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We speak on your behalf to the people who make the decisions in the business of sport. From CEOs to Sponsors, Media professionals and creators of great campaigns, we open a window into their world through the art of conversation.If you'd like to know more about us and what we do in the commercial world of sport visit sportforbusiness.com
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Let us know what’s on your mind 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—an...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 resu...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 sp...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 • cata...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 spor...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 on...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 ...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 ...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 sce...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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, Dalymoun...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 o...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 ...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 t...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 ...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 so...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 bac...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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 ...
Let us know what’s on your mind 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.Th...
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