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Fri 18 May 12

Follow Us On Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and through our new E-Newsletter

Follow Irish Blind Sports on Facebook …Click Here

Like Irish Blind Sports on Twitter … https://twitter.com/ and find ibsportsireland

Checkout our new video on YouTube. In one moment in time you can find out all you ever wanted to know about Irish Blind Sports but you were afraid to ask … Click Here

To receive a copy of the latest Irish Blind Sports eZine contact Pam at Email: info@ibsports.ie, Tel 01 454 7865.

Above photo: the recent IBS Strategic Plan Launch l-R
Joe Geraghty, Maria Watchorn, Gavin Whyte, Carol Ann Casey and Michael Clarke (IBS Chairman). Photo courtesy of Ann Lyster



Thu 17 May 12

Your Diary Dates

Golf lessons – one Wednesday per month, Leopardstown Driving Range. Cost €5 All are welcome.
Contact Peter for more details: 086 815 0145 Watch out for further lessons on a monthly basis.

Lawn Bowling – Every Second Monday – Gracepark Road, Drumcondra with qualified insturctor. Book your place now/ register your interest. pam@ibsports.ie

Walking – Friday 18th to Sunday 20th May – Dundalk, Co Louth. further enquiries can be made through Pat Kelly on 087 7708200 or Maureen Madden on 087 2715211. Hotel deposit of 30 Euros must be in by 6th March. Also Click Here

Golf – Friday 25th May – Hollywood Lakes Golf Club, North Co. Dublin tee off from 10 am – 2.00pm.
€200.00 per team of four to include light lunch.
Putting on greens 9 and 18 will be blindfolded for all participants. All proceeds will go to Irish Blind Golf Society, Fighting Blindness and Irish Blind Sports. Contact Peter for more details: 086 815 0145 or Clodagh on 01 7093050.
Paralympics Ireland- 28/06/2012 – Official Announcement of 2012 Irish Paralympic Team
TBC, Dublin

Women’s Mini Marathon – Monday 4th June – Join the Irish Blind Sports Crew and raise money for Irish Blind Sports. To contact us Click Here

Paralympics Ireland- 15/08/2012 – Irish Paralympic Team – Departure Celebration
Bewleys Dublin Airport Hotel, Dublin

Paralympics Ireland- 23/08/2012 – 24/08/2012 – Irish Paralympic Team – Arrival in London
Olympic Park , London

Paralympics Ireland- 29/08/2012 London 2012 Paralympic Games
Various venues, London

Paralympics Ireland- 10/09/2012 Irish Paralympic Team – Return Reception Dublin Airport, Dublin



Wed 16 May 12

TOP STORIES

Brainbox ‘n’ Beats Quiz and Social Night Deferred. See homepage …

Launch of Strategic Plan 2012-2014 – It’s not all about the birdies and the bees! See homepage below …

Death of Michael O’Donnell, Fintan’s Dad…tribute by Michael Clarke, IBS Chairman. See homepage below …

O’Brien Has Some Place to Go – Newbridge Domense Walk, saturday 16 June. Click Here

London 2012 Paralympic Games: ParaPhrasing with Amanda Crotty, athelte. Click Here to Meet Amanda

Golf: Adrian Canny Blows Away Field at Grangecastle by Paul O’Rahilly. Click Putt Me To Link Here

London 2012 Paralympic Games: Setanta Sports to Show Games LIVE by Rosiin Dermody. Click Here

Obituary – Shane Hall. Click Here

London 2012 Paralympic Games: Para Phrasing with Damien Shaw, Tandem Pilot Click Spikes and Spokes Here

CampAbilities: A Recipe for Happy Children – Chef Nadine Lattimore cooks up a great story … Click Here for Full Menu

Our Magnificent 7 Attend Launch of Paralympans Club. Click Old Soldiers Here

London 2012 Paralympic Games: Para Phrasing with James Brown, Tandem Cyclist
“We can’t let you race, We’re worried as 20 riders ended up in hospital last year. With only 5pc sight there’s a fair chance you’ll be one of them this year”. Joe Geraghty meets James Brown Click Golden Brown Here

RNIB Unique Tandem Event in Lisburn in June. Click Bicycle Made for 2 Here

23rd IBS AGM Report. See hoempage below …

Get Netted! – Gems from your emails, tweets and facebook postings. Brand New Series Click Here…

It’s Lawn Bowling Time Again – Drumcondra Sessions Every Second Monday. Clic Here

Above pic: Aine Whyte with Mairead Delaney at the Irish Blind Sports Strategic Launch this week; courtessy Ann Lyster

Click here to download >>



Tue 15 May 12

Brainbox 'n' Beats Quiz Deferred

Due to scheduling difficulties the Brainbox ‘n’ Beats Quiz has been deferred. A possible new date will be considered by the Irish Blind Spors Board at the end of the month.

