The Olympics might only arrive every four years, but the pressure never really goes away, and neither does the planning. From the Sport Ireland Campus, we sit down with Peter Sherrard, CEO of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, to talk about what leadership looks like when your job is part high-performance sport, part commercial engine, and part crisis management when the spotlight swings your way.

Peter shares the career moves that shaped his style, from working in Milan to fast-paced years with Ryanair, and then into Irish football during the Euro 2016 era. We get into the hard-earned lessons that travel well across sectors: simplify what you can control, prioritise under noise, and build teams where people understand each other’s work before silos take hold. We also talk openly about the governance reset after Rio 2016 and what it takes to rebuild trust in a national sporting organisation.

Tokyo becomes the ultimate stress test. We unpack the uncertainty of Covid-era decision-making, the logistics of protecting athletes and staff, and why resilience is more than a buzzword when rules change week to week. From there, the conversation turns to the business of the Olympic movement in Ireland: the four-year cycle, why events beyond the Summer Games matter, and how a funding model driven heavily by private sources reshapes risk, sponsorship, and long-term planning. We finish with quickfire insights on sport, empathy, laughter, and the power of quiet time for clear thinking.

If you enjoy smart conversations on Irish sport leadership, governance, sponsorship, and high-performance planning, subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review. What part of building a winning culture do you think gets overlooked most?

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Leinster’s return to the RDS campus and the redeveloped Laya Arena is the centrepiece of this week's Sport for Business podcast.

We are chatting with Matthew Dowling, Chief Commercial officer for Leinster and over half an hour we get into the details that decide whether a stadium move is remembered fondly or forever. Think capacity planning, yield management, seat maps, and the hard promise that season ticket holders who came on the journey through Aviva Stadium and the odd Croke Park blockbuster get looked after on the way back. 

We also talk match day experience in terms of queues, food, toilets, places to meet friends, and how different fan personas want totally different nights out. 

From there, the lens widens to commercial partnerships and naming rights, including how Leinster protect sponsor value as the arena becomes a multi-event venue, and what comes next.

A new CRM approach, stronger digital platforms, smarter targeting, streaming experiments, and a serious opportunity to help grow rugby in the United States ahead of the 2030 and 2031 World Cup cycle. 

If you care about Leinster Rugby, stadium development in Ireland, sports marketing, sponsorship, and the business of fan loyalty, you’ll get plenty from this one. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review, what’s the biggest risk you think clubs take when they change homes?

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

A CEO who competes at world-level kickboxing and leads one of Ireland’s most important disability organisations brings a rare mix of grit and empathy to the table. We meet Ann Marie O’Grady, CEO of the Irish Wheelchair Association, to unpack what curiosity looks like as a leadership habit, how culture scales across a national team, and why sport is often the fastest route to confidence, connection and long-term health. 

We talk about IWA Sport in the context of the wider Irish Wheelchair Association: not just clubs and competitions, but the everyday reality of inclusion, access, and opportunity. Anne Marie shares why disability sport participation in Ireland still lags behind, how awareness gaps can delay a child or adult’s pathway by years, and why visibility from the Paralympics is powerful but not enough on its own. 

From there, we get practical. We dive into the Fitness Inclusion programme that partners with local gyms and personal trainers to make strength, conditioning and wellbeing genuinely accessible, and we look at what it takes to grow impact sustainably. Anne Marie also explains the strategic work behind bringing boccia into IWA Sport, and how funding, digital transformation and partnerships, including social prescribing, shape what’s possible for para sport and community participation. 

If you care about inclusive sport, disability sport Ireland, leadership, or building programmes that actually reach people, this conversation will give you ideas you can use. Subscribe, share it with someone in sport or health, leave a review, and tell us: what would make it easier for more people with a disability to find their way into sport?

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

A CEO who has worked across football, tennis, cricket, and now hockey sees Irish sport differently, and you can hear it in every answer. We’re joined by Richard Fahey, CEO of Hockey Ireland, to talk about how careers are built in sports administration, what actually drives participation growth, and why the unglamorous work of facilities, governance, and funding is where championships and communities are really made.

Richard walks us from his early coaching days into a defining moment at the FAI: spotting a missing layer of management, proposing a solution, and then helping scale a technical department from a small budget into a nationwide engine. We also get a clear view of how club licensing can lift standards across a league by using regulation as a developmental tool, improving coaching, financial stability, and infrastructure rather than just ticking boxes.

The timing is big for Hockey Ireland too. With both men’s and women’s teams heading to the 2026 Hockey World Cup in Belgium, we talk sponsorship strategy, broadcast reach, and how to turn a major tournament into club membership, volunteers, and new hockey communities in parts of Ireland where the sport barely exists. Richard also makes a strong athlete welfare case for dual-career athletes, including a proposed tax measure that recognises the personal cost of representing Ireland while holding down a day job.

If you care about Irish sport leadership, high performance planning, grassroots development, and the future of hockey in Ireland, this one is full of practical detail. Subscribe, share it with someone working in sport, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We wake up to the sting of Ireland’s World Cup qualification exit and try to name what penalties do to a team, a campaign, and a nation watching. We linger on the RTE sign-off, Dermot Kennedy’s “The Refuge”, and the stubborn reason we still come back. 
• the cruelty of penalties as a shortcut to judgement 
• staying with the broadcast to the final wrap-up 
• why “The Refuge” fits the mood of heartbreak 
• belief after Portugal and the brutal end in Prague 
• courage, vulnerability, and players showing their scars 
• generational loss of World Cup memories in Irish football 
• returning again for North Macedonia and the autumn fixtures 
• holding sport beside the wider reality of Gaza 
If you want to find out more about our coverage of the commercial world of Irish sport, its social implications, its emotion at times like today, then you can find out at sportforbusiness.com. 

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

What happens when speed meets purpose and a whole community leans in? We sit down with Paralympic medalist and European champion Orla Comerford during Women in Sport Week to explore how top performance, smart risk, and real visibility can change the future of para athletics in Ireland and beyond. Orla opens up about arriving at 28 not as an athlete fading out, but as a sprinter just getting started—fresh goals, tougher standards, and the hunger to leave the sport stronger than she found it.

We dig into the indoor season and why the 60 metres is a ruthless but brilliant lab for testing skills. Orla explains how recent PBs reflect hard winter work and how a short, honest off-season—wandering India after Worlds, then returning to grind—resets both body and mind. This year becomes a launchpad: Europeans ahead, Worlds next year for qualification, and a summer built around Diamond League and Continental Tour opportunities. The mission is bigger than medals: show up at the highest-profile meets, create more slots for para athletes, and make sure future stars get invited rather than having to ask.

Integration is the engine. Orla shares practical examples of meets placing para long jump and shot put within existing schedules, proving how simple it can be to add events without spectacle or strain. When fans can see para sport alongside able-bodied fields, interest deepens, stories stick, and pathways multiply—locally at Morton Games and across global stages. Proximity matters too: when championships sit in our time zone or just across the Irish Sea, casual viewers become ticket buyers and lifelong supporters.

Orla’s personal perspective sharpens everything. Living with a progressive eye condition, she chooses presence over prediction: use what you have today, take the chance, and keep moving forward. That mindset powers her sprinting and her advocacy for women’s sport, coaching, media, and leadership—the “same energy” that grows participation and performance together. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves athletics, and leave a review telling us which event should integrate a para field next. Your voice can help open the next lane.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

A missed World Cup can break a career or build a new one. Erin King chose the second path. We sit down with Ireland’s captain to unpack the shock of injury, the slow work of rehab, and the mindset shift that turned heartbreak into hunger ahead of a landmark Six Nations. From that first uneasy scan to the first whistle back, Erin shows how perspective reshapes performance—and how gratitude can harden into game-winning edge.

We dig into Ireland’s resurgence and what’s changed beneath the highlights: smarter coaching, real investment from the IRFU, and youth pathways that finally give girls a clear route to the green jersey. Visibility is rising too, and it matters. The team’s first standalone at the Aviva Stadium against Scotland is more than a fixture; it’s proof that women’s rugby belongs on the biggest stages with the biggest crowds. We talk tactics and temperament—quick rucks, brave width, disciplined defence—and why big venues amplify belief as much as noise.

There’s unfinished business off the field. Erin calls out the coverage gap and backs the “same energy” push, arguing that equal effort and equal results deserve equal attention. Progress is real—more media slots, fuller stands, smarter storytelling—but the job isn’t done. We connect the dots between performance, promotion, and participation, showing how each win can spark the next generation to join a club, pick up a ball, and see themselves in this team. If you care about Irish rugby’s future, women’s sport, or how resilience becomes culture, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves rugby, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

The energy around women’s sport in Ireland is real—and it’s at a tipping point. We sit down with Nora Stapleton and Bethany Carson to unpack what’s working, where momentum is fragile, and how the “same energy” theme can turn a good week into lasting change. From balanced boards to booming social leagues, the story isn’t just growth—it’s about building cultures where women feel valued on the pitch, on the sideline, and in the boardroom.

We dig into the four pillars guiding progress: active participation, leadership and governance, coaching and officiating, and visibility. Nora shares how funding, mentoring networks, and a renewed leadership framework helped lift board representation to about 48% women—proof that targeted action works. Then we face the hard part: culture. Representation alone doesn’t fix rooms where old habits still crowd new voices. Bethany explores how allyship, education, and practical supports can make meetings productive, coaching pathways fair, and officiating roles more attractive and safer for women.

Visibility remains the toughest nut to crack. Big moments—the Rugby World Cup, Six Nations, and packed domestic fixtures—pull new fans in, but sustainable change needs consistent coverage, smart scheduling, and storytelling that treats women’s sport as sport. We also highlight the rise of social sport—basketball blitzes, Gaelic for Mothers and Others, and more—giving women team bonds without the heavy time ask, keeping them connected to clubs and community. Add in new school resources to spark conversations and you have a pathway that starts earlier and lasts longer.

