Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----although I can fairly nag, moan and whinge when I want to.

As we all know, sport is a rich tapestry made up of professionals, amateurs, community volunteers and leading sporting figures. It is a vitally important part of our culture and heritage, and especially for the economy.

I mention an event that happened last year in my county. In October, Cavan played host to the first test match of the International Rules Series in Breffni Park. With a capacity of nearly 35,000 for this test alone, never mind that of the second test in Croke Park, it was merely one example of the considerable benefits that these large sporting events can have for local economies. It was tremendous news and it gave a great boast to the local area. It was an endorsement of the quality of the venue. It was a great achievement that Cavan was chosen, not only for the local GAA organisation and the county council, but the chamber of commerce and other organisations in the county which lobbied for it.

Seizing upon the opportunity that the event provided, Cavan County Council, under the able management of the outgoing county manager, Mr. Jack Keyes, in conjunction with the GAA and numerous others, organised a festival around the test match to showcase Cavan in its entirety. While the match was the centrepiece of the festivities, there was plenty to do over the weekend. Speaking at the time of the event, Mr. Keyes told the local newspaper that it was a once in a lifetime chance for Cavan to impress the country and people abroad, that it would showcase Cavan's ability to host a major festival, that it had something for everybody and the local authority was particularly encouraging families from around the county and beyond to come into Cavan town. Under the clever marketing banner, "Fun Rules", they were successful in hosting the Ireland versus Australia match as one of the highlights of a weekend festival of traditional music, street theatre, sessions, exhibitions, busking, family entertainment, an outdoor gig, a conference on mental health, and a traditional concert with the 2013 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Tour of Ireland group. That, in itself, demonstrates that these sporting events, if done right, provide significant benefit, not only for the sporting organisations but for the local economy and all disciplines in the area.

The motion also mentions valuing the achievements of Ireland's sporting heroes. I would commend that but, like other Senators, I would also like to use the term here to describe, not only the athlete, the player, the Olympian or the person who is standing on the podium getting a medal but any person with any kind of involvement in sport. It is also the person organising the family fun days, registration days, going into the schools talking about the sport, coaches, mentors, and the mammies and daddies who are doing the drop-offs and pick-ups. It is the club official who is organising jerseys, team sheets, training, Jaffa cakes, buses. It is the physio who is bringing these competitors back to fitness. It is the whole structure that unites behind a person or team and gives him or her the structure to develop and flourish.

I acknowledge the work of my colleague, Councillor Brian McKeown, the head coach in Cavan Boxing Club who has been working with Olympic medalist John Joe Nevin since he was 13. I have seen first-hand the role that Brian plays in the club. Like those he trains, I would consider him a hero. In all such motions, it is important we recognise the role these volunteers and others play.

I have to give credit where credit is due. As has been mentioned already this evening, the sports capital grants have proven to be very successful. I would ask, in noting the funding success, that this becomes a regular stream of funding and that the Minister ensures it is prioritised for areas of social need and, as Senator van Turnhout mentioned, those who are sharing services.

Senator van Turnhout also mentioned women. It is really important that we give credit where credit is due. Most of our renowned and famous athletes are women. We have Sonia O'Sullivan, Catherina McKiernan and Katie Taylor who have become Irish household names, and Irish soccer player Stephanie Roche became an international viral hit - I am not sure how many Senators have seen it - when a YouTube clip of her goal was tweeted by the likes of Gary Lineker, Stephen Reid and Piers Morgan. One can see on YouTube the amount of hits that got. I do not know if there is a male soccer player in Ireland who could do something like that. More needs to be done to level the playing pitch for women. Often the coverage of women's sports places them at a clear disadvantage, not because of lack of funding but merely because it might not be at the top of the priority lists, perhaps, for some people.

We need to ensure that people are encouraged to participate in sports at all level and that funding resources are not denied to teams, groups and, as has been mentioned, communities. It is important that there is that community structure to engage as many as possible and to ensure that, no matter what sporting activity one wants to engage in, the facilities will be there, in one form or another. We have a rich sporting history and it is vital that we target resources to build on that legacy.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House and for the work that he and his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, have done in that Department.