Dublin winners announced for Volunteers in Sport Awards 2022

Padraig Conlon 14 Mar 2023
Pictured at The Federation of Irish Sport launch for the Volunteers in Sport Awards at Irish Sports HQ in Dublin with Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers TD alongside Federation CEO, Mary O’Connor (Picture: Sportsfile)

The Federation of Irish Sport has announced the winners of the 2022 Volunteers in Sport Awards.

The Dublin City award for 2022 has been awarded to Joe Davitt of Ranelagh Gaels GAA club.

Joe has been volunteering at the club since it was established nearly 20 years ago and he has been involved in every aspect of the club from playing and coaching as well as Juvenile and Club Chair.

Joe also helped to oversee and establish a nursery at the club while coaching girls and boys football and camogie.

Joe has worked tirelessly over the years to ensure that there were always playing facilities for the members of Ranelagh Gaels.

In more recent times, Joe has helped to develop the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee.

This committee has helped the club reach its recent targets on gender equality as well as setting up the ‘Ranelagh Rockets’, a program for children with additional needs.

The club has almost doubled in size in the last 5 years and this would not have been possible without the leadership and vision of Joe.

The recipient of the award for the Dublin Fingal area is Ciara McCluskey of Dublin Sanctuary Runners, who has been volunteering with the group since 2019.

Ciara has helped many refugees and asylum seekers to join and has made them feel part of the group.

On any Saturday morning, Ciara can be found organising buses, taking photographs and assisting with any other jobs that need doing.

Ciara goes above and beyond for the members and treats everyone with the same respect.

Ciara has produced short films, baked birthday cakes and gathered cleaning items for people in Direct Provision during the pandemic.

Not only does she work so hard with the Dublin group, Ciara has been influential in helping Sanctuary Runners to develop other running groups all around Ireland.
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The recipient of the award for Dublin Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co. Council area is Clara Clark of Cycling Without Age, who is the founder of the initiative.

Clara has spent countless hours promoting and developing the organisation so that it can provide senior citizens and those with disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy and freedom of cycling.

Clara has helped to train volunteers, take people out on the trishaws and advocate for all to be able to access cycling. Clara is a true asset to the community and has been able to expand the initiative with the help of DLR Sports Partnership, the County Council and the Bike Hub.

It has been Clara’s dream from the outset to bring the same opportunities to people all across the country and thanks to her commitment and perseverance this dream is becoming a reality.
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The winner of the award for Dublin South Co. Council area is Tony Hickey of Fortunestown Swim Club, who has been volunteering since the club was founded more than 12 years ago. Tony is the heart and soul of the club and the one who has continued to keep the club moving through tough times.

Tony is the first to arrive at the club and the last to leave, dedicating many hours throughout the week.

Tony coaches and encourages members of all ages and abilities as well as encouraging coaches to expand their knowledge through training and education courses.

The community itself has been brought together with the help of Tony.

Many of the parents have bonded through the club and it has encouraged community get-togethers such as walking groups and fundays to be organised. Tony’s dedication has been a vital part of keeping the club going.

Supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships, the special guest speaker at the awards is Thomas Byrne, Minister of State with responsibility for Sport & Physical Education, which will take place on March 22nd at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown and will see volunteers from all 32 counties honoured for their amazing dedication to volunteering across a variety of different sports.

The Volunteers in Sport Awards celebrate the contributions of the band of volunteers across the country who give their time to Irish sport and physical activity every year.

This equates to approximately 37.3 million hours of volunteering across Ireland’s 13,000 registered sports clubs and associations and, according to Sport Ireland’s 2021 ‘Researching the Value of Sport in Ireland’ report, is worth an estimated €1.5bn to the exchequer.

Throughout December and early 2023 members of the public, sports clubs and governing bodies were invited to nominate an individual whose contribution to sport and physical activity in Ireland has made a real difference to their community, club, or county.

Following a shortlisting process by the Selection Committee, the judging panel consisting of 9 individuals drawn from sports administration, academia, the volunteer community and media, and included former Director General of the GAA, Paraic Duffy, RTÉ Sports Broadcaster, Marie Crowe, Roddy Guiney, Chair WHPR and Clare McGrath, Chairperson of the Federation of Irish Sport.

In addition to the 32 county-level award winners, an overall Outstanding Achievement Award will be revealed at the awards celebration on the 22nd March.

Commenting on the awards, Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD said:

“The volunteers being recognised today deserve enormous credit. Their work, often unseen and undertaken without any fuss or fanfare, makes sport a reality for hundreds if not thousands of people in their communities. In particular, the work of volunteers enables young people to play the sport that they love, to meet their friends and form lasting friendships. In so many ways, volunteers are the lifeblood of sport in this country, and I am privileged to have this opportunity to publicly acknowledge their vital contribution to Irish sport.”

 Speaking about the importance of the awards, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, Mary O’Connor said:

“In every county throughout the country, clubs and sporting organisations facilitate multi-generational opportunities for people to be involved in sport and physically activity. The work and goodwill of sport volunteers across the country cannot be taken for granted… Every week in Ireland more than 450,000 volunteers bring sport and physical activity to life for our communities and it’s time we afford their hard work the recognition it deserves. It is therefore important that we showcase the size and scale of this contribution by bringing such volunteers together today at the Volunteers in Sport Awards with attendees from every county in the country to shine a spotlight on the positive work they do for sport and physical activity.”

CEO Sport Ireland, Dr. Una May said: “I would like to congratulate all the winners at the Volunteers in Sport Awards. Sport Ireland and its network of Local Sports Partnerships are delighted to recognise the invaluable contribution of volunteers to the promotion of sport and physical activity in Ireland. The LSPs collaborate with and depend on the remarkable dedication of volunteers to create opportunities for all members of the community to participate in sport and physical activity. This ensures a culture where sport and physical activity is inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or abilities. We are grateful for the inspiring efforts of the volunteers being celebrated today, and all volunteers across the country, who help us achieve this.”

Head of Louth Sports Partnership, Graham Russell said:

“As the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships, we are each individually committed to supporting volunteers in our local Clubs, sporting organisations and other non-sporting groups that assist in making opportunities available within their own communities for people to enjoy all forms of physically activity. We are privileged to see, first hand, the amazing work these people do, and we are all delighted to see these local volunteers getting recognition at National level.”

For more information on the awards, visit http://www.volunteersinsport.ie/

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