Now in its sixth year the Sponsorship Awards annually attract the biggest names in the industry for a night of celebration. The 25 categories on offer have drawn submissions from leading consumer and business-to-business brands and agencies from the full spectrum of sponsorship activities.
"Although the Aviva Stadium gets the majority of the limelight, it's our grassroots programmes that allow us to connect with so many Irish communities in a really meaningful way. We're delighted to be shortlisted for the FAI Junior Cup and Aviva Soccer Sisters, as well as being recognised in the Rising Star Category," said Mark Russell, group sponsorship and social media manager, Aviva Insurance.
Sponsorship is becoming a massive contributor to the Irish economy. 2016 saw the Irish sponsorship market grow by an estimated 9 per cent to an estimated €163m, as three in four sponsors increased their investment in sponsorship last year. The Irish Sponsorship awards are a great opportunity for some of the biggest brands in the country to come together and celebrate their latest achievements. Last year Three for Focus Ireland & IRFU 'Let's Tackle Homelessness' took home the overall award for best sponsorship in 2016 and other past winners include Vodafone, Heineken and Air Lingus. Livewire is one of the many companies on board for this year's awards, "it is essential for the success of our industry to celebrate work that exemplifies creativity and effectiveness. We believe these to be two of the most important factors of sponsorship", said Jamie Macken, partner at Livewire.
The Judging panel consists of experts from the industry moderated by Judging Coordinator Maeve Buckley, director, Line Up - Sports Media Entertainment. Speaking about her involvement with the awards Maeve spoke about how, "the quality of work going on currently in the sponsorship market is incredible and it is all on display at this year's Irish Sponsorship Awards. With that level of quality, being judging coordinator has been a challenge and an honour". If you wish to find out more about the awards visit www.sponsorshipawards.ie.
The shortlist is as follows:
Sponsorship of the Year
Sponsored by Livewire
Winner will be revealed on the night.
Best Sponsorship Brand
AIG Insurance
Bord Gáis Energy
Centra Ireland
SuperValu
Vodafone Ireland
Best Sponsorship Team - Agency
Legacy Consultants
Livewire
Teneo Sports
Best Sponsorship Team - Rightsholder
Cannonball
Live Nation Ireland
Virgin Media Solutions
Best Sponsorship Team - Brand
AIG Insurance
Bord Gáis Energy
Vodafone Ireland
Rising Star in Sponsorship
Paddy Carberry - Vodafone Ireland
Sinéad Finnegan - Teneo Sports
Sarah Geoghegan - Virgin Media Solutions
Amy Lynch - AVIVA Insurance
Best Sporting Event Sponsorship
AIG Insurance for Irish Open Tennis Championships submitted by Teneo Sports
Aldi Community Games
Bord Gáis Energy for GAA #HurlingToTheCore
Littlewoods Ireland for GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship submitted by Legacy Consultants
SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme
Best Sports Team or Athlete Sponsorship
Aer Lingus Official Airline of the Irish Rugby Team
Aldi for Paul O'Connell
Allianz Ireland for Sinead Kane submitted by Teneo Sports
King Crisps for Bernard Brogan submitted by Legacy Consultants
Lidl Ireland for Ladies Gaelic Football submitted by Spark Market Research
Supermac's Ireland for Galway GAA
Three for Republic of Ireland Football Team
Best TV Broadcast Sponsorship
Domino's Pizza for TV3's The Voice UK & Gogglebox submitted by Mindshare
Gas Networks Ireland for TV3's The Restaurant submitted by The Story Lab with Carat Ireland
Just Eat for RTÉ's First Dates Ireland
Renault Ireland for RTÉ 's The Late Late Show
Sona for TG4's Peil Na Mban submitted by Post TV
Virgin Media Solutions for TV3's Gogglebox Ireland
Best Entertainment Event Sponsorship
Energia for Groove Festival submitted by The Brand Fans
Manhattan Popcorn for CANNONBALL!
