The Federation of Irish Sport has announced the County recipients of the 2023 Volunteers in Sport Awards, proudly supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships.
The awards celebrate the contribution of local sports volunteers nationwide during 2023 and the Lough Ree Lanesborough Angling Hub are thrilled to confirm that their very own Philip Gordon is the County Roscommon winner – so congratulations Philip!
Philip has been an angling coach for over 30 years in Ballyleague, Lanesborough and Athlone – and this award recognises his outstanding contribution to the sport – especially in the area of youth coaching.
Inland Fisheries Ireland are proud to have sponsored novice coaching events organised by Philip and the Lough Ree hub over the years and without the volunteers, like Philip, who work tirelessly to promote youth coaching and novice events up and down the country (not to mention open days, competitions, festivals, national teams, club events and all the rest) Irish angling would be in a much worse place today, so thank you all.
Supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships these dedicated volunteers will be celebrated at a national awards ceremony in Dublin on Thursday 29th February 2024. The invited special guest speaker is Minister Thomas Byrne, Minster of State with responsibility for Sport and Physical Education, which is testament to the commitment at government level to supporting and recognising the vital role of volunteers in advancing sports participation and community development.
With a record-breaking number of entries, the 2023 Volunteers in Sport Awards have seen nominations from over 50 different sporting disciplines, highlighting the widespread impact of volunteering ranging from mass participation sports to new and emerging sports. The 32 county awards will be presented, honouring outstanding volunteers from every corner of the country who have demonstrated commitment and dedication, serving as role models within their communities and inspiring others to get involved in sports volunteering.
The economic significance of volunteering in sport cannot be overstated, it has an estimated value of €1.5 billion annually to the Irish economy. This figure underscores the immense social and economic benefits derived from the invaluable contributions of volunteers across the Irish sporting landscape.
In addition to the county individuals being recognised, anticipation will be high as one exceptional individual will be awarded with the overall Outstanding Volunteer Award.