If you weer among those who purchased tickets, a refund is avaialble. Please contact your vendor – perhaps an IBS Board or Office member – to arrange refund.

We appologise if you have been inconvenienced in any way.



Sun 13 May 12

Death of Michael O'Donnell, father of our recent Chairman Fintan O'Donnell

Our current Chairman, Michael Clarke, pays tribute

Tony Lyster and myself travelled to the small village of Kildimo, Co Limerick, a village with a very closely knit farming community, on Friday 11th May.
We travelled for the funeral service of Michel O’Donnell, father of Fintan O’Donnell, who passed away the previous Wednesday (9th May).

Michael O’Donnell was a very popular man in the Kildimo community. He was involved in most church events and was a member of the choir for a long number of years.

The Mass was con-celebrated by the parish priest with Five priests from the surrounding area. The choir was led my his grand-daughter, a fine tribute to Michael.

Tony Lyster and I joined the extended O’Donnell family for dinner in the local hotel in Adare

What a lovely send off for a lovely man. Michael O’Donnell R.I.P.

Michael Clarke
Chairman Irish Blind Sports



Sun 13 May 12

Launch of IBS Strategic Plan 2012-2014

It's not all about the birdies and the bees!

Amid the chatter of all change there was even talk of birds and bees. Well, really golf birdies and a disabled rugby team called the Bumble Bees.

Last Wednesday, at high noon, at Dublin’s Temple Bar Hotel, Irish Blind Sports launched its brand new Three Year Plan.

Master of Ceremonies, and new IBS Board member, David McNamara did the intros. Chairman Michael Clarke teased us with a flavour of what’s coming down the track. Could we meet the challenge? Chairman Obama urged “Yes We Can!”

Gavin Whyte is the author of the Strategic Plan 2012-2014 – A Renewed Outlook. He reminded us of where he was this time last year. As a UCD student his project group had to embrace a charity and help them address challenges. They were first to have a choice and got their first choice: Irish Blind Sports.

That was then, this is now, he was delighted to have been asked to work on the new IBS Plan and outlined a very constructive, positive strategy to cover the next three years. Highlights include: significantly increase membership, volunteering and fundraising; improve liason with sports activities as well as a return to a May Games like event. Re-branding of Irish Blind Sports as a key early goal.

See link at end of this piece for full powerpoint presentation.

From goals to tries: former Irish triple crown hero Fergus Slattery regaled us with his visits to West Yorkshire to his friends Anthony and Peter Ray. When he visited them 31 years ago they were with the Bradford Rugby Club, which eventually became the Bradford and Bingley RFC (The B’s). Three years ago the B’s set up a team for the young disabled called the Bumble Bees. The Bumble B’s were the first such team of this kind to be set up in Britain. Since then a similar team was formed in Lllanethley while a new team is forming in Manchester. Fergus recalled that at a recent B’s dinner, where he was invited to speak, the greatest applause and reaction of the night was when the Bumble B’s received their awards.
Great Irish No. 7 Fergus Slattery noted that Irish Blind Sports had not, as yet, registered rugby as one of their sports but, we could be converted!

At the post launch reception we were delighted to meet Report Author Gavin Whyte whose anonymous email name we uncovered earlier this week but we’re not printing it here. Gavin was accompanied by his lovely mum. Gavin flew back to Madrid this afternoon and is soon heading to Buenos Aires for a summer internship. We also met Mairead Delaney from the IBS office. Mairead hopes to ultimately work in the social science area. Office Manager Pam Robinson, seemed to know everybody was was most helpful. Ireland’s busiest man, Paralympics CEO Liam Harbison was in great form and very helpful as ever. Liamachieved a new record today…. he didn’t tweet for one full hour! Of course we cannot forget the man for the birdies … that was Peter Gorey of the Irish Blind Golf Society, enthusiastic as ever.

Enhtusiasm is alive and well and living in Irish Blind Sports. This report will neve gather dust on a shelf, it will never get there!

