EuroHockey representatives visited Ireland last week September to support Hockey Ireland in the development of its Operational Health Plan.

The two-day programme brought together senior leadership from Hockey Ireland, key provincial and national stakeholders, and government sport agencies to strengthen collaboration and ensure the long-term sustainability of the sport.

The EuroHockey delegation included Tom Pedersen-Smith (Head of Strategy & Development), Inez Cooper (Vice President), and Phil Taylor (Blueprint Sport, CEO).

Over the course of the visit, they engaged with Hockey Ireland’s board, senior management Team, and provincial representatives to review current structures and identify areas for operational growth.

The series of meetings included engagements with:

• Sport NI & Ulster Hockey – discussions on regional development and participation.
• Sport Ireland – strategic engagement on national governing body support.
• Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) – dialogue around high-performance and Olympic pathways.
• Special Olympics – discussion on MOU to be signed to bring hockey on board as the first newly recognised sport for 20 years.
• Hockey Ireland Board and Province Leaders hybrid meeting – opportunity to bring together leaders from across the sport in Ireland.
• Hockey Ireland Staff team forum – developing feedback and knowledge gaps to develop unity and growth in the future

Hockey Ireland’s board, provincial chairs and senior management team were central to the visit. These meetings were led by Tom Pedersen-Smith and supported by CEO Anne McCormack and directors covering community, high performance, commercial, finance, and participation contributed to the sessions, alongside board members with responsibilities across governance, finance, and commercial development.

The visit also included consultation with external partners, including Sport Ireland and Sport NI along with Ulster Hockey, ensuring alignment between Hockey Ireland’s operational health plan and the broader sporting landscape across the island of Ireland.

This collaborative process, facilitated by EuroHockey & Blueprint Sport, will support Hockey Ireland in strengthening its governance, structures, and operations. The operational health plan aims to provide a clear roadmap for the sport, ensuring strong foundations for growth at both grassroots and high-performance levels.

EuroHockey Vice President Inez Cooper said: “This visit reflects EuroHockey’s commitment to working alongside our member federations to ensure that hockey has the structures and resources in place to thrive. Hockey Ireland has a strong base and great ambition and this support will help provide the framework to achieve it.”

In Hockey Ireland’s press release about the visit, they added: “It was an action-packed and inspiring few days, filled with energy, ideas, and meaningful conversations. Together with EuroHockey and BluePrint, we engaged with a wide range of key stakeholders, including Sport NI, Sport Ireland, the Olympic Federation of Ireland, and Special Olympics Ireland.

“Their insights, perspectives, and support are critical to ensuring that our sport continues to grow and thrive at every level.

“At the heart of this new strategic plan is a simple but powerful belief: we are stronger when we work together. This is not a plan that will be created in isolation – it’s one built with our four provinces at the centre of the process, ensuring a shared, positive, and forward-looking vision for the sport.”

** Top picture at Sport Ireland: Anne McCormack, Phil Taylor, Nora Stapleton, Sport Ireland Director of Strategic NGB programmes and Women in Sport Lead; Inez Cooper; Brian Staunton, Sport Ireland Director of NGBs; Gillian Brosnan, Sport Ireland High Performance Director; Sue Haslam, Kevin Keane