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11 March 2020

About Us


Mayo Sports Partnership was established in November 2004. It is core funded by Sport Ireland and, hosted by Mayo County Council, situated under the community and integrated development section.

The aim of the Mayo Sports Partnership is to increase participation in all sports and to ensure local resources and facilities are used to the best effect. The Sports Partnership Board has representatives from interested agencies and sporting groups. These include the Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB, Mayo County Council, HSE West ,G.M.I.T., Mayo Education Centre, An Garda Siochana, Mayo North East Leader Partnership, South West Mayo Development Company , Public Participation Network, Mayo Mental Health and representatives from the County Sports Forum.

The Sports Partnership has three main functions:

  • Information - To establish a consultation process with sport clubs and organisations and to identify their needs and resources. Initiate research and compile a sports directory. A one stop shop for sport in Mayo.
  • Education- To provide quality opportunities for education and training at local level. Provide training courses targeting volunteers and providing access to sports specific courses through the national governing bodies of sport.
  • Implementation - To develop a strategic plan for sport in Mayo and select participation programmes to suit local needs.

The Sports Partnership launched its third Strategic Plan for Sport, ‘More people enjoying more sports’, in 2017. The plan may be downloaded here 2017-2021 MSP Strategic Plan, alternatively contact the Sports Partnership office for a copy. 

Mayo Sports Partnership promotes recreational sport to all members of society regardless of age, location or ability.  The new strategy and action plan, with its vision of “More People Enjoying More Sports”, outlines actions across four strategic pillars;

  • Participation and Location - programmes, people and local partners.
  • Strengthening play - sport shapers, makers and places.
  • Insight and Influence - information, partnerships communication.
  • Perform - attract and administer resources. 

These themes complement each other to provide a multifaceted approach to increasing participation in sport and physical activity in Mayo.

Mayo Sports Partnership are also involved in facilitating and co-ordinating a number of targeted programmes, projects and initiatives at local level. These include Safeguarding Workshops, Women in Sport initiatives, European Week of Sport, Community Sports Coach Training Programme, Get Active Programmes, Couch to 5K, Operation Transformation, Get Ireland Walking, and Sports Disability initiatives as well as many more. The office are also co-organisers of the West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon and Primary Schools Mini Fun Run.

The Partnership also identifies local projects which are grant aided through its Special Participation Initiative Grant scheme and supports volunteer training.

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About Us

Check out more information on Mayo Sports Partnership


  • This Governance Code for Sport (the Code)is a voluntary code of practice for good governance of sport
    organisations in Ireland. As the Code has been developed for and by the Community, Voluntary and Charitable
    (CVC) sector, it offers your organisation a lot of room to decide how it should act while following the principles of
    good governance.

    Mayo Sports Partnership is fully compliant with Sport Irelands Governance Code for Sport. The Sports Partnership at its meeting on the 25th March 2021 adopted the code 

    See public compliance document HERE

    See MSP comply & explain form for 2022 HERE 

  • Mayo Sports Partnership, a sub section within Mayo County Council, has a Committee and Executive Committee representing key agencies, sports groups and communities throughout the county. The committee meets on a bi-monthly basis to work on operational and strategic issues. It is reconstituted every five years in line with the local authority elections.

    Chief Executive NomineeDonal Newcombe

    Community & Integrated DevDeirdre Finnerty

    County Councillors Cllr Michael Loftus & Cllr Mark Duffy

    HSE WestJackie Lynott

    ATU MayoNigel Jennings

    Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim ETBPat Howley

    North East Leader PartnershipSiobhain Carroll Webb

    South West Leader PartnershipCatherine McCloskey

    Mayo Mental HealthLianne McManamon

    Community Sports PPNNeil Masterson

    Connaught RugbyLyndon Jones

    Mayo LeagueJames Larkin

    Mayo GAA (Health & Wellbeing)Fran Downey

  • What are the Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs)?

    There is a network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships across Ireland. These LSPs undertake a wide range of actions with the aim of increasing sport and physical activity participation levels in their local communities. These actions are grouped within four outcome areas:

    • Working to develop clubs, coaches and volunteers and supporting partnerships between local sports clubs, community based organisations and sector agencies.
    • Creating great opportunities for access to training and education in relation to sports and physical activity provision
    • Provision of targeted programmes, events and initiatives to increase physical activity and sport participation
    • Providing information about sport and physical activity to create awareness and access.

    Who they target?

    LSPs target groups of the population such as people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, women & girls, disadvantaged areas, unemployed, young people, older adults.

    Find your nearest Sports Partnership

    See here https://www.sportireland.ie/participation/lsp-contact-finder



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