If you care about moving from momentum to normal, this conversation offers the roadmap: measure what matters, fund what works, fix culture, and keep the spotlight on. Subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review telling us the one action you’ll take to bring the same energy this week.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Change feels different when you can see the road ahead. We take you inside the GAA, LGFA, and Camogie integration push with Mary McAleese’s framing of unity as both heritage and strategy, and we map the concrete steps that move this from concept to calendar: a clear mandate from 2022, provincial roadshows for real feedback, and defined milestones through 2027 when the unified association will come to life.

We break down what structural unity actually means on the ground. You’ll hear how the One Club model informs county and provincial governance, why a single membership and unified injury fund can unlock transparency, and how subcommittees for competitions, youth, culture, coaching, and county teams provide the grip for daily delivery. 

We also get candid about transition bumps—aligning presidential roles, updating player protocols, and translating equal versus equitable funding into policies that feel fair to clubs of every size, from intercounty powerhouses to community teams training under rented floodlights.

The practical detail matters as much as the vision. We outline the July target for final structures and codes of practice, the August motions, the October special congresses, and the first combined Congress in 2028. 

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

When Texas Christian University runs out at the Aviva Stadium on August 29th for the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic, it will mark more than just Week Zero of a new season.

For Athletic Director Mike Buddie, it will be a statement about identity, ambition and education — on and off the field.

Buddie was in Dublin yesterday tidying up some of the elements that will lead towards the big game this summer. The game itself is much more, leading out into areas of business, leadership, academic opportunity and a significant tourism boost not only for Dublin but across the country.

16,000 are expected to travel from the US to see the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina take on the Horned Frogs of TCU, with the balance made up of European and Irish based fans of the sport, spurred by four sell out years since 2022 and boosted by last year’s extravaganza from the BFL of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings.  General ticket sales will begin on March 12th, with Group bookings and a presale period open now.

We had an opportunity to sit with Buddie for a half hour overlooking the stadium yesterday, the result of which will drop later today in the Sport for Business podcast.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

A football match is never just a football match when public conscience is on the line. We take you inside Ireland’s dilemma over playing Israel in the UEFA Nations League, where the black-and-white clarity of statutes collides with the colour and heat of the streets. As we read through our editorial, we map the contours of a tough choice: honour competition rules, protect players, and still face the moral gravity of Gaza and the intense response across Ireland.

We unpack the hard edges of UEFA obligations—sanctions, forfeitures, and the real-world impact on athletes—while exploring how other nations navigated the same terrain. 

We have sought to offer a candid, balanced look at where sport meets society, and how responsible leadership can act within rules while signalling values. 

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

A rare thing in a capital city: a marquee sporting venue that grows with the community rather than giving way to it. We sit down at Leopardstown Racecourse with Paul Dermody, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland’s racecourses division, to unpack how Dublin’s only racecourse secured its future while unlocking land for 850–1,000 social and affordable homes. The story begins with a proactive masterplan, gathers momentum through the Housing for All strategy, and lands on a precise 17-acre parcel beside the Luas and M50—meeting housing goals without sacrificing a world-class track.

We explore the legal and planning foundations that made it possible, from Schedule II protections to Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown’s development plans that call out Leopardstown’s role in community, tourism, and enterprise. Then we move into what the campus can become: safer horse-walk routes, expanded capacity beyond the current 18,500 cap, upgraded owners’ and trainers’ facilities, and a more open, permeable site. Think greenways and cycleways that link Sandyford and local schools, seven-day social spaces that invite people beyond race days, and long-discussed infrastructure finally activated—an existing but unopened Luas platform, plus a proposed M50 bridge to ease access.

We also talk timelines and market appetite. Short-term improvements will be visible within 18–24 months. Pre-market consultations will test operators’ interest in hotels, arenas, and conference venues, feeding a sustainable financial model for the campus. Planning for major builds is targeted from 2027, while the LDA aims to break ground around 2030, reflecting the real-world pace of utilities and permissions. Through it all, the vision stays clear: protect the green heart, keep elite racing in the capital, and create a vibrant hub where Dubliners can work, play, and gather.

If you care about the future of sport, city growth, and smart public land use, this conversation is a must. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves racing or urban planning, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Lidl extended its LGFA partnership to 2030 this week, representing a total commitment of € 22.5 m to the sport over that period.

We spoke to Lild Head of Corporate Affairs Eimear O'Sullivan about what this means and why it works so well for the brand, and then we have a few clips from Katie Taylor's conversation to an enthralled audience of players, kids and fans in Croke Park.

She talks about her own entry to sport, her self-confessed intensity, the journey towards Women's Boxing at the Olympic Games and what the future holds...

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Pride isn’t a tagline, it’s a lived routine: doors unlocked before dawn, cold gyms warming up with hard work, and coaches giving kids a shot at something bigger. We sat down in the National Stadium with Boxing Ireland CEO Gary Stewart and Branding Sport’s Paddy Murphy to share how a 115-year-old identity evolved into a clear, modern banner that speaks to clubs, parents, and the 12-year-old lacing gloves for the first time.

And tune in for a very special piece of content to launch the new identity...

If the story resonates, follow the show, share it with someone at your club, and leave a review with your favourite line from the manifesto. Your feedback helps more people find Boxing Ireland’s new voice.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

A local club’s call to pull county teams from Allianz-backed competitions kept the embers glowing on a hard question we can’t dodge: how do we weigh moral conviction against the real costs of running community sport? 

We put the Allianz–GAA sponsorship under a bright light, examining the Ethics Committee’s decision to continue, the activism demanding a break, and the lived reality for clubs that rely on stable funding, insurance, and youth investment.

We map the terrain clearly. First, the claims centre on indirect association highlighted in a UN report, not direct wrongdoing by the local entity. Second, if we universalise that standard, almost every major supplier—from telecoms and banks to aviation and tech—becomes contested, and sport risks a purity test it cannot pass consistently. Third, cutting ties has consequences that land on coaches, parents, and players, with real impacts on welfare, league operations, and development pathways. None of that excuses complacency; it demands smarter governance.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Ireland’s brightest footballers are weighing county glory against professional certainty, and the numbers tell a powerful story. We dig into why AFL and AFLW clubs are no longer dabbling with Irish recruits but building pipelines, and how that shift is reshaping careers for women and men. With Mark O’Connor allowed to delay preseason for a club final, we explore the human side of the decision: loyalty, timing, and the practical realities of pursuing the top level abroad.

We break down the tiers that define the AFLW journey, from entry contracts to All Australian leverage, and explain how day-to-day routines change when sport becomes the job. Then we trace the tougher men’s pathway, where rookie slots open doors but competition is fierce, and only a handful make the leap into a club’s best 22. Along the way, we compare professional support structures in Australia with the Irish amateur model—nutrition, psychology, recovery, and post-career planning that give athletes a clear arc and reduce the guesswork that often surrounds elite performance at home.

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Gaelic games, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Leadership isn’t built on a straight line, yet two of the biggest clubs in world football keep pretending it is. We dive into why Manchester United’s decision to move on from Rúben Amorim and Celtic’s thirty-three-day tenure for Wilfrid Nancy signal a deeper problem with how elite sport treats patience, culture, and accountability. Drawing on the lived reality inside high-pressure clubs, we examine how constant resets stall player development, erode identity, and turn “culture” into a slogan rather than a system you can train against every day.

We walk through the familiar United cycle: big promises of structure and renewal, followed by turbulence in a squad assembled across regimes, then a fast verdict before coherence forms. At Celtic, the burden of history shapes expectations so tightly that anything short of immediate dominance reads as failure. Across both, the message is loud: leadership is conditional on the moment; patience is negotiable only when you are winning. That mindset doesn’t just unsettle dressing rooms; it teaches players to wait out ideas, dampens youth pathways, and nudges recruitment toward short-term patches over long-term fit.

From a Sport for Business lens, the contrast with corporate transformation is stark. In business, strategy horizons run in years, leaders are judged on trajectory and decision quality, and milestones are communicated and protected. Football talks like that but often acts in panic. We argue for accountability with context: clear milestones, aligned recruitment, and enough runway for ideas to embed. If sport wants to model resilience, teamwork, and perseverance, it must live those values when the noise is loudest, not just quote them on media days.

Catch the full analysis, then tell us: do you back patience with standards, or believe rapid change is the only way to compete? If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend who cares about football culture, and leave a quick review to help more people find the show.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

A creative heavyweight returns to Paddy Power as we examine how a provocative brand voice can evolve under tighter rules and higher expectations. We reflect on past culture-led stunts, agency lessons, and the path to responsible, high-impact sponsorships in 2026.

• Paul Mallon’s return and why it matters
• Signature campaigns that built brand distinctiveness
• From provocation to participation through responsibility
• Agency-side lessons applied to a tougher market
• Aligning with rights holders on values and voice
• League of Ireland fixtures and Dalymount milestones
• Event details to kickstart 2026 with research and speakers

Tickets for our Keynote Sporting Year Ahead event in partnership with Teneo are on sale now at sportforbusiness.com

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We share the energy from the Sport for Business Women in Sport conference and turn the mic to two athletes who show why listening changes outcomes. 

Linda talks rugby, nursing, and a Master's that opens new doors; Laura charts a late start in racing and a clear route to Le Mans with honest talk on funding and grit.

• Athlete voice as the driver of real change
• Linda’s rugby journey, nursing background, and sports management masters
• Stepping away from a central contract to grow leadership and longevity
• Laura’s Radical racing path and Le Mans ambition
• Sponsorship realities and the bring-your-partners model
• Balancing full-time STEM work with training and sim racing
• Mental skills, safety, and performance under pressure
• Trinity Access, role models, and opening doors for young people
• Calls for support that meet actual athlete needs

If there’s anybody out there who wants to get somebody to inspire your workforce or your teams by telling their story, then Linda Djougang will do it brilliantly. And if you feel as though you’re ready to dive in and give a helping hand, you never know that Laura O’Connell with that sense of enthusiasm and drive that you want to support, and you can reach out to her through Sport for Business as well

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We go inside Hockey Ireland’s ten-week sprint to transform the Sport Ireland Campus into a Pro League venue with world-class broadcast, a sold-out crowd, and a free fan village that widens the sport’s reach. 

Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer Nick McElwee brings us inside the decision-making process that will deliver World Class Hockey in Dublin this week.

• Winning hosting rights on a ten-week timeline
• Leaning on a small core team and expert partners
• Turning a campus into a functioning venue
• Balancing weather risk, branding, and broadcast needs
• Building a world-feed TV product with 10 cameras
• Funding mix, de-risking, and early ticket sales
• Creating FOMO with a 1,500-seat sell-out
• Opening a free fan village to grow visibility
• Using experience from Formula One-scale events

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

A single statistic reframes the future of Gaelic games: a quarter of Ireland’s youngest children live near just 50 clubs. We dig into the GAA’s National Demographic Report and explore how rapid urban growth and rural decline are reshaping teams, facilities, coaching, and community life. The patterns are stark, the implications immediate, and the choices ahead will define whether the sport remains present and vibrant in every parish and postcode.

We talk through the data that redrew the map: one in three people living in or near Dublin, falling birth rates since 2010, and 78 percent of clubs anchored in rural areas with fewer players each year. From overcrowded pitches and long waiting lists in fast-growing corridors to under-strength adult teams in the West and Midlands, the challenge splits in two—but the solution set meets in the middle. Smaller-sided formats such as 11-a-side and 9-a-side can keep competition meaningful where 15-a-side strains. A national facilities strategy can add pitches, lights, and indoor spaces where demand explodes. New bylaws can guide transfers to ease pressure and sustain rural clubs tied by family and identity.

We also focus on structure and support. A proposed club support unit would move growth and sustainability from the shoulders of volunteers to a consistent system that plans, funds, and measures what works. Pilot projects in counties with opposite pressures can prove models for the whole island. And with Sport Ireland’s involvement and a clear call for collaboration with government and local authorities, the report places Gaelic games inside the wider story of social infrastructure, public health, and community cohesion. With Ireland’s population now above seven million, there’s real opportunity—if the game adapts to where people actually live.

Listen and decide what should come first: facilities in the hotspots, new clubs in growth corridors, or a faster rollout of smaller-sided championships. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who cares about local sport, and leave a quick review to help more people find us.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Some stories only land when the mic is live and the notes are gone. We sat down for a raw, unscripted session at the Active Disability Ireland Annual Conference to hear what sport really means when life bends, breaks, and rebuilds. Rob opens with honesty about living with MS, then we pass the floor to two remarkable guests whose journeys reframe resilience and inclusion in Irish sport.

First up, Melanie shares how a spinal injury closed one chapter and opened another with wheelchair rugby league. She walks us through the sport’s pace and physicality—five-a-side, tags for tackles, a real rugby ball—and the practical hurdles, from expensive sports chairs to maintenance that never ends. Training with Wigan sharpened her game, while Ireland’s programme surged under new coaching: back-to-back Celtic Cups, a home win in Galway, a learning tour to France, and a world ranking that now points to Australia next November. It’s a story of momentum built on coaching, kit, and community.

Then Kerry takes us into the quiet storm of elite archery. She missed Rio by a breath, broke her leg before Tokyo, and still kept going as the pandemic stretched the cycle to seven years. The call to fly came just six weeks out. She talks about the loneliness of empty stadiums and how she built her own support by cheering for solo athletes—who returned the favour the next day. Her insights on focus are razor-sharp: reset every arrow, refuse autopilot, breathe, visualise, begin again. And she explains why retiring now is the bravest move—balancing personal wellbeing with the need for broader systems that don’t rely on one person to keep a sport visible.

Across both stories, a clear message emerges: real inclusion is infrastructure plus empathy. Lower barriers to equipment. Fund coaching and competition. Create pathways that last longer than any single athlete’s career. If you care about Irish sport, high performance, or the human engine that powers both, you’ll find plenty to take with you.

Enjoyed the conversation? Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more people discover these voices.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Kellie Harrington returned to a sold-out Round Room and showed timing, movement, and control in a one-sided exhibition that points to a patient climb back to competition. 

We also preview the Active Disability Ireland National Conference, focusing on inclusion through policy, coaching, facilities, and lived experience.

• Harrington’s composed return and what it signals for 2026 and LA 2028
• Exhibition context and opponent calibre
• Homecoming energy and athlete agency
• Inclusion as systems change across Irish sport
• Panel focus on policy to practice
• Ministerial perspective and commitments
• Jay Lusted on visibility and representation
• Expo highlights and sensory experiences
• Live unscripted interviews and why they matter
• Where to read and follow updates

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We explore how the Teneo Accelerate programme helps young female athletes build brand, social, commercial, and media skills, pairing practical training with year-round support. Ellen shares growth from an Irish pilot to a European footprint, plus candid lessons on online safety and contract literacy.

• Why the programme exists and who it serves
• Cohort growth from three to six athletes across Europe
• Selection through sporting bodies and NGBs
• Four pillars: brand, social, commercial, media
• Contract basics, agent choices, and sponsorship fit
• Social media strategy, LinkedIn for athletes, and safety
• Media training for live hits, profiles, and crises
• Personality, purpose, and causes beyond sport
• Expansion plans across European offices
• Personal quickfire: sport, culture, books, and food

Visit sportforbusiness.com or sign up, subscribe, comment, and share wherever you get your podcasts from

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Kevin Doyle joins us to talk about the buzz after Budapest and the graft that keeps a community club alive. We dig into girls’ football growth, the cost of renting pitches, and how a guaranteed-prize lotto can fund a permanent home.

• The celebration that lifted Irish football spirits
• Stepping from parent coach to club leader
• The weekly grind of facilities and scheduling
• Building girls’ teams and keeping them engaged
• Success defined by smiles, health and friendships
• Pride in underage internationals without chasing odds
• Clarity of purpose for fundraising
• How a €15k guaranteed jackpot actually works
• Reducing risk with prize cover and digital sales
• Long-term plan to buy and develop facilities

You can find out more by visiting clublottojackpots.ie

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We mark a landmark day as the Sport Ireland Campus breaks ground on a €100 million national velodrome and a new badminton centre, blending high-performance ambitions with real community access. Ministers set firm expectations on budgets and delivery while the CEOs of the two sports outline how a home base will transform pathways, participation, and pre‑LA 2028 preparation.

• €100m investment at Sport Ireland Campus
• National velodrome and 12‑court badminton centre
• Ministers set delivery timelines and accountability
• Local access for West Dublin communities prioritised
• Cycling targets structured camps and talent pathways
• Aim for pre‑LA 2028 training camps on-site
• Push for stalled infrastructure projects elsewhere to accelerate

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We explore how the newly titled Laya Arena aims to blend sport, culture and community in the heart of Dublin, and what a true home ground means to players and fans. 

Rebecca Trevor outlines the brand vision, Barry Murphy bridges rugby and music, and Linda Djougang explains how crowd energy becomes performance.

• Decade-long path to Leia Arena naming
• Modular venue design across sport, music and show jumping
• Member-first experiences for 710,000 Laya customers
• National reach beyond Dublin and provincial pride
• Barry Murphy on Irish crowds, gigs and Munster-Leinster battles
• Metallica memories and the RDS as a cauldron
• Linda Djougang on home advantage and sightlines
• World Cup bonds, the 16th player and fan energy
• Growth without losing identity and community feel
• 2026 opening timeline and interprovincial hopes

If you want to come and join us for the Sport for Business Women in Sport Annual Conference, on the morning of Tuesday, December the 9th in Tallaght Stadium find out more at sportforbusiness.com

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

The headline reads like a simple renewal, but the story goes much deeper: Aviva is staying on Ireland’s biggest stage, and we unpack why that matters for fans, partners, and the future of Irish sport. We sit down inside the stadium with the FAI’s Head of Commercial, Sean Kavanagh, and Aviva’s Head of Sponsorship, External Communications and Sustainability, Brian O’Neill, to explore how a naming rights deal became cultural shorthand for big nights in Dublin 4—and how the partnership now stretches from elite fixtures to the kids lacing up their boots.

Sean pulls back the curtain on the FAI’s priorities: making every match feel bigger, smarter, and more welcoming. From dynamic LEDs and smarter in-bowl moments to fan surveys that shape pre-game and halftime, the focus is on engagement that families, new supporters, and die-hards can feel. We get into EURO 2028 and the “Dublin Arena” rules, how category exclusivity keeps partners aligned, and why the League of Ireland is riding genuine momentum—sell-outs, LOITV records, and clubs at the heart of their communities. The women’s game features strongly too, with targeted growth plans and fresh approaches to matchday that meet a different demographic where it is.

Brian charts the evolution from pure brand awareness to measurable value. He explains how social content, competitions, and broadcast reach tie directly to retention and acquisition across general, life, and health insurance. We talk third-party valuations, UK audience spikes for marquee games, and why heritage assets—Aviva’s yellow, the stadium itself—matter for recognition. The sustainability thread runs throughout: recycled materials, water systems, biodiversity around the ground, and programmes like In Her Boots that support girls through the teenage drop-off years. COVID stress-tested the partnership; delivery by the FAI and IRFU, and mutual trust, set the stage for a fresh five-year commitment.

If you care about sport business, fan experience, and how partnerships can drive real community impact, this conversation is a masterclass. Follow the show, share it with a friend who loves Irish sport, and leave a quick review to tell us what you’d like us to explore next.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We break down the 1-0 win over Armenia, the shifting maths in Group F, and the scenarios that could still send Ireland to a playoff and beyond. We also map Northern Ireland’s cleaner path through Bratislava and scan the wider sport landscape from social impact to sponsorship.

Please do visit us at the website or sign up, subscribe, comment, and share wherever you get your podcasts from

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

What happens when a swimmer refuses to settle and a mentor refuses to mail it in? We bring together Olympian Darragh Greene and business leader Pádraic O’Kane to explore how elite performance really works—on the stopwatch, on the balance sheet, and over a career. 

Dara traces his path from a sport‑mad Longford upbringing, through a broken leg that sent him back to the pool, to sub‑60 history in the 100m breaststroke. He lays out the choices behind the results: switching programmes when the ceiling closes in, using lactate‑guided training to personalise pace, and building a four‑year Olympic plan down to daily targets. 

