Irish Sport Industry Awards 2026 Launch

The Federation of Irish Sport proudly launched the 2026 Irish Sport Industry Awards. The awards will take place in Dublin on Tuesday 19th May and be hosted by broadcaster and journalist Sean O’Rourke. This will be the nineth staging of the awards which recognise the invaluable relationship between business and sport in Ireland. 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.

This year sees the addition of two new categories:

Best Initiative to Promote Disability in Sport and Physical Activity
This award is to recognise the support of lifelong participation for all in sport and physical activity. It is open to any organisation or enterprise either within the sport industry, or is using sport as a vehicle, which promotes increased inclusion, engagement and participation in sport and physical activity for those with a disability.

Best Initiative to Promote Sustainability in Sport and Physical Activity
This award shall recognise sporting bodies or businesses in the sport or physical activity sector who display a comprehensive strategy to promote sustainability in sport or physical activities to mitigate against environmental impact of their operations or participation of their members.


Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport said:

“The Irish Sport Industry Awards are an important platform for recognising our member National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships valuable contribution to sport through their initiatives, collaborations and commercial activations. While also spotlighting new and emerging sports tech enterprise innovations, many of whom have gone on to excel in international markets.”

Entries are now open for submission, for a full list of categories, event updates and to enter the awards go to: https://irishsportindustryawards.ie/. Closing date for entries is Thursday, 2nd April 2025.

 

Get in Touch

For more information, visit the Federation of Irish Sport’s website or contact Clare Louise O’Donoghue, Head of Commercial and Marketing on 086 0437887 or clarelouise.odonoghue@irishsport.ie 

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Nonprofit Talent Trends Q4 2025

In Q4 2025, our latest analysis of recruitment activity in the Irish nonprofit sector evidences a decrease in the number of senior management opportunities being advertised versus Q4 of the previous year. Through assessment of a range of websites and job platforms, 2into3 has identified 183 management roles that were advertised by 151 organisations – a 19% decrease compared to 186 organisations in Q4 2024.
Nonprofit Talent Trends Q4 2025

Activity by Subsector

In Q4 2024, alike previous years, the trend of organisations advertising roles anonymously remained present. As 22 of the 151 organisations that advertised were anonymous, the breakdown of roles by subsector below is based on 129 known organisations. 

Roles by Subsector:

We saw less movement in the Local Development and Housing Subsector, with a 44% decrease in recorded advertised roles (from 41 in Q4 2024 to 23 in Q4 2025) and in the Philanthropy and Voluntarism Subsector, with a 58% reduction in recorded advertised roles versus Q4 2024 (down to 5 in Q4 2025 from 12 in Q4 2024). Other subsectors saw a stable or consistent number of advertised roles.

Activity by Role Function

Our data reveals increased demand for those with Fundraising, Business Development, and CEO skillsets. Fundraising and Business Development saw a small increase from 13% of roles advertised in Q4 2024 to19% of roles advertised in Q4 2025, signalling an organisational focus on investment into diversifying income streams and/or movement of fundraisers within the sector.

The proportion of Service Delivery and Operational Management roles recorded dropped from 51% in Q4 2024 to 38% of recorded roles in Q4 2025, while the proportion of recorded CEO/Executive Director positions doubled, from 6% in Q4 2024 to 12% in Q4 2025, which aligns with the volume of CEO leadership transitions we have witnessed in recent months which has resulted in a more competitive market for boards engaging in CEO recruitment.

Activity by Income Type

Excluding those where such information was not available, either because the role was posted anonymously or the organisation does not disclose its income, noteworthy findings were made regarding the income of 113 known organisations in Q4 2025. Of those, 40 (35%) organisations have an annual income of over €10 million, while 19 (17%) organisations have an annual income of less than €1 million.

Key Observations

Our Q4 2025 data points to a sector in transition, with organisations appearing to prioritise essential strategic leadership and income generation roles over operational expansion.

The doubling of CEO recruitment activity suggests a significant generational shift at the executive level, while the marked increase in fundraising roles indicates that boards are investing in long-term financial sustainability amid an evolving funding landscape.
Posting these findings at the beginning of 2026, we can anecdotally share that we have witnessed renewed momentum and growth within the sector, so while overall volume of recruitment slowed in Q4 2025 versus Q4 2024, this likely reflects a more considered approach to talent investment rather than sector-wide retrenchment.

Get in Touch

Our Talent Management Team monitors senior hiring across the nonprofit sector and publishes quarterly insights. To explore previous Nonprofit Talent Trends Reports, visit our Talent Insights page. For more information, contact Shannon Barrett, Principal – Talent Services, at Shannon.barrett@2into3.com.

Building Philanthropy into Your Sport’s Funding Model

Philanthropy has long played a transformative role in sport internationally, enabling investment in athlete development, grassroots participation, and infrastructure that public funding alone cannot sustain. In Ireland, while our community support for sport runs deep, formalised philanthropic giving has been slower to develop. That is now changing. Recent tax incentives are creating the conditions for philanthropy to become a meaningful and sustainable income stream for Irish sport.


Earlier this month marked a significant moment in Irish sport’s pathway to philanthropy. The Irish Sailing Foundation revealed that 2025 saw it support the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway with €500,000 in philanthropic donations – representing 30% of the Pathway’s 2025 budget. The Foundation is now targeting €1 million in 2026, a success that has been a decade in the making. This was followed by the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s launch of the Team Ireland Foundation, with a view to securing philanthropic donations for Los Angeles 2028 and beyond. The Football Association of Ireland also announced the establishment of the Global Ireland Football Foundation, complete with an independent Chair and an experienced Director of Development.