Above pic: Gavin Whyte in presentation; courtessy Ann Lyster.

To view the IBS Strategic Plan 2012-2014 Click Here

For more photos from the day go to our Facebook page…Click Here
and don’t forget to LIKE US!

Click here to download Strategic Launch Presentation >>



Sat 28 April 12

Our Magnificent 7 attend Paralympians Club

7 of our past masters attended today’s inaugural Paralympian Club launch at Bewleys Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin. The Club is the brainchild of Paralympics Ireland and aims to bring past and present Paralympians together.

1984 400m Paralympic champ Carol Carr was bronzed from her recent holiday inthe Algarve. Tony White, 1992 judo exponent, was also toned up, tuned in and looked ready for another few bouts of sport

Chairman, Michael Clarke, tripple Paralympian, was in super form, enquiring about tweeting and all kinds of technology. Mary, his wonderful wife, was close by Michael, helping everyone.

Gus Dorrington from Seaul 88 spun some great yarns, not printable. Paula Duff Dorrington was very impressive , cheerful and happy Paula was a star of Barcelona 92. Gus did recall travelling to Seoul in 88 under one national governing body only to return to find it gone and replaced by Irish Blind Sports.

Fintan O’Donnell was on hand to introduce us all. Joe Geraghty, a team mate of Fintan,s from NY 84, recorded these notes.

In all, around 30 Paralympians turned out on the day representing the entire 13 Paralympic Games. Irish Visually Impaired sport has been represented at the last 8. Michael Cunningham, was father of affairs, as he competed in 8 of the first 9 Games.

We missed a few old soldiers but, no doubt there will be more days like this. Our thanks to Allianz, Patrick Haskett, David Malone, John Fulham, Fintan and all for bringing us back together.



Fri 27 April 12

London 2012 Paralympic Games

Countdown with Irish Blind Sports

4 months to go to the World’s second biggest multi sports event – the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The air of tension, expectation, excitement is building.

Irish Blind Sports – www.ibsports.ie – will follow every hop, skip, jump, sprint, shot, splash and pedal.

Starting this week we chat with each and every visually impaired participant. Our first interview in our feature Para Phrasing with… Is with double gold world record breaking athlete James Brown. Click XIV SUMMER PARALYMPIAD to view this item. Yes, we hope to meet that other double golden boy Jason Smyth later in the series.

We already have some fascinating interviews in the can including Ailish Dunne, Catherine Walsh, Stephen Campbell, Katie George Dunleavy, Fran Meehan and Damien Shaw. Watch this space.

We will also profile all the other disabled stars including Michael McKiltripp and Mark Rowan. We plan to give you the lowdown too on the background boys from James Nolan to Denis Twomey to Liam Harbison.

We will give you some great links – see our links section at top of page or Click Here – and blogs as well as all the latest news.

Www.ibsports.ie: your site for all that happens at visually impaired sport and leisure.



Sat 21 April 12

Annual General Meeting Report

*Irish Blind Sports AGM* - Saturday 21st April, 2pm, Westmorland Suite (Ground Floor) Temple Bar Hotel, Dublin 2.

Outgoing Chairman Michael Clarke set the ball rolling shortly after 2 today. After a brief intro it was time for the largely new Board to say hello and provide a brief cv.

After the adoption of Minutes of last year’s AGM it was on to the Annual Report, see document download icon at end of this item.

Highlights of the Report, read by Office Administrator, Pam Robinson – who got a special round of applause for her work later in meeting – include big increase in sports activity, new office admin, new Board membership and the huge involvement of members in the London Paralympic Irish squad. We wish them all well.

A special expression of sympathy to the family of Shane Hall who died recently and was a very active Blind Sports member.

The Financial Report was read by Board member Sarah McLoughlin and duly adopted.

Board Members

the following Directors were ratified…

Sarah mcLoughlin, Carol Anne Casey, David McNamara, Roisin Dermody, Maria Watchorn, Joe Geraghty and Eugene Delaney.

Having competed their terms of office the following Board Members stepped down from Office: Michael Clarke, Fintan O’Donnell and Tony Lyster. Both Michael Clarke and Tony Lyster saught re-election and were duely elected. Fintan O’Donnell did not seek re-election. He will, however, retain a role as Advisor to board until year end 2012. Fintal will also become Irish Blidn Sports Anti-doping Officer from September 2012 (following the Paralympic Games).