Then he tells the story of the audacious two‑week trial that became six months inside Australia’s toughest squads—higher volume, world‑class teammates, and the pressure that sharpened him for Paris and beyond.

Pádraic adds the view from business and mentorship. He heard Darragh speak at a Longford rugby lunch and turned admiration into action—creating a support plan that blends funding with flexible work, real activation, and a roadmap for life after LA 2028. 

We explore the gap between public funding and actual needs, and why private partners can make a difference when costs exceed stipends. This is not a quick logo deal. It’s patient mentorship, goal setting, and honest conversations about what comes next: entrepreneurship, events, or a role shaped by the water.

If you care about Irish sport, performance, and what it takes to sustain both, this conversation offers a clear blueprint—ask bold questions, choose the right environment, and back talent early in the cycle. Subscribe, share with a friend who mentors or manages athletes, and tell us: what’s one practical way the private sector can support an athlete in your county?

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We examine Shane Ryan’s move toward the Enhanced Games and the strong backlash from Irish sport, exploring what this means for fairness, health, and the future of clean competition. We weigh the promise of transparency against the risks, legal hurdles, and the meaning of sport itself.

• Ryan’s announcement and Las Vegas timeline
• Immediate condemnations from Sport Ireland, Swim Ireland, and OFI
• WADA’s warning on health risk and youth influence
• The harm-reduction argument set against fairness and safety
• Governance fallout and career consequences for athletes
• The ethics of enhancement versus the level playing field
• Legal, insurance, and institutional barriers to the Enhanced Games
• Distinguishing Ryan’s clean past from his new direction
• Key questions about transparency, prohibition, and athlete welfare
• Brief roundup of other Sport for Business stories

Please do visit us at the website or sign up, subscribe, comment, and share wherever you get your podcasts from

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We break down Ireland’s 9% shot at a World Cup playoff using a simple, transparent model, and celebrate five Champions of the Weekend across football, swimming, rugby, and Gaelic games. 

I hope you enjoy all of the content that we see on sportforbusiness.com and look forward to having you back here again on the Sport for Business Daily tomorrow

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Two Munster stories show how smart sponsorships shape jerseys, stadiums, and community impact. We dig into Tipperary’s Clover rebrand with Fiserv, Waterford’s Azzurri Walsh Park deal with Azzurri, and what naming rights mean for fans, facilities, and funding.

• Tipperary renews with Fiserv under Clover brand on county jerseys
• Performance-linked elements and support across senior and underage panels
• FBD Semple Stadium naming rights delivering upgrades and community programmes
• Waterford partners with Azzurri to rename Walsh Park, deepening local ties
• Facility modernisation at Walsh Park is improving safety, media, and fan comfort
• Strategic naming rights as sustainable funding for local sport

We’ve got the full lineup of TV and streaming details on sportforbusiness.com

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Sony acquires a majority stake in StatSports, bringing wearables into a broader stack that already includes Hawkeye and Beyond Sports to build a hybrid tracking future. We also highlight Ireland’s growing sports tech ecosystem, preview Analytics Summit 2025, and scan today’s key headlines.

• StatSports’ journey from Newry startup to global leader in wearables
• Sony’s strategy to fuse optical and wearable data for richer insights
• Impact on Irish sports tech talent, jobs and R&D
• How hybrid tracking could change coaching, medical and fan experiences
• Preview of Analytics Summit 2025 with Kitman Labs
• Dublin Marathon entry changes for 2026
• Budget reactions from Federation of Irish Sport and IRFU
• Funding outlook for horse and greyhound racing
• World Sailing Championships results and daily TV guide
• Where to subscribe and how to get in touch

Please do subscribe wherever you get your podcast from

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We break down Budget 2026 for Irish sport and what it means for national bodies, players, clubs and facilities. We share the numbers, the politics behind them, and where the real gains can land over the next 18 months.

• €10.8m uplift for Sport Ireland and legacy programmes
• Core funding increases for GAA and IRFU
• Targeted support for inter‑county players
• Growth funding for hurling and camogie in new areas
• €3m for League of Ireland academies
• Women’s rugby pathway investment
• High-performance funding steps towards LA 2028
• Velodrome and Badminton Centre to begin in 2026
• LSSIF annual uplift and community facilities progress

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or listen daily at sportforbusiness.com. Get in touch at rob@sportforbusiness.com

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

A new boat, a fresh medal, and a partnership built on trust, this conversation dives straight into how Fintan McCarthy and Philip Doyle are reinventing Irish rowing momentum on the road to LA. 

We pull back the curtain on their whirlwind post-Paris year: Philip navigating shifts in the emergency department before rediscovering his competitive fire, Fintan shifting from lightweight to heavyweight without chasing “dead weight,” and the two of them finding speed after only a handful of rows together. 

The Shanghai story is bigger than a bronze. Fintan and Mags Cremen snatched a world title in the mixed double with a one-spin warm-up, proving that shared technique and fearless execution can trump rehearsal. 

Then comes the moment that hits hardest: Jake McCarthy’s breakthrough podium in the single, a long-awaited result that Fintan counts among his proudest career highlights. 

It’s high performance shaped by real life—family, grief, and the choice to let emotion sharpen, not shake, the blade.

If you’re curious about how elite teams actually build speed—through honest conversations, evidence-led training, and hard-earned trust—you’ll feel right at home here. Join us, subscribe for more candid conversations with Ireland’s best, and leave a review with the one insight you’ll take into your own work or training.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

What if public funding for major sporting events isn’t a gamble at all, but one of the smartest economic levers a country can pull?  The core question remains the same: when do headline costs translate into visitor spending, tax receipts, jobs, global visibility, and a lasting legacy for participation?

We unpack why critics conflate two separate debates—event underwriting versus core domestic sport funding—and show how keeping those ledgers clean actually strengthens both. 

Ireland’s edge is cultural and practical: a natural affinity for sport, cities that events can truly take over, and a hosting reputation that turns first‑time visitors into repeat travellers. 

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share with a friend who loves the business of sport, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find us.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

A week can crown a champion or cut one down. We follow Jim Gavin’s leap from the certainty of silverware to the volatility of a national presidential race, exploring why mastery in sport doesn’t automatically translate to survival in politics—and what that means for anyone tempted to cross the line from the sideline to the ballot box. 

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

What if the kit an athlete wears truly began with the athlete? We pull back the curtain on a partnership built around performance, comfort, and identity—then show how a Craigavon factory turned that ideal into everyday practice for Team Ireland on the road to Brisbane 2032.

We trace the journey from a founder’s small home office in 2004 to a thriving operation producing up to 2,000 garments a week, all while keeping production on Irish soil. 

There’s more across the Irish sports landscape. We spotlight Goal Jersey Day and the families embracing the spirit, preview the domestic basketball season with streaming options for fans who can’t attend arenas, and recap the first Sports Technology Alliance gathering in Dublin. 

If you enjoy smart stories from the commercial world of Irish sport—told with access, context, and clear takeaways—tap follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find us. Got a story we should cover? Email Rob at Sportforbusiness.com and join the conversation.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

European nights can change a season—and a balance sheet. We break down how Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers step into the UEFA Europa Conference League with around €3.8m already secured and a clear path to push total earnings past €5m with a couple of smart results. 

Beyond the headline story, we shine a light on the local heartbeat of Irish sport: multinationals backing GAA clubs, the first speakers for our Sport for Social Good conference, and commercial momentum with BDO extending its relationship with Leinster Rugby. 

Today's show is in partnership with GAA+, raising broadcast standards at home and abroad for our national games.

Listen in each morning for a crisp, five‑minute pulse check on money, matchdays, and meaningful impact. If you enjoy these daily briefings, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend who lives for Irish sport.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We trace Stephen Smith’s journey from analyst at Leinster Rugby to founding Kitman Labs and building league-wide systems that put evidence at the heart of athlete welfare and performance. 

Along the way, we talk friction with tradition, mentorship, scaling globally, and why leagues now see themselves as talent businesses.

• moving from gut feel to objective decision-making in elite sport
• the early friction between medical staff, coaches, and data
• catalysts that proved the model beyond Leinster
• mentors, hiring like a coach, and scaling a team
• relocating to Silicon Valley and learning fast
• first believers: Everton, IRFU, and building a product with customers
• league-wide platforms for medicine, operations, and development
• why competitive balance and talent pathways drive league economics
• culture, home, and perspective between Ireland and California
• quickfire: sport memories, books, music, and a dream dinner table

If you enjoyed the conversation, if you want to know more about what we do at Sport for Business, you can do so at sportforbusiness.com

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic stands as a remarkable testament to sport's power in building bridges between nations. In this revealing conversation with Padraic O'Kane and John Anthony, the visionaries behind this extraordinary event, we discover how a college football game has transformed into a cultural and economic phenomenon that strengthens Irish-American relations in profound ways.

Since its inception with the Notre Dame game in 2012, this sporting spectacle has evolved into something far greater than just a competition. Each year, approximately 24,000 Americans travel to Ireland, staying 7-10 nights to explore their heritage while experiencing college football in a unique setting. The economic impact reaches every corner of the island, benefiting hotels, restaurants, golf courses, and local businesses nationwide.

What makes this event particularly special is its long-term commitment to Ireland. With games confirmed through 2028 and negotiations extending to 2037, the Classic has secured its place as a permanent fixture in both the sporting and cultural calendar. This foresight demonstrates exceptional planning in an era where most international events focus on short-term gains.

Perhaps most touching is the human impact. For over 25 players per team, this represents their first international travel experience, requiring their first passport. Coaches like Marcus Freeman from Notre Dame had never left America before participating. These cultural exchanges create lasting impressions and broader perspectives that transform young athletes into global citizens.

The government's enthusiastic support, including ministerial delegations and Taoiseach announcements, underscores the national importance of this public-private partnership. It has catalyzed approximately 15 annual business and academic events that continue throughout the year, creating lasting connections between Irish and American institutions.