Three for Summer Festivals
Ulster Bank for Galway International Arts Festival
Best Arts & Cultural Sponsorship
Accenture for Women on Walls
Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia submitted by The Brand Fans
Supermac's Ireland for Fleadh Cheoil 2017
Supermac's Ireland for Spraoi Festival 2017
Ulster Bank for Galway International Arts Festival
Best Societal Sponsorship
Con & Annie Kirby Memorial submitted by Irish Greyhound Board
Energia Get Ireland Growing submitted by The Brand Fans
Woodie's Heroes
Best Grass Roots Sponsorship
Aldi Play Rugby
AVIVA Insurance for FAI Junior Cup
Con & Annie Kirby Memorial submitted by Irish Greyhound Board
Energia Get Ireland Growing submitted by The Brand Fans
SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme
Volkswagen Ireland for GAA All Ireland Sevens submitted by Legacy Consultants
Best Multi-Platform Sponsorship
Centra for GAA #WeAreHurling submitted by FleishmanHillard Dublin
Electric Ireland for Team Ireland submitted by RTÉ AdLab
Gas Networks Ireland for TV3's The Restaurant submitted by The Story Lab with Carat Ireland
Vodafone Ireland for IRFU #TeamOfUs
Best Use of PR
Aon for Ireland Women's Rugby Team & Women's Rugby World Cup submitted by Teneo Sports
Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards
Centra for GAA #WeAreHurling submitted by FleishmanHillard Dublin
Life Style Sports for #MunsterRising submitted by Teneo Sports
Littlewoods Ireland for GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship submitted by Legacy Consultants
SuperValu for GAA All-Ireland Football Championship submitted by TRA Brands at The Reputations Agency
Vodafone Ireland for IRFU #TeamOfUs
Volkswagen Ireland for GAA All Ireland Sevens submitted by Legacy Consultants
Best Use of Radio or Podcast
Sponsored by Media Central
Budweiser for FA Cup submitted by Carat Ireland
Heineken Rugby Club with Off The Ball submitted by Starcom with Livewire
Vodafone Ireland for IRFU #TeamOfUs
Best Use of Social Media
Aer Lingus Official Airline of the Irish Rugby Team
AIG Ireland Official Insurance Partner of the All Blacks submitted by Teneo Sports
Bord Gáis Energy for GAA #HurlingToTheCore
Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards
Budweiser for FA Cup submitted by Carat Ireland
The JOE Show with Dove Men+Care & Lynx submitted by Mindshare
Three Ireland for FAI #TheCallUp
Three Ireland for The Ultimate Lip-Sync Battle at #3Disco
Vodafone Ireland for IRFU #TeamOfUs
Best Use of Digital
Sponsored by JCDecaux
Budweiser for FA Cup submitted by Carat Ireland
Bulmers Forbidden Fruit Festival submitted by C&C Group
EirGrid GAA All-Ireland Under 21 Football Championship submitted by Teneo Sports
Vodafone Ireland for IRFU #TeamOfUs
Best Use of Print & Outdoor
Aldi Community Games
Paddy Power's Irish Star Entertainment Pull-Out submitted by OMD
Vodafone Ireland for IRFU #TeamOfUs
Best Use of Experiential Marketing
Bord Gáis Energy #HurlingToTheCore Match Day Experience
Bulmers Forbidden Fruit Festival submitted by C&C Group
Heineken Light Have It All Series submitted by Starcom with Livewire
Just Eat Retreat Full Moon Party
Manhattan Popcorn for CANNONBALL!
Innovation in Sponsorship
Centra for GAA #WeAreHurling submitted by FleishmanHillard Dublin
Dogpatch Labs submitted by Ulster Bank
Electric Ireland for Team Ireland submitted by RTÉ AdLab
Gas Networks Ireland for TV3's The Restaurant submitted by The Story Lab with Carat Ireland
SingFM submitted by MediaCom with Media Central
Snappie submitted by Huggity
Sport for Business Partners '17
Sure Official Statistics Partner of the GAA submitted by Mindshare
