Westmeath Sports Partnership is inviting applications to it 2025 Club Grants Scheme with grants of up to €500 per club, including for coach education and equipment
The scheme is designed to encourage new members to join sports clubs and enhance ongoing participation. Eligible initiatives include
Encouraging new members to join sports clubs
Enhancing ongoing participation
Purchasing sports equipment
Supporting new clubs with essential costs
Covering coaching or referee course fees accredited by Coaching Ireland or a National Governing Body of Sport
Applications will be assessed based on their ability to increase participation, sustainability, and impact on the community. As funding is limited (€20,000), eligible applications will be evaluated competitively. Successful applicants will be required to submit an expenditure report, along with receipts and photos, within six months of receiving their grant.
Applications will be open throughout March, closing on Friday, March 28th. All applicants will be notified of the outcome before May. Apply here
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has a proud tradition of success, being Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport and Northern Ireland’s most successful Commonwealth Games sport. The Regional Performance Coach will play a role in the Northern Ireland team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow delivering on continued success for the IABA.
The Regional Performance Coach for the Ulster High Performance (UHP) will work closely with the Head Regional Performance Coach (HRPC) within Ulster, assisting with delivery, planning and athlete development.
The Ulster High Performance unit is located at the Ulster University Sport Village, in collaboration with Sport Institute Northern Ireland (SINI). The programme will aim to work with the most talented boxers from Ulster, helping them to develop and transion into the National Programme and competion on the World Stage. The Regional Performance Coach will be key in delivering and supporting athletes to maximise their potential. The role will require a strong technical and tactical knowledge of Boxing, high-level planning and communication skills, proficient computer literacy, a good understanding of athlete development and a proven commitment to the development of High-Performance Boxing.
1. Coach and prepare athletes throughout the performance pathway for a range of competitions throughout the year and participate in training camps as agreed with the Regional Head Performance Coach and Regional Performance Manager.
2. Develop and deliver session plans in collaboration with the Regional Head Performance Coach. Share planning in a timely matter to all coaches involved with the sessions and maintain a record of the sessions conducted.
3. Design, develop, and implement periodised training programs for boxers of all levels within the Ulster High Performance, in consultation with the Head Coach and SINI’s sport science and sports medicine service providers.
4. Embrace both full-time and part-time athletes in the HPU, providing support appropriate to their developmental stages.
5. Contribute to Talent Identification and Athlete Development Pathways.
6. To attend targeted domestic competitions that involve Ulster Athletes as a method of talent identification.
Job Description and Personal Specification
Role Purpose: The Regional Performance Coach will assist with all aspects of the performance programme, supporting the Head Regional Coach and Regional Performance Manager to deliver a worldclass performance pathway, supporting and nurturing talented boxers from Ulster.
Location: Ulster University Sports Village, Jordanstown, BT37 0QB with travel domestic and overseas.
Hours of work: This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with most of that time expected to be on campus in the Jordanstown facility. We are open to considering job-share flexible working patterns, in line with business needs.
Contract: 2 Years Fix Term with the possibility of 2-year extension depending on funding. Six month period of probation will apply.
Salary £32,500- £37,500 Pro-Rata. Band will be dependent on experience
Monitoring and Evaluation
1. Assist in directing, monitoring, and evaluating the impact of training and competition programs and services for athletes within the Ulster HPU.
2. Monitor the progress of individual athletes towards their goals and targets, working in partnership with SINI’s key service providers.
3. Maintain an accurate record of incident reports and injury management.
4. Maintain an accurate record of athlete progress and provide detailed reports on individual athletes as requested by the Performance Lead.
5. Provide monthly progress reports on both competition and training camps, as required.
Leadership and Support
1. Lead activities and initiatives within the program when directed by the Performance
Director, Regional Performance Manager, or Regional Head Performance Coach.
2. Provide coverage for HP coaching colleagues and the Head Coach as necessary.
3. Assist in managing training programs for the various competition streams within the
Ulster High Performance.
4. Work collaboratively with staff members of the IABA, volunteers, club coaches, Sport
Northern Ireland (SNI), and the Sport Institute of Northern Ireland (SINI) on all
aspects of the performance program.
5. Work alongside relevant performance colleagues as part of a multi-disciplinary team
supporting both regional and national teams.
Miscellaneous
1. Attend all necessary IABA meetings as requested by the Regional Head Coach.
2. Engage positively in a personal performance development plan, actively identifying
new areas for learning and committing to a culture of continual improvement
3. Support the development and implementation of the National and Regional High
Performance Strategy.
