Shortlist of nominees announced for the 2022 Irish Sport Industry Awards

The shortlist of nominees for the six open categories of the Irish Sport Industry Awards, in association with Clubforce, have been announced.

The remaining four closed categories will be revealed at the awards ceremony at Dublin’s Westin Hotel on Tuesday next, May 17.

The sport industry in Ireland supports 64,000 jobs, stimulates €3.3 billion in household spending, and generates €3.7 billion gross value added (GVA) to the Irish economy.

This year’s event will be the fifth staging of the awards, which recognise and celebrate that value of sport to society and reward excellence in the business of sport.

The 10 award categories celebrate a cross section of organisations, people and capabilities that fuel and drive the management, funding and sustainability of sport in Ireland.

Tuesday’s event will be attended by an audience of invited guests from across the sports sector, with Minister Jack Chambers TD, Minister for State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, delivering the keynote address.

The judging panel for the 2022 awards, chaired by Rob Hartnett, founder and CEO of Sport for Business, comprises members of the sports sector from media, business, PR, and local and national representative bodies.

Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, commented: “We are delighted to mark the return of the Irish Sport Industry Awards, in association with Clubforce. Sport is an integral part of the country’s social and economic fabric. The quality and large number of the entries received this year are testament to this.

“We are really looking forward to bringing together key stakeholders in the sports sector for this important evening of recognition in the value of sport to the Irish economy.

“I would like to say a big thank you to the national governing bodies, local sports partnerships and those in the sports sector that submitted entries this year. It was imperative for the Federation of Irish Sport to reinstate these awards following the lifting of restrictions and a very difficult two years for the sector.”

Rob Hartnett added: “The ability to pause, reflect on and celebrate work well done is often overlooked in the rush to be always looking at the next thing. The Irish Sport Industry Awards give us reason to do that and the response this year was magnificent.

“We have come through so many challenges since last we sought nominations, but this is proof positive that we met them with vigour and style. Judging one winner among so many deserving organisations and campaigns has been incredibly hard, but the judges put in a huge amount of thought and effort to get it right, or at least as right as we think.

“Congratulations to all the winner and also to those who entered. Your work has had an impact in a very positive way.”

The shortlist of nominees can be found at www.irishsportindustryawards.ie.