As "Farmageddon" between Kansas State and Iowa State approaches, it promises exceptional competition on the field. But as John Anthony expresses through Maya Angelou's wisdom: "People don't remember what you said, but they remember how you made them feel." The overwhelming Irish welcome leaves American visitors feeling embraced and valued, creating ambassadors who carry their Irish experience back to the United States.

Looking to experience this extraordinary cultural phenomenon firsthand? Limited tickets remain available for this weekend's clash at the Aviva Stadium.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

The gaming revolution is reshaping entertainment, competition, and global business, and G2 Esports CEO Alban Dechelotte is at the forefront of this transformation. 

With gaming now engaging 3.2 billion players worldwide, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into an industry that has grown from niche entertainment to global phenomenon.

Dechelotte shares remarkable insights from his journey from traditional sports sponsorship at Coca-Cola to leading one of esports' most successful organisations. G2 has claimed 12 of 16 League of Legends European championships and built a fanbase that rivals Champions League football clubs on social media - all within just ten years.

What makes this conversation particularly compelling is Dechelotte's vision of convergence between traditional sports and gaming. 

G2 has already expanded into football, with ambitions to enter rugby and other sports. Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee prepares for its inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2027, signalling gaming's mainstream acceptance.

The episode explores how esports organisations approach talent development, combining cutting-edge performance science with traditional coaching methods. 

G2 maintains as many coaching staff as players, focusing on both technical skills and psychological wellbeing. Testing at Red Bull's athletic center has revealed that top esports players demonstrate faster reaction times than Formula One drivers in specific assessments.

Perhaps most intriguing is how gaming's business model contrasts with traditional sports. While established leagues increasingly rely on exclusive media rights and paywalls, esports has democratised distribution, allowing multiple broadcast sources and helping viewership quadruple in recent years.

Whether you're a gaming enthusiast, sports business professional, or simply curious about the future of entertainment, this episode provides essential context for understanding how digital competition is reshaping global culture. Subscribe now and join us next week as we continue exploring gaming and esports with interviews featuring industry leaders from Fenix Gaming and Riot Games.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

What does it take to transform a sporting organisation and earn recognition as National Governing Body of the Year? Enda Lynch shares the journey of Badminton Ireland's growth and success since taking the CEO position two years ago.

From his background in sponsorship at O2 and leadership roles at Munster Rugby, Lynch brings a wealth of insights about building high-performing teams and creating sustainable sporting communities. He reveals how Badminton Ireland has grown from 12,300 to over 17,200 members, with much of that growth coming from ethnic minorities and first-generation Irish residents who are forming communities around the sport they love.

The conversation explores innovative programs like the BadminTeen initiative, which is successfully reducing dropout rates among teenage girls by empowering them to become coaches and club leaders. Lynch also discusses the creative solutions being developed to address facility shortages, including collaboration with other indoor sports to unlock access to school halls across the country.

What stands out most is Lynch's philosophy on leadership – "Surround yourself with people who know more than you do" – and his emphasis on accountability at every level of the organisation. He offers a refreshingly honest take on the challenges facing sporting bodies in Ireland, from funding constraints to staff retention, while remaining optimistic about the potential for continued growth through community-focused sponsorships and digital innovation.

Whether you're involved in sports administration or simply interested in how organisations achieve breakthrough success, this conversation offers valuable lessons on leadership, community building, and creating sustainable sporting pathways. Subscribe to the Sport for Business podcast for more insights from leaders across the Irish sporting landscape.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Kevin White's remarkable journey from accidental high school coach to the upper echelons of American collegiate athletic administration unfolds with warmth and wisdom in this captivating conversation. Recorded at Fire Restaurant in Dublin, White reflects on how family circumstances unexpectedly launched him and his wife Jane into coaching careers that would ultimately lead to leadership roles at some of America's most prestigious universities.

What began as a temporary teaching position while caring for his terminally ill father blossomed into a nine-year coaching career followed by 38 years as an athletics director across institutions like Notre Dame, Arizona State, and Duke. Throughout this conversation, White reveals how his recently published autobiography "The Good Sport" has reconnected him with athletes from across five decades, reinforcing the profound impact sports leadership can have on young people's development.

The discussion explores fascinating contrasts between American college sports and European models, with White sharing insights from his time consulting with Maynooth University in the early 1990s when they considered implementing American-style athletics programs. His perspective on the economic impact of collegiate sports—contributing to what he estimates as a trillion-dollar domestic sports economy—highlights just how embedded these programs are in American cultural identity.

Perhaps most compelling is White's candid assessment of the current challenges facing collegiate athletics, particularly regarding Name, Image and Likeness compensation. His concern that the system is being built "while the plane is in the air" reflects the unprecedented territory college sports now occupies, shifting rapidly from strict amateurism to what he describes as essentially a "play-for-pay" model without proper guardrails.

Whether you're fascinated by sports management, leadership development, or the economic forces shaping athletics globally, White's distillation of leadership into four fundamental characteristics—empathy, task orientation, adaptability, and passion—offers invaluable wisdom for anyone in a position of influence. His story serves as both inspiration and cautionary tale for the future of sports administration.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

The economic powerhouse of Irish golf takes centre stage in this bonus podcast episode with the leaders behind a groundbreaking new economic impact study. 

What does a sport contribute when it delivers €717 million annually to the economy, supports 15,600 jobs, and returns seventeen times more to government coffers than it receives?

Professor Simon Shibli from Sheffield Hallam University breaks down the meticulous six-month research process that uncovered what he calls "the holy trinity" of economic indicators. His findings show golf represents 14% of all sport-related consumer spending in Ireland, with approximately €1 in every €200 of discretionary spending somehow connected to the sport. The contribution is so substantial that golf's economic impact is measurable within the context of the entire Irish economy, not just the sporting sector.

Perhaps most striking is the phenomenal growth trajectory, with participation increasing 86% over nine years. Mark Kennelly, CEO of Golf Ireland, explains how this growth spans both traditional club memberships and newer, more accessible formats of the game. With 22% of non-golfers expressing interest in trying the sport, representing a potential audience of over one million people, the ceiling for further growth seems limitless.

The conversation extends beyond participation numbers, with Robert Oxley from the R&A discussing the upcoming Open Championship at Royal Portrush, one of many prestigious events coming to Irish shores, and tantalising hints about future Open Championships potentially being held in the Republic of Ireland.

Whether you're a golf enthusiast, business leader, or policymaker, this episode provides evidence of how a single sport can drive significant economic activity while simultaneously delivering health, social, and community benefits. Listen now to understand why golf might just be Ireland's most valuable sporting asset.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

The digital revolution sweeping through sports broadcasting has long been central to thinking and planning for the future in the GAA.

As the Football and Hurling championships reach their climax, the way fans experience these games has undergone a dramatic transformation through GAA+, the streaming service, which brings more matches to more screens than ever before.

In this week's Sport for Business Podcast Noel Quinn, Director of GAA+, takes us behind the scenes of the evolution from serving the diaspora to becoming a cornerstone of domestic championship coverage. 

"We've tripled the number of games compared to linear traditional broadcast partners," Quinn explains, with GAA+ delivering an unprecedented 42 championship matches across 13 action-packed weekends. More significantly, the service has broadened coverage to over 30 counties, giving exposure to teams that traditionally received little broadcast attention.

The journey hasn't been without challenges. From technical delivery across various platforms to shifting consumer expectations around paywalls, GAA+ has navigated the complex transition from emergency pandemic solution to established broadcast platform. Quinn shares fascinating insights into how they've developed a distinctive production style that differs from traditional broadcasters, featuring pitch-side analysis, on-field demonstrations, drone cameras, and a commentary team of recently retired players bringing fresh perspectives.

What emerges is a vision of sports broadcasting that balances innovation with tradition. While embracing digital delivery and creating bite-sized content for social platforms, GAA+ remains committed to the values that make Gaelic games special. 

"We are essentially guided by our subscribers," Quinn reflects, while emphasizing that broadcast strategy must complement rather than compete with attendance. The construction of a new Croke Park studio and expanded weekly programming suggests this is just the beginning of a transformation in how Irish sports are consumed in the digital age.

Whether you're fascinated by the business of sports, interested in digital media trends, or simply a GAA fan wanting to understand how championship coverage is evolving, this week's episode offers valuable perspective on a pivotal moment in Irish sports broadcasting. The digital revolution isn't just changing how we watch – it's expanding what we can watch, bringing more of our games to more people than ever before.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

The sporting pitch has long been a battleground for social progress, and few fronts have been more challenging than the inclusion of LGBTQI+ individuals. In this thoughtful conversation, Jim McIlroy of Bohemian FC's Gay Bohs offers a candid look at what genuine inclusion means in Irish football today.

Founded in 2016 after Bohemian FC publicly supported marriage equality, Gay Bohs reclaimed a slur and transformed it into a symbol of pride. Since 2017, Dalymount Park has flown the Pride flag at every match—the only League of Ireland ground to do so. "That simple step made me feel a little bit more at ease," reflects McIlroy, "showing support, showing solidarity."

The stark reality remains that LGBTQI+ participation in sport lags significantly behind the general population. Research reveals that around 55% of LGBT individuals aren't active enough to maintain good health, compared to much lower figures for others. McElroy explains how many queer people gravitate toward solitary sports rather than team environments, where "locker room culture" can feel unwelcoming.

Most concerning is what McIlroy describes as a societal pendulum swinging back from progress: "We're probably at a point on that journey that is particularly challenging for LGBTQI+ people, particularly for transgender people." Despite Ireland having diversity policies and inclusion strategies, McElroy warns about "pinkwashing" and the creation of documents without meaningful change. "It's not enough to say, 'Oh well, we did the survey and that's it, it's done,'" he cautions. "We're setting ourselves up to do a lot of hard work over the next five, ten years."

This conversation arrives at a pivotal moment when corporations are quietly withdrawing support for Pride events and sporting bodies face pressure to roll back inclusive policies. McIlroy's powerful call for allyship reminds us that progress requires courage: "Now is the time for people to show their true colours and support."

