Birr soccer stalwart receives award at national ceremony
Birr Town FC stalwart John Corboy received his award today (Thursday) as the Offaly winner in the 2023 Volunteers in Sports Awards.
John has volunteered with Birr Town FC for half a century. Having given years of distinguished service, including a decade as chairman, he is still an ever-present figure around the club.
The Federation of Irish Sport recognised the recipients of the 2023 Volunteers in Sports Awards, celebrating their dedication and giving freely of their time locally to make sport happen. Supported by the national network of 29 local Sports Partnerships the committed volunteers from all across the country were honoured at the awards ceremony in The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown. The guest speaker was Minister Thomas Byrne, Minster of State with responsibility for Sport and Physical Education, who presented the 32 county awards.
In addition to the 32 county individuals being recognised, Eoin Kelly of Beech Hill Table Tennis Club in Co. Cork claimed the overall Outstanding Volunteer Award. His exceptional impact on the development of the sport of table tennis made him stand out as this year’s overall worthy winner. Eoin has helped to grow Para table tennis in Munster, particularly for players with an intellectual disability (ID).
Speaking at the awards, Minister Thomas Byrne noted: “Volunteers are the backbone of Irish sport and I am delighted to see their vital contribution recognised and celebrated by these awards. As Sport Minister, I am acutely conscious of the challenges involved with volunteering and I recently welcomed the publication of the Sport Ireland Policy on Volunteering in Sport, which sets out an ambitious vision for a sports sector with the best volunteering culture in the world.
"The success of Irish sport would not be possible without the many thousands of volunteers that willingly dedicate their time every week, in every part of Ireland, to help others enjoy their sport and I want to thank every volunteer for their valuable contribution.”
Federation CEO Mary O’Connor commented: “We are delighted to bring together the 2023 recipients of the Volunteers in Sport Awards from all over the country to receive their award from Minister Byrne today. Without this army of volunteers in clubs all around the country, we would not have the level of grassroots participation that we do. It is important to take this time out and show our appreciation to the many unsung heroes of sport. We have heard today how sport can have such a meaningful and positive impact on our physical and mental health. And these volunteers are the conduit to providing that benefit.”