Background

Sport Ireland (previously the Irish Sports Council) in its strategy ‘A New Era for Sport 2000-2002’ proposed to establish a nationwide network of Local Sports Partnerships. The aim of the Partnerships is to support increased participation in sport and active recreation at local level. Sligo was one of the first eight in a national network of Local Sports Partnerships launched in May 2001. The other areas selected after open competition to pilot the initiative were: Clare, Kildare, Donegal, Laois, North Tipperary, Roscommon and Fingal, Co. Dublin. In 2008, the national roll out of Partnerships was completed with an LSP established in every county. Funding is allocated annually by Sport Ireland for the LSP programme. Locally, Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership receives additional financial assistance from its partner agencies including Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB, Sligo County Council, the Health Service Executive and Sligo Leader Partnership Company.

At the outset a key task for the Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership was to develop a local strategic plan for sport and recreation for County Sligo. Following an extensive consultation process with the local community, agencies, sports clubs, partner agencies and with Sport Ireland, the Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership launched it first strategic plan in April 2003. This 3 year plan became the roadmap for SSRP for the first years, and provided direction and focus for the Partnerships activities and functions.

In 2006, SSRP began the process of reviewing its activities to date and formulating a new plan for the years ahead, resulting in the launch in June 2007 of our second plan ‘ Making Sport and Recreation a Way of Life 2007-2012′. Our third plan ‘Sport and Recreation a Way of Life in Sligo 2013-2016’ was launched following this.

Our fourth and current Strategic Plan ‘Building a Culture of Sport and Physical Activity in County Sligo 2018-2023′ was just launched in December 2018 and is our road map for the development of sport & physical activity and increasing participation in County Sligo for the next 6 years.

See our ‘Publications’ section where you can download the relevant documents to date for your own reading:

Board of Directors

Upon the establishment of the SSRP in 2001, nominations were invited from local agencies, statutory bodies/organisations, clubs and groups for the selection of a Board of Directors and subsequently a Board of nineteen members was selected and had their first meeting in January 2002. Nominated Board Members have the capacity and experience that will enable them to take a cross-sectoral and strategic view of sport and recreational development within the County and are responsible for overseeing the running of the Partnership Company.
The Board of Directors is renewed every three years.

The current Board consists of the following members:

Chairperson: Ms Emer Concannon (Sligo County Council)
Company Secretary: Mr. Jack Lynch (Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB)
Mr. Kerry Larkin (Institute of Technology)
Mr. Michael Carty (Sligo County Council)
Ms. Cara O Neill (Health Service Executive)
Mr. Aidan Tighe (Sligo Leader Partnership Co.)
Cllr. Marie Casserly (Sligo County Council)
Cllr. Donal Gilroy (Sligo County Council)
Cllr. Gino O Boyle (Sligo County Council)
Ms. Mairead Connolly (People with Disabilities)
Mr. Joe McDonagh (Community Forum)
Ms. Geraldine Delorey (Active Age Groups)
Ms. Maire McCallion (Sports Clubs)
Mr. Tommy Cradock (Sports Clubs)
Mr. Gerard O Connor (Sligo County GAA Board)
Ms. Tina Beirne (Sports Clubs – Soccer)
Ms. Kathleen Kane (Sports Clubs)

Member Agencies of SSRP

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership is driven by the contribution and support of the member agencies which consist of:

Function

The three main areas of operation for Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership are:

• Information
• Education and Training
• Programme Implementation

The Information function involves co-ordination of local sports information, initiating research, compiling a sports directory/ database and identifying needs and resources to form the basis of local planning.

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership provides quality opportunities for Education and Training at local level, including generic training courses in areas such as Safeguarding and Active Leadership while also supporting the delivery of sports specific courses in conjunction with the National Governing Bodies of Sport.

The SSRP Implements sports programmes in the context of the local strategic plan for Sport and Recreation and in line with Sport Ireland priorities. A range of national programmes are available to encourage participation and these can be modified to suit local needs. Programmes are delivered in areas such as Sports Development, Active Communities, Youth Sport and Sport & Inclusion.

Objectives

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership has identified the following outcomes to be achieved:

• Enhanced planning of sport at local level – A strategy for Sport and Recreation for Sligo.
• Increased levels of local participation, especially amongst specific target groups such as young people, older people, girls and women, people with a disability and those who live in disadvantaged communities.
• Development of club and community sport.
• Volunteer Training/Education.
• Research resulting in local directories of sports bodies, facilities, human resources.
• Enhance use of existing facilities.
• Clear priorities for local facility provision and improvement, with related quality management initiatives.
• School/club/community and possibly school-NGB links.
• Local sports events.

Location

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership is based at:

MSL ETB , Quay Street, Sligo, Ireland
T: +353 (0)71 9161511
E: E-mail Us