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

When Aidan Walsh stepped away from swimming and water polo as a young man, he didn't see anyone who represented him in sport. The locker room culture, casual homophobic language dismissed as "banter," and complete absence of visible LGBTQI+ role models created an environment where he couldn't bring his full self to the activities he loved.

Fast forward to today, and Aidan is at the forefront of transforming Irish sport as a key figure with Sporting Pride, an organisation now in its ninth year of creating safer, more inclusive spaces where everyone feels they belong. Their work spans awareness campaigns, community outreach, and partnerships with Sport Ireland, national governing bodies, and local sports partnerships.

During our conversation, Aidan unpacks two groundbreaking initiatives making real impact across Ireland. The "Let's Get Visible" campaign encourages clubs and organisations to visibly demonstrate support during Pride Month through rainbow laces, inclusive signage, and participation in pride events. Meanwhile, an innovative advocacy programme with Clare Sports Partnership is training local LGBTQI+ advocates to be voices for inclusion within their own clubs – creating that crucial personal connection that humanizes inclusion efforts.

We explore the power of allyship in challenging locker room culture and how having visible supporters within sports clubs creates safe spaces for LGBTQI+ athletes. Aidan emphasizes how important it is for teammates to speak up when they hear homophobic language: "It's constantly people standing up and saying that wasn't the right thing to do."

The conversation also highlights the thriving network of over 45 LGBTQI+ sports clubs across Ireland that provide welcoming environments where people can connect with others like themselves while enjoying the physical and mental health benefits of sport. Many of these clubs offer pathways back into sport for those who stepped away due to feeling unwelcome.

Looking ahead, Aidan envisions a sporting landscape where every young LGBTQI+ person sees someone like them in sport – playing, coaching, or leading – and where inclusion is embedded in how clubs operate year-round, not just during Pride Month.

Ready to become a better ally? Visit sportingpride.ie to find resources for making your sports organisation more inclusive and welcoming for all.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Keith Shorten invites us inside the commercial engine room of Ulster Rugby, revealing how his unlikely path from KPMG accountant to global entertainment executive with AEG perfectly prepared him for the challenges of provincial rugby. 

The Head of Commercial shares candid insights about arriving at Ulster during a perfect storm of change - the conclusion of their long-standing Kingspan partnership, a head coach departure, and CEO transition all within his first three months. Rather than being deterred, Shorten's background working with iconic venues like the O2 Arena and Hyde Park Festivals helped him navigate these waters while bringing fresh perspective to Ulster's commercial strategy.

What really shines through is the fascinating collaborative relationship between fiercely competitive Irish rugby provinces. While Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht battle for supremacy on the pitch, their commercial teams work closely behind the scenes. "Four voices are very much stronger than one," Shorten explains, as they tackle common challenges together.

The conversation reveals Ulster's commitment to growing women's rugby and the commercial opportunities it presents. We also discovered how Shorten helped create Ulster Rugby's thriving Business Club, which consistently attracts 150 attendees representing 100+ companies.

Between reflections on his personal rugby journey (including memories of carrying Cornettos and celebrating Ulster's 1999 European triumph), Shorten shares exciting developments, including the new SAM Mouldings shirt sponsorship and a soon-to-be-revealed stadium naming rights partner. 

Ready to discover the business beyond the rugby pitch? 

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

The sporting landscape for women and girls in Ireland has transformed dramatically, but maintaining this momentum requires continued investment, strategic vision, and cultural change. In this illuminating conversation, Michelle Tanner – Chair of Sport Ireland's Women in Sport Committee and Head of Sport at Trinity College Dublin – takes us through the journey that's reshaping Irish sport from grassroots to governance.

Michelle shares her formative experiences growing up in north Dublin, where community-based sporting activities shaped her understanding of leadership and teamwork. From teaching herself camogie alongside her daughter to coaching volleyball teams, her personal journey mirrors the evolving relationship between women and sport in Ireland. As she puts it: "I just always knew that I wanted to work in sport, at a time when it wasn't recognised as a profession."

The recent announcement of an additional €4 million in government funding marks twenty years of dedicated investment in women's sport initiatives. While celebrating this milestone, Michelle highlights how the focus has matured from simply encouraging participation to building sustainable pathways for women's involvement as coaches, officials, and leaders. "We need to be looking at how we can sustain those programs," she emphasizes, "because we can't take a foot off the pedal when it comes to funding for women and girls."

At Trinity College, Michelle oversees a thriving sports program engaging 60% of the university's 22,000 students. This environment serves as a proving ground for female leadership, with women increasingly taking key roles within clubs – not just in traditional administrative positions but as performance directors and coaches. These experiences cultivate the confidence and skills needed to challenge persistent barriers in the broader sporting sector.

Despite significant progress in both grassroots participation and board-level representation, Michelle acknowledges that challenges remain, particularly in coaching and middle management. She advocates for "male allyship" and systemic changes to create truly inclusive sporting cultures where gender diversity becomes the norm rather than the exception.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion on how strategic investment, cultural shifts, and dedicated leadership are transforming women's sport in Ireland – and what's needed to ensure this progress continues for generations to come.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Nancy Chillingworth reveals the extraordinary journey of Team Ireland to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. As Chef de Mission, she's orchestrating a team of up to eight athletes competing across seven winter disciplines - despite Ireland having neither mountains nor snow to train on.

The podcast takes us behind the scenes of Olympic preparation, exploring how Irish winter athletes train globally from Korea to Canada while still maintaining a unified team culture. Nancy shares fascinating insights into the logistical challenges of an Olympics spread across northern Italy's Alpine region, and how Team Ireland is tackling them through innovative international collaboration with Denmark and Iceland.

We discover athletes like cross-country skier Thomas Maloney Westgard, who achieved an impressive 14th place in Beijing despite battling COVID, and learn how short track skaters and alpine specialists represent Ireland on the world stage. Nancy's passion for building team identity shines through as she explains her philosophy: "Success breeds success if you feel invested in it."

The conversation explores how permanent ice facilities in Ireland could transform winter sports participation, with young athletes already showing impressive potential through youth competitions. Nancy shares personal insights about her journey in Olympic sport, revealing what drives her commitment to Irish athletes competing in unlikely disciplines.

Whether you're a winter sports enthusiast or simply curious about Olympic preparation, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into how a nation without traditional winter sports infrastructure can still compete at the highest level through determination, creativity, and international cooperation. Don't miss Nancy's delight in small team advantages: "When you have a small team, you can get really specific in what's needed."

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

The digital revolution is reshaping sport in ways we couldn't have imagined just a decade ago. From wearable technology tracking every heartbeat, to AI analyzing performance metrics, to new platforms transforming how fans engage with their favorite teams – the future of sport is being written in code.

Dr. Kieron Collins of Technological University Dublin stands at this exciting intersection of tradition and innovation. As leader of the postgraduate diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology and Innovation, he's helping to position Ireland as a global hub for sports technology while developing the talent that will drive this revolution forward.

"Sport is this broad ecosystem of sport, health, community, social," explains Collins. "We look at the kids, how they consume sport. They don't attend events the same way that their parents have done. They consume it very differently – through TikTok, short video clips, and creating sharing communities on Reddit or other platforms."

The program, supported by Digital Skillnet and SportsTech Ireland, attracts a fascinating mix of participants: sports tech entrepreneurs, C-suite executives seeking strategic advantage, coaches looking to leverage data, and former athletes transitioning to the business side. What unites them is a passion for sport and a desire to understand how technology can enhance it rather than replace its fundamental human elements.

Collins takes a refreshingly practical approach to innovation, focusing on what he calls "McGyvering solutions" – finding creative ways to solve real-world problems by bringing together siloed information, creating more efficient processes, and ensuring technology serves human needs rather than the other way around. When discussing artificial intelligence, he emphasises that success isn't about the latest models but about the "last mile" of implementation within organizations.

For those concerned that technology might be "wrecking" the purity of sport, Collins offers a reassuring perspective: "It's just a tool. It's how you utilise it. It can stay in your toolbox, you may never use it, but it requires a skill set to use it." Technology doesn't replace the joy of movement or the expertise of experienced coaches – it provides additional information to make better decisions.

Want to be part of this transformation? Applications are now open for the September intake. Search "sport analytics technology and innovation" to find the TU Dublin website and application details.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

The path from Olympic glory to meaningful leadership isn't straightforward, but Aifric Keogh is navigating it with the same determination that earned her bronze in Tokyo. 

As the newly elected Chair of the Olympic Federation of Ireland's Athletes Commission, she's setting out to create and articulate a vision for athlete representation at the highest levels.

"Sometimes it's people doing great work, driving policies, making change, getting funding, but sometimes the actual athletes' concerns and opinions get lost," Keogh explains, pinpointing exactly why her role matters. 

With nine athletes representing sports from team pursuits to individual disciplines like luge, the commission aims to bridge critical gaps between those competing and those administrating.

Keogh's personal journey adds depth to her perspective. She shares candid reflections on Tokyo's triumph – "one of the best teams I've ever worked in" – contrasted with Paris disappointment that she acknowledges will "take years to process." This honesty about sport's emotional extremes makes her uniquely qualified to advocate for athletes navigating similar challenges.

Perhaps most compelling is Keogh's transparency about transitioning from elite competition to corporate life through JP Morgan's athlete program. "Sport doesn't last forever," she acknowledges, describing the jarring shift from being at her career peak to "knowing absolutely nothing" in a new environment. Her observations about seeking feedback and applying the principle of consistency reveal the universal struggles athletes face when building second careers.

Throughout our conversation, her intelligence and thoughtfulness shine through – whether discussing the Galway sporting landscape, lessons from disappointment, or her eclectic fantasy dinner party with Ronan O'Gara, Taylor Swift, and President Zelensky. 

Her combination of sporting excellence, leadership potential, and authentic humanity promises a powerful voice for Ireland's Olympic athletes in the years ahead.