So, the new Government is…

Michael Clarke, Chairman;
Robert Dobbyn, Vice Chairman/ Fundraising/head of finance sub-committee;
Eugene Delaney, Website development – advise and assist with P.R;
Roisin Dermody, Development of Volunteers, PR;– implementing volunteers policy.
Ann Lyster, Incoming Treasurer – sit on Finance sub committee;
Tony Lyster, Outgoing Treasurer / overseer of co-ordinators;
Sarah McLoughlin, Minutes Secretary / implementing IBS Strategic Plan 2012-2014
Joe Geraghty, P.R. / website;
Carol Ann Casey, Governance / Compliance;
David McNamara, Development and finance Sub Committee;
Maria Watchorn, Advocate for children and youth;

Coming towards 4.on this Saturday afternoon we called it a day.

A good day’s work, positive attendance, positive debate, positive future.

Membership

To join, or renew membership, of Irish Blind Sports clinc on the “Join Irish Blind Sports” button at top of this page for instant registration and payment.

NEW!!!! – PAY BY STANDING ORDER! – Standing order forms available from the office – this would cover your membership and give us your support annually without you having to remember.

NEW!!! – Associate / Friend of Irish Blind Sports Membership : – Ideal for family, friends and past participants who want to continue to support the work of Irish Blind Sports. Set up a Standing Order or pay on line.

Annual Fee: adult €10 Junior (under 18yrs) €5.

Above pic of Office Administrator Pam Robinson chatting to Irish Blind Golf Society Secretary Paul O’Rahilly. Pic coutessy of Ann Lyster

Click here to download Annual Report 2012 >>



Thu 05 April 12

36,894 Govt. Grant for Irish Blind Sports

Minister Announces 25m for NGBs

The Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Mr Michael Ring TD yesterday annonced the granting of Euro 36,894 to Irish Blind Sports to cover Government commitments for 2012.

This figure represents a drop of 846 Euros on the 2011 figure of 37,840. However, decrease must be understood in the context of more significant drops in funding to some of the major sporting bodies here including the GAA, FAI and IRFU.

The Irish Blind Sports Board will meet shortly to review the funding decrease and see what impact this may have on core activities.

The official announcement of the awarding of 25.58 million Euros was made at an event in Dublin which was attended by representatives of the sports bodies. Minister Ring commented “This grant funding of €25.58 million is a significant investment in Irish sports and is a strong indication of this Government’s commitment to sport. I want to pay tribute to all of the sports organisations; they are continuing to do outstanding work for sport in Ireland and are playing a very important role in delivering opportunities in sport both nationally and for local communities throughout the country.”

The Council’s budget was reduced to €44.5 million in 2012 from €47 million in 2011. Given the importance of 2012 for Irish sport the High Performance budget was left untouched at €10.5 million. The GAA, IRFU and FAI see cuts of 10% in their budgets with 5% for the bigger governing bodies and 2.5% for the small sports. The Local Sport partnerships will see a reduction of around 7% in their annual grants.

Kieran Mulvey, Chairman of the Irish Sports Council said: “The Council has taken great care in allocating money to ensure that the most vulnerable sports bear the least impact in 2012. The priority this year was high performance because everyone wants to see our athletes do well in London. This means the NGBs and LSPs have to plan the year with less resources. They are doing a fantastic job on behalf of the country and it is important that we recognise and acknowledge their outstanding work”.

In addition there will be a reduction in the Women in Sport programme based on the recommendations of a review into the programmes. The review’s outcomes emphasised targeting the individual sports that made the greatest impact and where NGBs and LSPs have worked together to increase participation among women.

The total Irish Sports Council budget for 2012 is €44.5 million. The main spending areas are NGB core grants (25%) approximately), Local Sports Partnerships (12%), Youth Field Sport (18%), High Performance (24%) and other Council programmes (10%). The Council operating costs, including salaries, comes in around 7% of total budget.

The Council also published its Statement of Strategy for the years 2012 to 2014. It will concentrate on implementing its Participation strategy, developing the governing body sector and sustaining the high performance system. The document includes a report on progress against measures set out in the previous strategy. In the development of the strategy sports bodies were surveyed on the work of the Council. 97% stated that Council funding was Vital or Very Important to their organisation and 86% replied that they enjoyed an Excellent or Very Good relationship with the Council, responses consistent with similar surveys in previous years.
John Treacy Chief Executive of the Council commented on the strategy: “We were happy to report excellent progress on all areas of work over the past three years and we have set out our priorities for the next three years. The Council received very positive feedback from the sports sector on our work. The excellent working relationships in the sector is something that we can all be proud of”.



