  Shane McArdle, Chairperson DLR Sports Partnership, Pat Smith, Sport Ireland CEO, Dr Una May, Director of Participation, Louise Burke and Oisin Foley, Partnerships Manager.

Sports Forum FlyerFemale participation and engagement in sport is currently a hot topic, with many clubs finding it difficult to retain females of all ages and in all positions within their clubs. Especially teenage girls whom by the age of 14, drop out of sport at twice the rate of boys.

Our next Sports Forum meeting from 7-8.30pm on Tuesday 25th October in The Lexicon Library & Cultural Centre, Dun Laoghaire will bring together a panel of experienced and inspiring sports women from a variety of different sporting backgrounds to discuss their experiences on the topic. They will each speak of how they got involved in sport and why, what made them remain/ return, what challenges they faced along the way, what affect sport has had on their life and what advice they have to offer to other women and girls from their experiences.

We are excited to have Nora Stapleton –Women in Sport Lead with Sport Ireland leading the discussion and to announce the following ladies on our panel.

  • Emily Mc Keown- Leinster Rugby
  • Bernie Durkan – Sports Psychologist & Ladies Gaelic
  • Shauna Fitzsimons – Captain of UCD Boat Club
  • Suzanne Logan – Women in Golf Coordinator – Golf Ireland

Also, we welcome Niamh Tallon- HerSport.ie who will present on empowering women and girls at all levels in sport and understanding what is needed to keep them involved. She wants girls and women to see a future in sport, to feel like they belong and to seize opportunities to get involved, no matter what their role.

  1. The dlr Community 5k returns with a bang!
  2. Club Participation Grants Scheme 2023
  3. European Week of Sport 2022
  4. The dlr Community 5K is back and even bigger for 2022!

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federation of irish sport   dlrcoco   Healthy Dun Laoghaire Rathdown sm   sport ireland LSP1 sm1