Want to hear more inspiring stories from Irish sport? Subscribe to the Sport for Business podcast and join us at our upcoming events, including the PWC 30 Under 30 breakfast, League of Ireland Breakfast, and Business of Golf event.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Patrick Nelson's journey from trainee computer programmer to guiding Northern Ireland football through nearly two decades of transformation reveals how sport can change a nation's cultural landscape. As CEO of the Irish Football Association, he's witnessed firsthand the unifying power of football, particularly during Euro 2016 – what he calls "the best period of my working life."

The newly christened Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park forms the backdrop for our conversation about football's remarkable ability to bridge divides in Northern Irish society. "Football happened on a Saturday, people got together, they played their games, they shook hands at the end and moved on," Patrick recalls of even the most challenging periods. This commitment to connection extends beyond football, with Patrick regularly meeting his counterparts at Ulster Rugby and Ulster GAA to strengthen cross-sport collaboration.

While the disappointment of missing out on hosting Euro 2028 at Casement Park lingers, Patrick remains characteristically forward-focused. He's championing Belfast's role in the ambitious bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup – a vision that would see "girls who are currently dreaming of wearing that green shirt turning out on that pitch in 10 years' time." Through personal anecdotes about his first football match (a remarkable 14-1 victory), his passion for skiing, and his direct management style, we glimpse the person behind Northern Irish football's impressive progress. Subscribe now to discover how sport continues to transform communities across the island of Ireland.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Maeve McMahon is the CEO of OFX in Ireland, with a remit covering half the world and a passion for sport.  

The company is the sponsor of the OFX Legends Golf event at Mount Juliet this week and Maeve also sits on the Board of the FAI.  

We had time to sit and chat recently, after a few holes of golf on the Jack Nicklaus designed course, and the conversation moves across, sport, business and in the end with Severiano Ballesteros.

I think you'll enjoy it.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

This week's episode of the Sport for Business Podcast focuses on the historic upcoming test match between the British and Irish Lions and Argentina, taking place June 20th at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin—the first time the Lions will play a full test match on Irish soil.

Key Highlights:

• Cultural & Historical Significance:
  • The British and Irish Lions hold a unique place in rugby, steeped in tradition yet evolving into a modern, commercially savvy enterprise.
  • The Lions brand continues to resonate deeply with fans, particularly in Ireland, where debates over player selection are a passionate talking point.
• Reflections on the 2021 South Africa Tour:
  • Played in the midst of the pandemic, the tour was marked by strict bubbles, no fans, and social unrest in South Africa.
• The "Secret Sauce" of the Lions:
  • A unique mix of elite performance, rival players uniting, camaraderie, and deep emotional connection.
  • The Lions defy modern sports marketing trends by maintaining relevance with a quadrennial schedule and a sense of community in an increasingly polarized world.
• Commercial Strategy:
  • Instead of selling sponsorship tiers, the Lions focus on aligning with partners' goals—offering everything from hospitality to fan engagement via digital platforms.
  • Building long-term partner relationships rather than one-off promotional deals.
• Andy Farrell as Head Coach:
  • Chosen for his leadership qualities and ability to unify players quickly. He’s known for focus, discipline, and making "the main thing the main thing."
• Dublin Test Match Logistics:
  • Coordinated calendar adjustments across rugby unions made it possible.
  • The match will help fans who can’t travel see the Lions live, offer commercial benefits, and serve as a critical pre-tour performance fixture.
• Roadmap to the 2025 Tour:
  • Key milestones include announcing assistant coaches, selecting the squad, and gradually building public engagement.
  • The Lions aim to keep momentum going across a full two-year lead-up to the tour.

Overall, the episode offers a mix of nostalgia, strategic insight, and excitement for the Lions' future—blending tradition with modern sports business savvy.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

This week's episode is an interview with Benny Cullen, the Head of Research and Innovation at Sport Ireland.

Benny has been a regular on the show and when the Irish Sports Monitor was published it was an easy call to make to get his valuable insight.

He asks the questions, the answers to which help guide sports policy in the long term.  It is a vital piece of work in enhancing how we structure sport so that we can become a participation nation, and provide the foundation for all that flows from increased levels of sport and physical activity.

He also has a love of music from Mozart to Metallica, which we will get to...

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In this week's Sport for Business Podcast we are chatting with Hannah Dingley, Head of Women's and Girl's Football at the Football Association of Ireland.

As a coach she made history become the first female manager of an English Football League team with Forest Green and now she is trying to make a difference for the generations yet unborn that are coming to football in the years to come.

We have an international team that has made it to a first world Cup, a domestic league that is growing in stature and a well of enthusiasm as deep as you could hope for.

We talk about the new strategy that she has just launched and how that might be executed over the next couple of years, and how it integrates with the overall approach to the sport.

And we also find out about her growing affection for Ladies Gaelic Football and more...

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In this week's Sport for Business Podcast we are chatting with Lynne Cantwell, the newly appointed Head of Women's Strategy at the Irish Rugby Football Union.

The conversation was recorded live at the Sport for Business Sporting Year Ahead 2025 with Teneo a few weeks back.

Lynne is a legend of the game here with Grand Slams and World Cup appearances to her credit.  She took that drive and leadership with her when she hung up her boots, Chairing the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Committee and working to develop the South African Women's Game before coming home for this new role.

She has an intelligence and an empathy that I think shone through in this chat and ineed whenever you have the pleasure to meet her.

We talk about the upcoming Guinness Six Nations, the Rugby World Cup in the autumn, the development of the game in Ireland and more.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Welcome to the Sport for Business POdcast where this week we are chatting media, sponsorship and sport with Paul Henderson, the CEO of dmg media which is home to brands including the Irish Daily Mail, EVOKE, Extra.ie, Business Plus and more.

We talk about the world of digital media and the attention span we need to compete for.

About the new partnership between EVOKE and the Irish Women's Rugby team and about the value that media partnerships can bring to sport.

We also riff on Liverpool's comeback in Istanbul, the power of sport as a child and the idea of JFK, Marilyn Monroe and Albert Einstein sitting down to lunch in Chapter One...

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In this week's episode of the show we bring you a three for one deal.  

League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon, SSE Airtricity Head of Sponsorship Ashley Morrow and FAI Commercial Director Sean Kavanagh all dropped by at the launch of the 2025 League of Ireland and filled us in on some of the reasons why this promises to be a year of great excitement.

We talk broadcast deals and sponsorship activations, the buzz surrounding the clubs after last season's climax and plenty more.

The League campaign for the SSE Airtricity Man's Premier and First divisions gets under way on Valentine's Day and the Irish sporting public is falling in love with the domestic game.  

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In this week's Sport for Business Podcast we are chatting with David Courell, CEO of the FAI in a conversation that was recorded live at the Sport for Business Sporting Year Ahead 2025 with Teneo a few weeks back.

We talk about every aspect of the role from selecting international managers to managing relationships with government, about the need for more facilities and the excitement of the League of Ireland going from strength to strength.

Plenty of detail and plenty of hope for a bright future.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In this week's Sport for Business Podcast we are chatting with Gordon D'Arcy, one of Ireland's most decorated Rugby internationals and now a man of many parts in the worlds of business media and life.

We talk about a career in which professional rugby grew up and touch upon the benefits and the sometime drawbacks of those changes; of reaching a state where everything goes right in a match, of the challenge of moving back into real life at the end of his playing career and plenty more.

We finish as ever with a round of quick fire questions the answers to which include a trip to watch Arsenal play football, memories of a Wexford great in Gaelic Games and a table of friends...

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In the latest episode of the Sport for Business Podcast we are chatting with Irish athlete and European Champion Ciara Mageean.

She really is as likable a person as she comes across in her media engagements and we talk about her career, the highs and the lows, as well as the role of role models and the small matter of an invitation to meet the Pope as the result of a previous podcast...

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In this week's Sport for Business Podcast we are chatting with Eimear O'Sullivan, the Corporate Affairs Director of Lidl Ireland.

The reason for kicking off the year here is the launch of Lidl's partnership for the year ahead with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association.

This is a sponsorship which has worked so well in so many ways and we explore the reasons why that might have been and continues to be the case.

We dive into the detail of fresh research into the importance of seeing the stars of the sport and getting to know them, and why sport is so important as part of the retailers marketing mix.

We finish as ever with a round of quick fire questions the answers to which include two Presidents, a very popular band from the 70's and the trauma of a B Final Penalty shoot out.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In this week's Sport for Business Podcast we are looking back on the summer of sport in Paris with the man who was at the heart of making it possible.

Gavin Noble is responsible for Marketing and Communications at the Olympic Federation of Ireland but he is also the Chef de Mission for Team Ireland heading to Paris this year and already planning for LA in 2028.

We find out what that entails, how he goes about ensuring every obstacle is reduced and every opportunity enhanced from the villages of the athletes to the Olympic Village itself, in terms of kit, transport and the small matter of buying in the best air conditioning.

It is a master class in logistics told with humour and the appreciation of those who helped around him.

We finish as ever with a round of quick fire questions which might help you to find a path to the top in your own chosen field.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In the latest episode of the podcast we chat with Matthew Dowling, a year into his role as Chief Commercial Officer at Leinster Rugby and relishing the complexity and the excitement of it.

On Croke Park

"So obviously we didn't have full control over over pricing. We don't always, but we tried to and our ticketing team are so experienced that they were able to kind of say, listen, if we keep this to the right price, we reckon we can get there."

On Sponsorship

"The amount of our commercial revenue that comes from partnerships, sponsorships, and ticketing is so high that you need to make sure you get those right because they're your bread and butter, but you have to look at other things that will future proof the club and you have to look at other things that will drive the club forward."

On Social Media

"We've grown our social engagement significantly in terms of social media. So I think last year we did nearly 40 million video views and obviously a lot of those are the big moments that people would be familiar with, but we've gradually tried to bring more and more focus on the women's game and the school's game. We've got some interesting stuff coming up in that space soon."

And plenty more as well including we finish off with our starters for ten, getting to know Matthew a little better.

Join us next week when Team Ireland Chef de Mission from the Olympic Games in Paris will be our guest, until then have a great week and thanks for listening.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 92nd episode of the Sport for Business podcast we are chatting with Stephen King about the announcement that KPMG is renewing it's partnership with the KPMG Women's Irish Open for another three years.