Sat 31 March 12

Mairead Joins Pam at Office

A warm welcome to Mairead Delaney, who joined our office administrator Pam Robinson at our Christchurch base this month.

You may very well hear from Mairead, who has taken on some volunteer work with us, sooner than you think … she’s the girl who will follow up on membership recruitment and renewals. Have your wallet or purse at the ready … this is a silent collection (no coins)!!

Mairead also hopes to sort out our volunteering database. Three volunteers then, you, you and you again!

Maread plans to be in the office Tuesday through Friday mornings.

For office contact details – including our new phone number – Click Here



Sat 31 March 12

Get Set-Go Yoga Coming Soon

April Date Now Possible

Not only will this gentle exercise improve your mood, sleep habits and mental health, but they also tone and shape your muscles.
Subject to sufficient interest Yoga is offered to you by Irish Blind Sports through a qualified instructor.
Once we have enough interest we will arrange a start date and time in central Dublin.

We do require a minimum number to run this class so please contact Pam at the office now to book your place: 01 454 7865 or 085 850 0193 or email Pam pam@ibsports.ie.



Sat 10 March 12

Our Website Mantra

This Site Is Your Site

Let’s all join in with our brand new ibsports.ie signature song …

Chorus:

This site is your site, this site is our site
From tandem cycling, to tenpin bowling
From archery and chess to goalball rolling
This site was made for you and we

As we go into a brand new year
We see Paralympics and lots to cheer
We saw ahead of us a golden summer/fall
This site was made for us all

Chorus

This site is your site, this site is our site
From futsal and football, to water skiing
From running and jumping to some golf teeing
This site was made for you and we

We’ve roamed and rambled from Beijing to California
To the sparkling sands of the Canary Islands
And all around us a voice was sounding
This site was made for you and we

Chorus

This site is your site, this site is our site
From canoeing and angling, to climbing walls
From riding horses to judo halls
This site was made for you and we

All toghether now for the final chorus …

This site is your site, this site is our site
It’s up you head to send us reports and info
We don’t give a damn whether you write to Joe or Pam
As this site was made for you and we

Appologies to the great Woddy Guthrie.

Office Administrator: Pam Robinson

To email Pam click here…

All articles or items of interest should be emailed, to Office Administrator Pam Robinson click here… or our web editor Joe Geraghty
Talk to Joe at 0876181235 or
click WriteToJoe



Wed 15 February 12

Catherine and Fran Add Bronze to Gold at World Track Paralcycling Championships in LA

Some useful links with this report

It’s been a sensational weekend for Irish Blind Sports, a sensational weekend for Irish Paralympics.

Long time supporters Catherine Walsh from North Dublin and James Brown from Derry have taken the world of Paracycling by storm with gold. silver and bronze medal performances.

On their return from the Championships in LA today Catherine and Fran heeaded straight for teh RTE studios where they recorded a fine interview with Damien O’Meara for RTE’s Sport At 7. To listen to podcast Click Here

Last Sunday evening in LA, where the outside world was mourning Whitney Houston and preparing for the Grammies, true grit and spirit saw |rish tandem cycling reached a new level. Catherine Walsh and pilot Fran Meehan added tandem sprint bronze to their gold three days ago in the 3km Tandem Pursuit.

In yesterday morning’s qualification round, the pair set a new Irish record of 12.259 to leave them in fourth place and secure the last available place in the afternoon’s sprint finals.

The Irish girls were drawn against favourites GB in the first two heats. Catherine and Fran rode very shrewdly but the experience of the British duo shone through and they took both heats. This result ensured a “best of 3″ series against Germany for the bronze medal.

The plan was to lead out and maintain pressure on the straights to prevent the Germans passing. This worked well in the first heat and the Irish pair (pictured above) triumphed narrowly. Similar tactics were employed in the second heat and by the bell, the Irish pair had pulled away to win comfortably.

The mens tandem pairing of Andrew Fitzgerald and Con Collis put in a good performance to record a time of 11.631. This left them in 17th place.

The Irish team got off to a sensational start last Thursday with gold and silver medals at the 2012 Paracycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles.

