Mayo volunteer to be honoured at 2025 Volunteers in Sport Awards

Jes Gough has been named Mayo’s 2025 recipient of the Volunteers in Sport Award by the Federation of Irish Sport. She will be honoured alongside 35 other county recipients at a special ceremony on February 26 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown.

The awards, supported by the Sport Ireland National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships, will feature a keynote address from Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy Charlie McConalogue, with the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award also announced on the night.

Gough has been credited with making an “extraordinary contribution” to the promotion and development of girls’ participation in her club, Kilmurry Youths FC. When her eldest daughter first joined, she had to line out with boys’ teams due to a lack of girls in her age group. Through Gough’s drive and organisational skills, the club soon fielded an U-12 girls’ team in Mayo competitions.

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Since then, girls’ involvement has grown significantly, with 103 girls now playing across age groups from U-8 to U17. She also serves as the club’s PRO and played a key role in coordinating sponsor recognition and publicity during a major fundraising campaign for a Barcelona trip.

Beyond her club commitments, Gough volunteers with Crossmolina AFC Women, Gortnor Abbey Secondary School and McHale Rovers LGFA, further underlining her impact on sport in north Mayo.

Charlie Lambert, Head of Mayo Sports Partnership described Jes as “a remarkable role model whose dedication has transformed girls’ sport in her community. This award is richly deserved,” while Lyndon Jones, Chair of Mayo Sports Partnership, declared “Jes embodies the true spirit of volunteering. Her passion and commitment have inspired so many young athletes, and we are thrilled to see her recognised nationally.”

Volunteers remain the backbone of Irish sport, with an estimated 460,000 people giving their time each week to support 1.47 million club members nationwide. Their contribution is valued at €1.5 billion annually to the Irish economy. Sport Ireland CEO Dr Úna May described volunteers as “the driving force behind sport in Ireland”.

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Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, said the awards recognise the immense scale of volunteering required to sustain sport across the country.

“The Federation of Irish Sport is delighted to honour the extraordinary volunteers who dedicate their time, passion, and energy to supporting sport and physical activity across Ireland. Their commitment not only enriches Irish sport but also strengthens communities nationwide.”

For Mayo, the spotlight this year will fall on Jes Gough — a volunteer whose dedication has opened doors for a new generation of girls in sport.