Dun Laoghaire Rathdown is one of 29 Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) featured in the Annual Report 2019 published by Sport Ireland on the 23rd June. The report outlines the work of the LSP network across the country and highlights innovative programmes and initiatives that are operated locally.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership works with trusted professionals and valued volunteers to engage with communities across the County to deliver inclusive, impactful and sustainable programmes and initiatives. These opportunities are tailored to local needs and aim to get people more physically active, involved in sport and improve the mental and physical health of the county.

Read more: Launch of 2019 LSP Annual Report

The Government has approved a revised Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, with most activity now being moved to Phase 3, beginning on Monday June 29th. The acceleration of the Roadmap has been made possible thanks to the progress made by the Irish people in supressing the virus and keeping transmission levels low. The announcement is being made today to give businesses time to plan ahead of June 29th.

The revised Phase 3 includes the reopening of churches and places of worship, gyms, cinemas, leisure facilities, hairdressers and barber shops. All sporting activities, including close contact sports, can recommence including team leagues for adults and children. However, these sports will take place with a very limited number of spectators. Mass gatherings will be limited to 50 people indoors and 200 people outdoors.  If the presence of the virus remains low, this will rise to 100 people indoors and 500 people outdoors in Phase 4. 

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, and the Minister with responsibility for tourism and sport, Brendan Griffin, today (Friday 19 June) announced that a funding package of up €70 million has been approved by Government to support the sport sector.

This funding package will support the sport sector through; - Funding of up to €40m for the three main field sports organisations – the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU, - a Resilience Fund of up to €10m to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport, - a Sports Club Resilience Fund of up to €15m to support clubs, and - a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund of up to €5m.

Minister Ross said “The sport sector has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and many sporting bodies and clubs are experiencing significant financial challenges. We have had extensive contact with the sector and it is clear that the challenge is enormous and is being felt at every level. While the scale of this package may seem extraordinarily large, it merely reflects the enormity of the challenges being faced by our sporting bodies. This new funding package will assist our National Governing Bodies of Sport and sports clubs as they prepare to restart their sports under the Government roadmap. Sporting organisations and clubs are hugely important for the social fabric of every community in the country and we want to ensure that the sector recovers as strongly as possible from the current crisis. The Roadmap accelerations and funding being announced today will ensure the survival of our vibrant sport sector, particularly the network of clubs throughout the country. My officials will now engage with Sport Ireland to design new grant schemes, which will be administered by Sport Ireland.”

Minister Griffin said “Today is the most important day for Sport in this country during my time in this office. I am delighted that the Government saw fit to respond to the many loud calls for help from our sporting bodies. The scale of lost revenues, from the smallest of club fundraisers to a sold-out stadium, is breath taking. Today’s package will go a long way to aiding the badly needed recovery. Despite all of the challenges, it is heartening to see that so many people have recognised the importance of staying active during the Covid-19 crisis. We are now seeing more adults than ever actively participating in sport, with huge numbers having taken up cycling, running and recreational walking. I welcome today’s acceleration of the Roadmap reopening – it’s great news and greatly appreciated by sports people throughout Ireland. There is a huge opportunity now to secure a lasting improvement in the health and wellbeing of our nation by engaging with children and adults who have become more active during the crisis and putting in place programmes to help them go from casual sporting activity into lifelong participation. The Sports Restart and Renewal Fund will assist sporting bodies and local sports partnerships to maximise this opportunity.”

In a series of special commissioned videos by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the Sports Partnership team – local personalities from every area of sports are coming together to urge people to get out and about, within government guidelines, and get some fresh air and exercise as the lockdown unwinds and reopening rolls out.

It can be a challenge to continue your physical activity during these unprecedented times, but Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership and the County Council are here to help. We are lucky to live in an active County and our local parks, seafront and mountains are perfect for people of all abilities to get out for a walk, cycle or play sports.

Read more: Sports personalities & dlr urge public to stretch their legs!