Latest report shows Irish people getting more involved in sports - as gender gap declines

The Irish Sports Monitor 2019 shows that participation rates have grown by an additional 150,000 people in that period

Around 1.7m Irish adults participated in sport at least once a week last year, up 3% from the previous figure recorded in 2017.

The Irish Sports Monitor 2019 shows that participation rates have grown by an additional 150,000 people in that period.

According to the figures released by Sports Ireland, personal exercise remains the most popular activity for Irish adults at 16% - followed by swimming (9%), running (7%) and cycling (4%) and dancing, yoga and soccer (3%) in the top 5 activities.

The gender gap in participation continues to decline - from 4.5% at the end of 2017 to 3.4% for the 2019 report. This is the lowest gap reported - the gap was a massive 15.7% when the ISM was introduced in 2007.

The latest report, produced in conjunction with Ipsos MRBI, presents findings based on interviews with over 8,500 adults aged 16 and over conducted between January and December 2019. 

The report finds that those who participate in sport and other forms of activity – both physically and socially – exhibit higher levels of positive mental health. 

Aside from the increase in active participation, improvements were also reported in the numbers attending events, taking up club membership or involved in volunteering – up to 47% from 45%.  

Other key findings of the report are:

• 47% are involved in a social form of sports participation (attending events, club membership or volunteering), this has increased from 45% in 2017.
• Those who do not participate in sport or recreational walking has decreased from 22% in 2017 to 20% in 2019.
• The disability gradient gap has decreased for those participating in sport to 17% as compared to 18% in 2017.

“The findings announced published today are encouraging overall and results are moving in the right direction," said Sport Ireland CEO John Treacy.

"In particular, it’s welcome to see sustained participation rates in the younger age groups in the 16-34 bracket, with over 90% of people participating in sport citing improving health and fitness as a motivating factor. 

"Personal exercise remains the main driver or participation at 16%, which was reinforced by our recent reports on participation during Covid-19 restrictions that showed unprecedented numbers taking part in individual activity. 

"The challenge now is to provide opportunities to sustain and further grow this level of activity. The work of the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships is vital in achieving this.”  

Kieran Mulvey, the Sport Ireland chairman, commented: “It is very encouraging to see an increase in the number of people participating in sport and also in social participation through volunteering, club membership and attendance at sporting events. 

"While the figures announced today are positive, there is always more that can be done to make sure everyone, no matter their age or background, has the opportunity to participate in sport in some capacity. 

"The Board of Sport Ireland will continue to prioritise our efforts to increase participation right across all groups in our society. 

"The insights gained from the Irish Sport Monitor are key to informing future actions in this regard.” 

Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD, welcomed the positive upward trend: “The Programme for Government and the National Sports Policy set ambitious targets for increasing the number of adults regularly playing sport; the 3% increase in participation rates announced today is a solid start to that journey.

"The Government has committed to prioritise increasing female participation in sport as participants, coaches, referees and administrators. 

"The decline in the gender gap in active participation to the lowest it has ever been at 3.4% is very welcome. 

"This is testament to the increased number of opportunities being provided by our National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnerships and sports clubs around the country. 

"The low number of sedentary people is encouraging, while the decrease in the disability gradient gap is also a positive development".

A copy of the 2019 Irish Sports Monitor Full Year Report and summary report can be downloaded here.

A summary for the key findings of the report can be downloaded here.