In the final of the 3km Female Tandem Pursuit, qualifiers Catherine Walsh and pilot Francine Meehan beat the British pairing of Aileen McGlynn and Helen Scott by almost three seconds, coming from behind to claim gold and the World title.

Earlier on, in the semi-final, Walsh and Meehan set a new Irish record of 3:37.392 to finish in first place, and book a place in the ride off for the gold medal in the afternoon’s finals.

Not to be outdone, the male tandem pairing of James Brown and pilot Damien Shaw also qualified for a gold medal ride off when their new Irish record time of 4:26.778 secured them second place in the 4km Pursuit qualifiers.

Unfortunately for the Irish duo they faced a formidable Australian pairing of Bryce Lindores and Scott McPhee who powered home and Brown and Shaw had to be content with silver.

Other members of the Irish team competing at the Home Depot Velodrome included tandem newcomers Katie-George Dunlevy and Pilot Sandra Fitzgerald who posted a PB time of 3:48.767 to secure a credible seventh in the qualifiers.

Andrew Fitzgerald and pilot Con Collis also posted a PB of 4:33.334 in the Men’s Tandem which left them sixth in the overall standings.

Yesterdays bonus of a sprint medal by Catherine Walsh and Fran Meehan crowned Ireland’s best ever Track World Championships. Ireland finished an impressive seventh in the medal tally out of 31 countries.

The tremendous performances by the squad will likely ensure that Ireland secures its target of at least six places for London 2012 (to be decided shortly). Many congratulations to the athletes, manager Denis Toomey, coaches and support staff – there’s a lot to look forward to!

Above photo of Andrew and Con in action in LA.

Source inforamtion courtessy of Paralympics Ireland Photos courtessy of Denis Twoomey former IBS coach and now cycling team manager for the Irish team and the London Paralympics.



Tue 14 February 12

Jason and Catherine Awarded ISC Podium Grants

10.5 million euro high performance package announced by Irish Sports Council

More great news for our elite golden athletes Catherine Walsh and Jason Smyth today. Gold comes in more than medals as both Jason and Catherine have been awarded the maximum 40,000 grant by the Irish Sports Council today.

This is really great news for Catherine as she returns from LA haveing won gold and bronze at last weekend’s World Paracycling Championships. It is equally good news for Jason as he finishes up on his winter training to prepare for Olympic as well as Paralympic qualification.

Now, let’s look at the overall good news from the Irish Sports Council…

■20 sports bodies will receive €6.68 million for their high performance plans
■This includes support for the OCI & Paralympics Ireland performance programmes
■118 senior athletes and 3 teams will receive €2.34 million under the Carding Scheme
■Institute of Sport total budget is €1.5 million

Ireland’s Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls received a boost with the announcement of an Irish Sports Council €10 million package of support for 2012. This includes €2.34 million under the International Carding Scheme which is the funding that goes directly to athletes. This compares with the 2011 final year figure of €2.32 million. Among the 27 recipients of the top “podium” grant of €40,000 are established major championship performers Olive Loughane, Derval O’Rourke, Jason Smyth, Mark Rohan, Grainne Murphy, Katie Taylor, John Joe Nevin and Annalise Murphy.

This total funding package of investment is on a par with 2011which had a final year total of €10.3 million. It means €40 million will be invested by the Council over the four year cycle of 2009 to 2012. In the three years of this cycle to date 102 medals have been won at international championship level in supported programmes. This compares with 70 medals won in the four year cycle to 2008 on the basis of an investment of €40.5 million. In 2011 it was significant that 58 of the 59 medals won were by Irish athletes based at home in domestic programmes.

Mr. Michael Ring TD, Minister for Tourism & Sport made the announcement in Dublin today (February 14); “2012 is a critically important year for Irish sport and it is vital that financial support is made available to athletes to ensure the best possible preparation for London 2012. Everyone knows that we are going through some difficult economic times but I was determined to ensure our top athletes were protected in the run up to the most important event of their sporting careers. The level of success of Irish sports people has been incredible over the past few years and it is a source of pride that the Irish public has been supporting them all the way”.

The Chairman of the Irish Sports Council Mr Kieran Mulvey commented; “I made a commitment in December 2010 that there would be no reduction in high performance funding up to the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. That promise has been honoured and the Council is providing a very significant investment package for our top athletes. It has been a remarkably successful few years for Irish sport and there is a real return on taxpayers’ investment by our elite sportspeople. We wish them the very best for the exciting year ahead”.

