Sport for Business

• Leading Beyond the Court: How Badminton Ireland Became NGB of the Year

  Let us know what’s on your mindWhat 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 has grown from 12,300 to over 17,200 members, with much of that growth coming from ethnic minorities and first-generation Irish residents who are forming communities around the sport they love.The conversation explores innovative programs like the BadminTeen initiative, which is successfully reducing dropout rates among teenage girls by empowering them to become coaches and club leaders. Lynch also discusses the creative solutions being developed to address facility shortages, including collaboration with other indoor sports to unlock access to school halls across the country.What stands out most is Lynch's philosophy on leadership – "Surround yourself with people who know more than you do" – and his emphasis on accountability at every level of the organisation. He offers a refreshingly honest take on the challenges facing sporting bodies in Ireland, from funding constraints to staff retention, while remaining optimistic about the potential for continued growth through community-focused sponsorships and digital innovation.Whether you're involved in sports administration or simply interested in how organisations achieve breakthrough success, this conversation offers valuable lessons on leadership, community building, and creating sustainable sporting pathways. Subscribe to the Sport for Business podcast for more insights from leaders across the Irish sporting landscape. Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.comWe publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects. Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.Our upcoming live events on Future Proofing Irish Sport, Children and Sport and Sport for Social Good, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

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• How a life in college sports shaped Kevin White's perspective on leadership and legacy.

  Let us know what’s on your mindKevin 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 temporary teaching position while caring for his terminally ill father blossomed into a nine-year coaching career followed by 38 years as an athletics director across institutions like Notre Dame, Arizona State, and Duke. Throughout this conversation, White reveals how his recently published autobiography "The Good Sport" has reconnected him with athletes from across five decades, reinforcing the profound impact sports leadership can have on young people's development.The discussion explores fascinating contrasts between American college sports and European models, with White sharing insights from his time consulting with Maynooth University in the early 1990s when they considered implementing American-style athletics programs. His perspective on the economic impact of collegiate sports—contributing to what he estimates as a trillion-dollar domestic sports economy—highlights just how embedded these programs are in American cultural identity.Perhaps most compelling is White's candid assessment of the current challenges facing collegiate athletics, particularly regarding Name, Image and Likeness compensation. His concern that the system is being built "while the plane is in the air" reflects the unprecedented territory college sports now occupies, shifting rapidly from strict amateurism to what he describes as essentially a "play-for-pay" model without proper guardrails.Whether you're fascinated by sports management, leadership development, or the economic forces shaping athletics globally, White's distillation of leadership into four fundamental characteristics—empathy, task orientation, adaptability, and passion—offers invaluable wisdom for anyone in a position of influence. His story serves as both inspiration and cautionary tale for the future of sports administration. Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.comWe publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects. Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.Our upcoming live events on Future Proofing Irish Sport, Children and Sport and Sport for Social Good, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

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• Golf's €717 Million Impact On Ireland

  Let us know what’s on your mindThe 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 what he calls "the holy trinity" of economic indicators. His findings show golf represents 14% of all sport-related consumer spending in Ireland, with approximately €1 in every €200 of discretionary spending somehow connected to the sport. The contribution is so substantial that golf's economic impact is measurable within the context of the entire Irish economy, not just the sporting sector.Perhaps most striking is the phenomenal growth trajectory, with participation increasing 86% over nine years. Mark Kennelly, CEO of Golf Ireland, explains how this growth spans both traditional club memberships and newer, more accessible formats of the game. With 22% of non-golfers expressing interest in trying the sport, representing a potential audience of over one million people, the ceiling for further growth seems limitless.The conversation extends beyond participation numbers, with Robert Oxley from the R&A discussing the upcoming Open Championship at Royal Portrush, one of many prestigious events coming to Irish shores, and tantalising hints about future Open Championships potentially being held in the Republic of Ireland.Whether you're a golf enthusiast, business leader, or policymaker, this episode provides evidence of how a single sport can drive significant economic activity while simultaneously delivering health, social, and community benefits. Listen now to understand why golf might just be Ireland's most valuable sporting asset. Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.comWe publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects. Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.Our upcoming live events on Future Proofing Irish Sport, Children and Sport and Sport for Social Good, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

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• The Business of the GAA - Noel Quinn of GAA+

  Let us know what’s on your mindThe 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 scenes of the evolution from serving the diaspora to becoming a cornerstone of domestic championship coverage. "We've tripled the number of games compared to linear traditional broadcast partners," Quinn explains, with GAA+ delivering an unprecedented 42 championship matches across 13 action-packed weekends. More significantly, the service has broadened coverage to over 30 counties, giving exposure to teams that traditionally received little broadcast attention.The journey hasn't been without challenges. From technical delivery across various platforms to shifting consumer expectations around paywalls, GAA+ has navigated the complex transition from emergency pandemic solution to established broadcast platform. Quinn shares fascinating insights into how they've developed a distinctive production style that differs from traditional broadcasters, featuring pitch-side analysis, on-field demonstrations, drone cameras, and a commentary team of recently retired players bringing fresh perspectives.What emerges is a vision of sports broadcasting that balances innovation with tradition. While embracing digital delivery and creating bite-sized content for social platforms, GAA+ remains committed to the values that make Gaelic games special. "We are essentially guided by our subscribers," Quinn reflects, while emphasizing that broadcast strategy must complement rather than compete with attendance. The construction of a new Croke Park studio and expanded weekly programming suggests this is just the beginning of a transformation in how Irish sports are consumed in the digital age.Whether you're fascinated by the business of sports, interested in digital media trends, or simply a GAA fan wanting to understand how championship coverage is evolving, this week's episode offers valuable perspective on a pivotal moment in Irish sports broadcasting. The digital revolution isn't just changing how we watch – it's expanding what we can watch, bringing more of our games to more people than ever before. Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.comWe publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects. Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.Our upcoming live events on Future Proofing Irish Sport, Children and Sport and Sport for Social Good, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

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• Pride 2025 - Jim McIlroy of Bohemian FC

  Let us know what’s on your mindThe 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, Dalymount Park has flown the Pride flag at every match—the only League of Ireland ground to do so. "That simple step made me feel a little bit more at ease," reflects McIlroy, "showing support, showing solidarity."The stark reality remains that LGBTQI+ participation in sport lags significantly behind the general population. Research reveals that around 55% of LGBT individuals aren't active enough to maintain good health, compared to much lower figures for others. McElroy explains how many queer people gravitate toward solitary sports rather than team environments, where "locker room culture" can feel unwelcoming.Most concerning is what McIlroy describes as a societal pendulum swinging back from progress: "We're probably at a point on that journey that is particularly challenging for LGBTQI+ people, particularly for transgender people." Despite Ireland having diversity policies and inclusion strategies, McElroy warns about "pinkwashing" and the creation of documents without meaningful change. "It's not enough to say, 'Oh well, we did the survey and that's it, it's done,'" he cautions. "We're setting ourselves up to do a lot of hard work over the next five, ten years."This conversation arrives at a pivotal moment when corporations are quietly withdrawing support for Pride events and sporting bodies face pressure to roll back inclusive policies. McIlroy's powerful call for allyship reminds us that progress requires courage: "Now is the time for people to show their true colours and support." Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.comWe publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects. Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.Our upcoming live events on Future Proofing Irish Sport, Children and Sport and Sport for Social Good, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.

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