They were a key element in bringing the tournament back onto the schedule after an abeyance of a decade and the success over the past three years is evidenced by this renewal.

We talk about why it is important for a professional services company to be involved in sporting partnerships, the lessons that have been learned over the past three years, the new date on the calendar for the tournament from 2025 and plenty more.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

We are back on the subject of sponsorship in today's 91st episode of the Sport for Business podcast.

I'm delighted to be joined by Kevin Kent of Laya Healthcare to take about their new campaign - We are one Always which has the ambitious aim of using sport to combat loneliness.

There are some great insights and research into the subject and we talk about bringing those to life, working with Leinster, Munster and Connacht Rugby and their players and plenty more.

According to Chartable, we have risen to the Top 12 of home-produced Irish sports podcasts, which is humbling. Thanks for taking the time to listen.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

For Episode 90 of the Sport for Business Podcast, we headed to the heart of Government. We had a wide-ranging conversation with Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education, and an Gaeltacht.

Recorded in his office within the labyrinthine corridors of Leinster House, nothing was off the table from his own entry into politics, getting to the matches of his children and his wife, the Government record on the funding of sport and its relationship with the sporting sector, especially the FAI and its new permanent CEO David Courell.

As a lifetime fan of Drogheda United, there are exciting times ahead with a Sports Direct FAI Cup Final to look forward to and the small matter of an upcoming election.

It is a peak behind the curtain of life in Government and the life of the Minister who is central to the funding and the future of sport in Ireland. 

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

It was a morning to learn, engage, and be inspired. Our Children and Sport conference, held in the foothills of the Dublin mountains, drew an audience of those working in the space and those who are attracted to helping and making a difference.

Dr Fiona Chambers was perhaps the most uncomplicated interview I have ever done on stage, brimming with enthusiasm and ideas on subjects as diverse and yet related as digital nativism, values fluency and the superpower that can come from engaging with future generations on their terms.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 88th episode of the Sport for Business Podcast, we focus on the Amgen Irish Open, which will take place at Royal County Down between September 12th and 15th.

We are joined by the Tournament Director, Paul Gillmon, who invites us inside the ropes to look at what it takes to put on a major sporting tournament on the shore of the Irish Sea in Newcastle County Down.

We chat about preparing the course, building the facilities for a crowd like few others on the Tour, and some of the stars that will be there to light up the weekend.

Our Golf Series Coverage is in partnership with KPMG, sponsors of the Women’s Irish Open. 

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

It was only for a few minutes, but it was still great to spend time with Rhasidat Adeleke as she came down from the high of Paris 2024, with a whole new life as a full-time professional athlete laid out before her.

We spoke about the impact of the Olympics, village life, how she handles being involved in commercial partnerships, and whether she is still using her Gold phone from the athlete 'goodie bag'.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 86th episode of the Sport for Business Podcast, we are diving back into questions of leadership and the future.  


I’m joined by Warren Deutrom the CEO of Cricket Ireland and proud to be getting stuck in, after recent announcements, to planning for a future with a national cricket stadium; a World Cup coming to Dublin and Ireland in 2030; the possibility of an Olympics appearance two years earlier and growing the sport towards a six-figure level of participation.

We chat about the journey towards the stadium, a new strategic plan to deliver across a number of key areas and the magic of an Olympic dream for every irish batter, bowler and fielder.

Our Leadership Series Coverage is in partnership with PwC and we have a great line up of interviews coming down the tracks over the coming weeks.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 85th episode of the Sport for Business podcast, we continue our short series of interviews in advance of the Paralympic Games, which will get underway in Paris on August 28th.

Next up is Shot Putter Mary Fitzgerald, who will thrive on the energy of a full stadium, friends, and family in Paris.

An occupational therapist with Enable Ireland in the day job and one of our leading para-athletes ready to shine in the Stade de France.

Our Paralympic Coverage is sponsored by our Partners PTSB and Allianz and we will be reporting daily from Paris over the duration of the games.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 84th episode of the Sport for Business Podcast, we continue our short series of interviews in advance of the Paralympic Games, which will begin in Paris on August 28th.

Next up is the lively spirit that is sprinter Orla Comerford, the visually impaired athlete working in the visual arts and running faster than ever heading to Paris.

We chat about her Tokyo experience and how she is looking forward to Paris in so many different ways.

Our Paralympic Coverage is sponsored by our Partners PTSB and Allianz and we will be reporting daily from Paris over the duration of the games.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 83rd episode of the Sport for Business Podcast, we continue our short series of interviews before the Paralympic Games, which will get underway in Paris on August 28th.

Next up is Ana Maia, a crucial member of the team behind the team in Paris and the Classification Manager of Paralympics Ireland.

Over the next 15 minutes, we will guide you through what it means when you see an S11 or a T54 classification at a Paralympics event, helping you to understand what you will be watching more fully.

Our Paralympic Coverage is sponsored by our Partners PTSB and Allianz and we will be reporting daily from Paris over the duration of the games.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 82nd episode of the show, back after a short Olympic fuelled summer break, we are diving into the world of Formula One, and the position of an Irish company at its very highest level.

Colin Westcott-Pitt is the Global Chief Brand Officer at Glanbia Performance Nutrition, and his signature is only just dry on a deal with the McLaren F1 team.

Glanbia is now fuelling the drivers who are flying around the tracks, making life-and-death decisions in microseconds, and very much needing to be at the top of their game.

We chat about the role of nutrition in that high-octane environment, about the business, but also about the old days of James Hunt, when the driver was perhaps more about the high life than the details of high-performance prep, and, of course, about what Zac Brown is like to work with…

Our Leadership Series Coverage is in partnership with PwC, and we have a great line-up of interviews coming down the track over the coming weeks.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 81st episode of the show, we are kicking off a short series of interviews with Team Ireland members who will represent us in the Stade de France as part of the Athletics team at the Paralympic Games.

First up is 1500-metre runner Greta Streimikyte, who is ready to compete in her third Paralympic Games after coming to Ireland from Lithuania.

Our Paralympic Coverage is sponsored by our Partners PTSB and Allianz and we will be reporting daily from Paris over the duration of the games.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 80th episode of the show, we are back on the Road to Paris.

Our guests are Beibhinn Parsons and Harry McNulty, who hope to be stars of the Irish Rugby Sevens teams. They are coming off a great year and heading to the Stade de France with genuine medal ambitions.

TritonLake became the title sponsor of the Ireland Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams in June 2021 and is delighted to continue supporting and celebrating the success of both teams this season and in the coming season. 

Our Olympic and Paralympic Coverage is sponsored by our Partners PTSB and we are enjoying bringing these human stories of those we will be cheering for at the games.

We have had some great interviews over recent weeks so if you are new dive in and take a listen.

If the commercial world of sport interests you, join us at Sportforbusiness.com, where we bring you the news and the personalities and bring you together at special events on a wide range of subjects that matter.

For now though let’s get into our conversations, first of all with Beibhinn Parsons and then with Harry McNulty

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 79th episode of the show, we are again focused on the Sport for Business PwC 30 Under 30.

The 2024 intake came together in recent weeks, and this is the second in a short series of interviews with those who have shown the potential to be leaders in our industry for years to come.

We are joined by Craig Derham who could have been gracing the pitch at Elland Road or Richmond Park but instead has forged a career on the marketing and events side of sport with the team at Verve the Live Agency.

We have had some great interviews over recent weeks so if you are new dive in and take a listen.

If you like the commercial world of sport, join us at Sportforbusiness.com, where we bring you the news and the personalities and bring you together at special events on a wide range of subjects that matter.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 78th episode of the show, we are firmly on our Olympic Pathway, chatting to James O’Callaghan, the Performance Director at Irish Sailing and a man with a real passion for the Games.

We chat about Ireland’s three boats, the sailors in them and their journeys both to Marseilles and beyond.

There are some great lessons to be learned about resilience, the love of a dog and the healthy concern that we will be able to cope should success come on the water this summer.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 77th episode of the Sport for Business Podcast, we are focused on the Sport for Business PwC 30 Under 30.

 The 2024 intake came together in recent weeks, and this is the first in a short series of interviews with those who have shown the potential to be leaders in our industry for years to come.

We are joined by Michelle Davoren, a master's Graduate in Sustainability, a former European Parliament public servant, a former worker with the Green Party, a business founder, a ladies' football champion with Dublin and Kilmacud Crokes, and, of late, a communications expert with Wilson Hartnell.

It’s a rollercoaster of a career and an entertaining listen

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 76th episode of the Sport for Business Podcast, we are chatting with David McHugh, the newly minted captain of Wasserman’s Irish operation, founder of Line Up Sports, friend, mentor, and commercial adviser to a host of Irish sporting stars including Tadgh Furlong, Paul O’Donovan and Kellie Harrington.

We talk about what that role means in terms of his relationship with clients, about the power of sport and the special way in which the Irish public engages with its favourite personalities.

An interesting conversation from behind the spotlight and one I think you’ll enjoy.

We met up at the offices of Wasserman in Ireland, before the new branding has even gone up, surrounded by the jerseys and memorabilia of a life in sport.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

In today's 75th episode of the show, we are chatting about sponsorship with Daragh Persse, the founder of the Brand Fans and the driving force behind the establishment last week of the European Sponsorship Association or ESA’s first fully-fledged national extension ESA Ireland.

Daragh’s credentials in the game are impeccable having worked with Vodafone on GAA, F1 and more, as well as Rights Holders like Arsenal FC, Dublin GAA and many more.

We talk about why sponsorship is such a fast-growing and ever more important element of the marketing mix, we name-check many of those doing great work here and we talk about Ireland’s sponsorship excellence on the European stage.

Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com

We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.

Our upcoming live events, including our Future Proofing Sport session on June 10th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

Hello and welcome to the Sport for Business Podcast.

I’m your host Rob Hartnett and In today's 74th episode of the show, we are chatting with the man who is in charge of guiding PTSB’s partnership with Team Ireland, the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, Ger Mitchell.