Three sporting bodies. Three foundations. A clear focus on philanthropy.


At the Federation of Irish Sport Leaders Forum, 2into3 CEO Dennis O’Connor moderated a panel discussion on ‘Foundations as a Path to Structural Resilience’, exploring the practicalities and learnings from those who have already embarked on this journey.


James O’Callaghan, representing the Irish Sailing Foundation – established ten years ago – was emphatic about the value of independence. “Having a separate entity is best practice,” he explained. An independent entity allows the NGB to focus on its core work while the foundation builds long-term donor relationships. The Foundation initially had private support for specific campaigns, which ended once those campaigns concluded. Recognising this, they invested in a dedicated fundraiser who could nurture ongoing relationships with donors. Through their patron programme – seeking €50,000 per annum over five years – they targeted twelve supporters in year one and secured eight. “Spend the money to hire the right person,” O’Callaghan emphasised. Fundraising requires a particular skillset, and foundation boards are increasingly providing seed funding to invest in this capability, seeing it as essential to achieving returns on their philanthropic ambitions.


Currently, Type B and C NGBs, the Olympic Federation of Ireland, and Paralympics Ireland are already eligible for tax incentives that benefit donors. The Federation of Irish Sport is advocating for sport foundations to also be made eligible – a move that would recognise their role as independent entities that improve governance while unlocking new sources of philanthropic support.


Looking Ahead


With €1.82 billion in fundraised income across the Irish nonprofit sector in 2022, and per capita giving of €354, the philanthropic opportunity for sport is significant. The Giving Ireland 2024 research highlights Ireland’s strong culture of generosity – and the potential to channel more of that giving towards sporting development.


If your sport has an ambition to secure ongoing philanthropic donations, we welcome the opportunity to discuss how philanthropy could work for your organisation. Get in touch with Dennis O’Connor at dennis@2into3.com to explore this pathway in detail.

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2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards with the Federation of Irish Sport

Ireland Women’s International Footballer, Amber Barrett was on hand to lend her voice to the launch of the 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards, a national celebration of the extraordinary individuals who contribute to the vibrant fabric of Irish sports.

Hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport and supported by the Sport Ireland National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships these prestigious awards recognise the selfless volunteers who dedicate their time, skills, and passion to support sports clubs and community organisations across Ireland.

The 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards will bring together individuals from all 32 counties to celebrate their commitment to fostering participation and ensuring that sport is accessible to all. Their contributions not only inspire communities but also enable clubs and organisations to thrive, supporting social cohesion and well-being across Ireland. Without their dedication, many sporting opportunities simply would not exist.

A new addition to the 2025 awards is the launch of a brand-new award – the Club/Community Sport Organisation Award. This award recognises a volunteer led sports club, community organisation, or group that has made an outstanding contribution to promoting sport, physical activity, and community well-being. It celebrates excellence in inclusion, participation, leadership, and positive impact through sport.

In every corner of the country, from city centres and suburbs to rural villages, over 460,000 volunteers work tirelessly each week to bring sport and physical activity to life for people of all ages*. Over 250,000 coaches volunteer 1 million hours a week to Irish Sport**. The impact of their work is profound, providing multi-generational opportunities to engage in sport, build communities, and promote healthy lifestyles. The economic value of their contribution is estimated to be worth €1.5bn to the Irish economy***.

There are also two closed categories of Outstanding Achievement Award and the addition of a Lifetime Achievement Award. These prestigious awards are not open for public nomination. Recipients are selected by the Judging Panel from entries received from the County Volunteers, based on outstanding merit, impact, or long-term contribution.

Ambassador for the 2025 Awards Ireland Women’s International Footballer, Amber Barret commented:

“Volunteers are the unsung heroes of sport in Ireland. They are the ones who connect clubs with communities, who help kids to chase their dreams and fulfil their potential, who bring joy to families and who make a lasting difference in people’s lives. It’s fantastic to have these Awards to recognise those who make such a positive impact as Irish sport simply would not be the same without our volunteers.”

Mary O’Connor CEO Federation of Irish Sport said:

“The goodwill and work of volunteers cannot be taken for granted. These awards are our chance to say thank you and in acknowledging the incredible efforts volunteers make, ensure that we continue to encourage more people to get involved and safeguard the future of sport in the country”

 

A National Network of Support

Supporting the awards is the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships. Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown Sports Partnership Coordinator, Shane McArdle, remarked:

“This is the third year that the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships have come together to enthusiastically support the Federation of Irish Sports in hosting these important awards. In our work to promote participation all across the country, we see the immense value of volunteers in every club and across every sport. These awards provide a great opportunity for these clubs to recognise and celebrate these volunteers who make a difference in so many people’s lives. We encourage all clubs to nominate their invaluable champions.”

Nomination Process

Nominations for the 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards are open from Tuesday, 11th November 2025, until Monday, 15th December 2025. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate deserving volunteers from their club or sporting organisation who have made a significant contribution or impact to their local club or community.

 

For more information and to submit a nomination, visit www.volunteersinsport.ie  or for further queries contact Clare Louise O’Donoghue, Head of Commercial & Marketing, Federation of Irish Sport:

Mobile: 086 0437887,  Email: clarelouise.odonoghue@irishsport.ie

 

*Sport Ireland – Irish Sports Monitor 2023
** Sport Ireland – Spotlight on Coaching Report 2024
*** Sport Ireland – Economic Value of Sport Report 2021

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