4. Work cooperatively with IABA and Ulster office staff, primary partners and sponsors
to support marketing and promotional activities and media requirements
5. Any other reasonable duties as required by the Regional Head Coach or Regional
Performance Manager.
Person Specification
Essential Skills and Qualifications
A minimum 1 Star Boxing coaching qualification; a higher grade is desirable.
2 Years previous experience coaching elite high performance boxers.
Previous experience coaching talented Elite, Youth and Junior athletes in an High
Performance boxing setting.
Competent in the use of Microsoft Packages.
An understanding of performance planning and good administrative skills.
Competent English language skills.
Flexibility to work weekends and evenings
Desirable Skills and Qualifications
2 Star or 3 Star coaching qualification.
Previous experience in performance and pathway planning.
Previous experience in a coaching role in an high performance environment.
Application Process
Interested persons are invited to submit the following by email to hr@iaba.ie: *Resume including 2 referees *Cover letter outlining how they meet the essential skills and qualifications by providing examples of how they have previously fulfilled the duties and responsibilities of this type of role Application closing date: 14th March 2024 Anticipated Interview Dates: Week beginning 17th March 2025
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The post holder is required to undergo Safeguarding Training, to be agreed with the Head of Safeguarding. The successful candidate will be required to complete the necessary. Access NI checks prior to appointment.
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association is an equal opportunities employer.
Lisa and Aoife O’Rourke are now among the very few siblings in Irish sport to contest for World medal up-grades in different categories of the same sport.
The Roscommon sisters are assured of bronze after today’s Women’s World Championship quarter finals.
Lisa had 24 hours to rest and recover after her quarter final – she boxed for a medal against Morocco’s Saida Lahmidi, a tough and canny operator who saw off her QF opponent by RSC. This bout resulted in a standing count for each boxer, with Lisa taking each round. The decision was unanimous.
And after a long wait, double Olympian 75kg Aoife O’Rourke, openned her account. She is the top seed at the weight and as such, she had a bye to the quarter finals. She justified that ranking against Aziza Zokirova of Uzbekistan, winning the first round 4-1, a score mirrord in the final result: 30:27; 28:29; 30:27 30:27; 30:27.
High Performance Head Coach, Zauri Antia, says “Lisa and Aoife are very special people – and unique boxers. They both have extraordinary power, courage and skill, which they have displayed today against talented opposition. I am very proud of both of them – and of the entire team. This first year of the Olympic cycle is a development year. All boxers on this team have shown the great ability to develop their skill even further. This is excellent, and hopeful for the future of Irish boxing”
239 boxers from 51 federations are contesting the tournament; in 2023, the last iteration of these championships, 324 boxers from 64 federations competed.
March 15th is a rest day at the tournament, and all finals will be boxed on Sunday, March 16th
Semi Finals
Its straight back to action – semi finals take place tomorrow.
Aoife is up first, stepping between the ropes in bout 10 of the Afternoon Session
. She meets home boxer, Serbia’s Nikolina Gajic. Lisa is in the ring in bout 9 of the Evening Session
, at around 7.15pm, Irish time. She contests against Kazakhstan’s Natalya Bogdanova The 25 year old is the reigning Asian champion at the weight
Watch
Aoife’s Semi Final
Lisa’s Semi Final
Team Ireland
48kg Carleigh Irving, Oakleaf Boxing Club, Derry
50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry Boxing Club, Wicklow
IABA is hosting a workshop on Understanding Physical Literacy.
Physical literacy is the ability to move with confidence in a wide variety of physical activities in multiple environments that benefit the healthy development of the whole person. Boxing training, and all sports, is an excellent way to create and develop physical literacy from childhood to older age. This workshop is taking place online on March 27th, between 6pm and 9pm. Registration is available here: https://shout.com/s/kHIYMMpp
Participants will receive an access link in advance of the workshop.
This workshop is being co-ordinated by IABA Education and Training Officer, Nikki Foley, contactable through nicola@iaba.ie
IABA is sharing information Emerging Talent Bursary Scheme, a funding initiative managed by Active South Dublin and supported by South Dublin County Council. This bursary provides financial assistance to individual athletes competing at a national, European, or international level, helping them with expenses related to training, travel, accommodation, equipment, and medical costs.
The total bursary fund for 2025 is €65,000, and applications will open on Tuesday, March 18th, via the Active South Dublin website.
South Dublin County Council’s area of operations includes Lucan, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Rathcoole, Saggart, Rathfarnham, Palmerstown, Tallaght, Jobstown, Templeogue and surrounding areas.
Applicants must be involved in a sporting discipline recognised by a National Governing Body (NGB) of Sport and/or Sport Ireland and have a strong connection to South Dublin County.
