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Longford Smashers Volunteer Awards Win!

Volleyball Ireland congratulate Longford Smashers’ Grzegorz Wiechec for winning the prestigious Federation of Irish Sport Volunteer of the Year award.


One winner from 29 Local Sports Partnership networks are selected with Greg coming out on top in County Longford. Greg becomes Volleyball’s first ever winner.

Greg has been volunteering at the club for more than five years. He founded the club and it has become a hub for Volleyball in the midlands.


Volleyball Ireland Chief Executive Gary Stewart said, “I’m really delighted for Greg and the whole of Longford Smashers to gain this national recognition. The work Greg and his team are doing is phenomenal. Starting a social and recreational group and then developing it into a thriving National League club is fantastic and a real blueprint for what can be achieved. Not only have they have given opportunities to people across the midlands to play Volleyball but they’ve created a real inclusive community, with players from all over the world joining together to enjoy the sport.  Not only are they providing a great participation outlet but they’re also developing good young players with one of their club members now on the Ireland junior national team.”


The Volunteers in Sport Awards celebrate the contributions of the band of volunteers across the country who give their time to Irish sport and physical activity every year. This equates to approximately 37.3 million hours of volunteering across Ireland’s 13,000 registered sports clubs and associations and, according to Sport Ireland’s 2021 ‘Researching the Value of Sport in Ireland’ report, is worth an estimated €1.5bn to the exchequer.


Throughout December and early 2023 members of the public, sports clubs and governing bodies were invited to nominate an individual whose contribution to sport and physical activity in Ireland has made a real difference to their community, club, or county.


Commenting on the awards, Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD said: “The volunteers being recognised deserve enormous credit. Their work, often unseen and undertaken without any fuss or fanfare, makes sport a reality for hundreds if not thousands of people in their communities. In particular, the work of volunteers enables young people to play the sport that they love, to meet their friends and form lasting friendships. In so many ways, volunteers are the lifeblood of sport in this country, and I am privileged to have this opportunity to publicly acknowledge their vital contribution to Irish sport.”


Greg will be honoured at a reception on Wednesday March 22nd.

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