In 2012 €6.68 million will be invested in Performance Plans; the equivalent figure in 2011 was €6.86 million. The Institute of Sport will be providing significant support services to all of the sports from its base at the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown.

The package includes funding of €440,000 for the Olympic Council of Ireland in 2012. The OCI is responsible for managing the Irish team at the London 2012 Camps. The funding this year will support the provision of pre-London camps, based at St. Mary’s in Twickenham, and other sports services and administration costs.

It brings to more than €1.5 million the total amount of support provided to the OCI in the 4-year London cycle. There is an operational agreement in place between the Irish Sports Council and the OCI which has ensured cooperation between the agencies in the build up to the Games. Of particular note is the London Technical Group which coordinates all athlete service support leading into and at the Games. All relevant agencies, North and South, are represented on that Group.

John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council, speaking at the event, said “2010 and 2011 have been very successful years for Irish sport. We hope 2012 will be as successful. However we know how difficult it is to win any medal at an Olympic or Paralympic Games and a repeat of the success of Beijing would be a reasonable target.”

High performance sport is planned and implemented on an all island basis. Sport NI and SINI (Sports Institute Northern Ireland) are fully part of the planning and operational elements of the system. Sport NI is a funding partner and provides resources in addition to those announced today.

The International Carding Scheme will support athletes, teams and junior & developmental squads in 23 sports. This year it includes 118 senior level athletes including 27 at “podium” level and 19 at “world class”. The Performance Directors, who are the key individuals within the system, ensure that the Carding Scheme and Performance Plans are complementary and that elite athletes are supported in the financial and non-financial aspects of their programmes.

In March the details will be announced of the Council’s support for key high performance events to be hosted in Ireland in 2012 such as the FIH Men’s Olympic Qualifier, the ISAF World Youths and the Men’s European Golf Championships.

“Podium” Athletes 2012
■Olive Loughnane Athletics Ireland
■Derval O’Rourke Athletics Ireland
■Robert Heffernan Athletics Ireland
■David Gillick Athletics Ireland
■Catherine Walsh Cycling Ireland
■Mark Rohan Cycling Ireland
■Colin Lynch Cycling Ireland
■Daniel Martin Cycling Ireland
■Joe Ward Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Darren O’Neill Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Ray Moylette Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Katie Taylor Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Paddy Barnes Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■John Joe Nevin Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■John Joe Joyce Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Eric Donovan Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Kenneth Egan Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Tyrone McCullagh Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Eoin Rheinisch Irish Canoe Union
■Derek Burnett Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
■Peter O’Leary Irish Sailing Association
■David Burrows Irish Sailing Association
■Annalise Murphy Irish Sailing Association
■Catherine O’Neill Paralympic Athletics Ireland
■Michael McKillop Paralympic Athletics Ireland
■Jason Smyth Paralympic Athletics Ireland
■Grainne Murphy Swim Ireland



Tue 13 December 11

The Video to Enable Swimming

IBS launch new swimming video

Today we officially launch our last 2011 sports video featuring our core sport of swimming.

It’s over 50 years now since the Variety Club of Ireland built swimming pools at St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s Schools for the Blind in Dublin. While the St. Mary’s pool is no longer in operation the St. Joseph’s one – albeit under a new name in the new year – is still actively used.

Our first organised adult leisure swim sessions began in Dublin in 1979 and have been ongoing ever since, despite the high economic costs.

To test the waters with our swimm video Click Swim Here. You can also view the full version at Click More Swimming Here

While you’re there you might also like to checkout our athletics video. Athletics was so popular in the early days of organised sport for visually impaired here that they say we could run before we could walk! Yes, athletics was the rock on which Irish Blind Sports was founded.

Irish Blind Sports have more than the vision to enable sports, we have the video to enable the sport of running too!

Today, Irish Blind Sports launch the second of several videos demonstrating how blind and visually impaired people perform various sports.

In this video we see blind and visually impaired runners perform solo sprints and guided middle distance running.

To go to the start line for the quick view Click Here For The Short Run. If you wish to see the longer version Click Here For The Long Run

In our first video, launched on 16 November IBS Director Fintan O’Donnell meets the members of the Irish Blind Golf Society who demonstrate the basics.

Go on, get into the swing and take a moment or two to view:
Click Here for IBS GOLF VIDEO
ew.

Well, do you think its above par? Please let us know what you think.