Munster Rugby’s Garrett Fitzgerald to be honoured at Sports Industry Awards

Munster Rugby’s Garrett Fitzgerald is to be honoured for contribution to business of sport at Sports Industry Awards

Hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport, the awards recognise excellence in the Irish sports industry, while highlighting its contribution to the Irish economy

Fitzgerald has played central role in transforming Munster Rugby into one of the most recognisable and successful rugby franchises in Europe over his 19 year tenure as CEO

Irish sports industry supports 40,000 jobs, stimulates €1.9 billion in household spending and generates €1 billion in tourism receipts each year

Federation CEO: “It is important Government investment is delivered upon, as it will help improve sporting infrastructures and grow participation rates, which will in turn create further opportunities for corporate investment, sponsorship and collaboration.” 

Today (Monday, 15 April) will see former Munster Rugby Chief Executive Garrett Fitzgerald honoured at the Irish Sports Industry Awards for his outstanding contribution to Irish sport over the course of his career. It will be one of 14 awards presented tonight by the Federation of Irish Sport.

Garrett Fitzgerald was appointed CEO of Munster Rugby in 1999 and was the longest serving provincial CEO in Irish rugby until he stepped down in 2018.  During this time, Fitzgerald has overseen the growth of the Munster brand in Ireland and overseas, and the redevelopment of both Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park.  He also played a central role in developing Munster Rugby’s new world-class high-performance centre at University of Limerick.

Fitzgerald led the organisation through some of the most successful years on the pitch.  He has also negotiated some of the biggest sports sponsorship contracts in Irish sport, with leading brands including Adidas, Bank of Ireland, Lifestyle Sports and the Irish Independent.  In 2017, Munster Rugby recorded annual revenues of €16.9 million and saw 250,000 supporters pass through its turnstiles.

The Irish Sports Industry Awards are hosted on an annual basis by the Federation of Irish Sport. Other award categories include Best Sporting Event, best Sports Business, Best Sports Innovation, Best Sports Media Outlet, Best 20×20 initiative and the Jimmy Magee Sports Journalist of the Year Award, amongst others.

The Federation of Irish Sport organises and hosts the awards on an annual basis. The Federation is the representative body for 102 sporting organisations.  It works on behalf of its members to create a greater awareness of the importance of sport across a wide number of areas including business, tourism, health, community, diversity and the economy. 

Speaking in advance of the awards, Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor, said:

“Sport is a key pillar of the Irish economy and Irish society.  It is worth €2.4 billion to the Irish Exchequer and supports more than 40,000 full time jobs.  The Irish Sports Industry Awards were established to highlight the impact sport has on the Irish economy.   

“Irish sport is in rude health right now.  The corporate community invested €140 million in sports sponsorship in 2018 and the Irish Government has recently pledged to double its investment in sport from €111 million annually to €222 million annually over the next ten years.  It is important this investment is delivered upon, as it will in turn help improve sporting infrastructures and grow participation rates, which will in turn create further opportunities for corporate investment, sponsorship and collaboration.  

“Finally, we are delighted to honour Munster Rugby’s Garrett Fitzgerald with the Federation of Irish Sport’s ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award.  Over the course of his 19 years at the helm of Munster Rugby, he has transformed the organisation from a newly professionalised representative team into one of the most successful, recognisable and best supported professional rugby franchises in Europe.  

The success of Munster Rugby on and off the pitch has proven a key catalyst in the recent success of Irish rugby at all levels and set a new benchmark for professionalism and innovation in Irish sport.