2023 Funded Research Projects

The aim of this research is to equip Irish athletes & coaches with specific, objective performance related data on the impact of different brand/models of running spikes so they can make more informed decisions on spike selection for racing. 

This project will qualitatively investigate youth Camogie players’ perceptions of playing up a grade within the sport. With a particular focus on youth Camogie players perceptions of the benefits / disadvantages of playing up a grade within Camogie including the potential impact on sport-specific skill development.

Cavan LSP and TUS Athlone plan to design, implement and assess an 8-week Teen Dance program for teenagers in both urban and rural settings. The programme with utilise both qualitative measures and accelerometry data to explore the experiences of participants. 

CI aim to investigate how effectively para-cyclists can execute aerodynamically optimal riding positions identified via wind tunnel testing in race pace efforts in a velodrome.

This research addresses gender inequality in sports media content - With a specific focus on how journalists create sports content, this research collaboration with the Federation of Irish Sports and Maynooth University will unpack the production process through which women become marginalised in sports media content and will intervene to improve that representation. 

This research proposes to investigate how counties and clubs enact the GAA’s Go Games policy, specifically in relation to ability grouping and its impact on the experience of key stakeholders across Gaelic games.

Working with a population of Irish male and female age graded rugby players the IRFU aims to determine the energy requirements / expenditure, resting metabolic rate, energy intake and body composition profile of players. It will also investigate the prevalence and risk of Low Energy Availability (LEA) 

The central research question being asked in this project is: how many people with physical disabilities who use wheelchairs as assistive devices are there in Ireland by county? By obtaining this information the IWA aim to gain an understanding of the gaps that exist in the current disability specific sporting programming and infrastructure.

Laois LSP, in partnership with EduFIT, will investigate the impact of a 6-week hybrid (online and in-person) Beginner to 5kgs programme on muscle strength, knowledge, wellbeing and menopause symptoms in middle-aged and older women in Co. Laois. 

This important research aims to develop and evaluate a concussion awareness programme to prepare for its ultimate national roll-out if effective.

This research aims to understand the needs and experiences of athletes, coaches and parents at different stages on the Talent Development pathway. By doing so it also hopes to inform the establishment of Ireland’s HP pathway.

SOI aim to design, implement and evaluate a specific young athlete coach education course for new coaches and a CPD for current coaches. The course will focus on a Fundamental Movement Skills intervention in YA clubs and will include a new toolkit, online session planner and equipment bag to explore the feasibility of a FMS workshop for parents

VSI will explore the experiences of primary teachers as they teach children with vision impairment physical education within the mainstream primary school?

Paralympics Ireland’s project, in association with University College Dublin, will explore the development of talent identification and athlete pathways in Para-athletics.