The Federation of Irish Sport and EBS are calling on all Kildare people to nominate their local everyday hero for this year’s Federation of Irish Sport Volunteers in Sport awards, proudly supported by EBS.  

Mary O’Connor, CEO of Federation of Irish Sport
Photo: ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson

Nominations for the awards were extended today and will now close on Friday, October 2nd, with clubs, individuals and sporting bodies across Kildare being urged to nominate their local volunteer to give them the opportunity to be recognised by the Federation of Irish Sport and EBS at the 2020 Volunteers in Sport Awards on November 16th.

This year’s awards will once more champion and celebrate the thousands of volunteers in sport and physical activity in local communities nationwide. This 450,000-strong army of volunteers dedicate some 37.2 million hours of volunteering across the country’s 13,000+ sports clubs and associations each year. To nominate a deserving volunteer in your local club or community, simply visit http://www.volunteersinsport.ie/ before October 2nd, 2020.    

Speaking as the countdown to the closing date looms, Darren Duignan, Head of EBS Network Management commented: “The excitement is really building up now as we get close to the final stages of the nomination process for the 2020 Volunteers in Sport awards. EBS is delighted to partner with the Federation of Irish Sport once more to celebrate and recognise the many everyday heroes around Ireland who are truly the backbone of Irish sport and without whom, sport in Ireland simply would not happen.

We have been involved in communities in Ireland for over 80 years and are delighted to continue our activity in communities around the country with this partnership with the Federation of Irish Sport. We are really looking forward to celebrating these volunteers and giving them the recognition they deserve for the fantastic work they do for sport in Ireland.”  

Also speaking ahead of the closing of the nomination period, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, Mary O’Connor, said: “We are urging everyone to log on to http://www.volunteersinsport.ie/and nominate their local volunteer. Sport plays a central role in villages, parishes and counties, and now, more than ever, the role of the volunteer is essential.

The value of volunteering in sport in Ireland is unimaginable, with an estimated 37.2 million hours of unpaid voluntary work performed every year. It is these people who make sport happen in Ireland and it is essential they are recognised, which is why the Federation of Irish Sport established the awards and continue to champion and reward the work of volunteers, now with the invaluable support of EBS. ”