Location

Morton Athletic Sports Stadium

The Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces have their Head Office located at the Morton Athletic Stadium in Santry Dublin 9. Ireland

Our Mission

The Irish Institute of Sport Surfaces is dedicated to promoting and implementing the  professional development of people who maintain and manage sport surfaces in Ireland.

The Irish Institute is a specialist provider of training and education in the management of Sport Surfaces in Ireland

Through training and education the Institute will strive to promote 'Best Practice' for standards of excellence in Sport Surface management.  

The Institute will also strive to encourage, develop and include people from all streams of society in Ireland who are dedicated in pursuing a career in Sport Surface management.

People

The Irish Institute of Sport Surfaces are widely supported by the Sport Surface Industry in Ireland. The demand for an Irish based and owned organisation has been the catalyst for the establishment of the Irish Institute.

Our Industry Advisory panel consists of those with many years of experience and qualifications in the Irish Sport Surface Industry. 

They have been enrolled to the Irish Institute of Sport Surfaces to provide the industry in Ireland direction and advice, in providing the needs of the industry in Ireland. The standard and quality of training courses is approved by them, to ensure the industry is been served well.

Its Managing Director Mr. Donal Kearney is accredited with an MSc in Sports Surface Technology, a BSc in Turf Science & Golf Course Management and a Diploma of Sportsturf Management.

Donal brings to the role an extensive background of golf course construction and maintenance, and turfgrass expertise.His job roles in the sports turf sectors began at apprentice level right up to management on some of the finest golf courses in Ireland, the UK and in the USA. His hands on practical experience complements his technical knowledge gained at University, and most recently as Regional Advisor for the Institute of Groundsmanship in Ireland.

Mr. Brian Barnes has been the Course manager of Turvey Golf Club since 2000.

Coming from the highly respected Old course in Portmarnock, Brian also a former student of the former An Grianan College of Horticulture in Termonfeckin Co. Louth.

Brian has immense experience both on golf course construction and maintenance.

Mr. Damien McDonagh possesses a B.Agr.SC (Hons) Degree in Horticultural Science and also a M.Agr.Sc in Sportsturf Science from UCD. He has published a scientific paper in the proceedings of the 11^th International Turfgrass Research Conference, which was held in Chile in July 2009, and hopes to publish another paper in the sportsturf area in the International Horticultural Congress in Lisbon this August.

Damien’s work experience is impressive which includes time maintaining both training grounds and main ground of FA clubs such as Watford F.C. Wycombe F.C., Queens Park Rangers F.C., while in England’s Rugby circles London Wasps Rugby Club and Saracens Rugby Club to name but a few. He was also involved in the maintenance of other natural turf surfaces such as cricket, bowls and tennis for both clubs and schools within the U.K and local schools football pitches in Ireland. Damien was also secretary of both the IOG (Institute of Groundsmanship) Connacht Branch and Ireland Region of the IOG. Damien is also an approved IOG trainer.

Mr. Noel Connolly has been maintaining the Terryland Park pitch surface for 12 years and the quality of the playing surface earned admiration from all around the eircom League of Ireland many years.

Noel Connolly has been twice winner of Groundsman of the year award for two years in a row, which was subjected to a detailed inspection by the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG).

It was due recognition for an experienced groundsman like Noel Connolly. Noel brings this wealth of experience and more to the Irish Institute of Sport Surfaces and is quite aware of the needs and requirements of grounds staff all over Ireland. While it is obviously important to maintain a high quality playing surface, the general presentation of the ground is also very important, especially with the increased television coverage this season.

Terryland Park is owned by the Galway and District League so, as well as hosting all Galway United home matches, the pitch is also used for that league's matches. Connolly admitted it makes his job that little bit more difficult. Terryland Park is used 12 months a year - for the eircom League of Ireland in the summer and then junior football in the winter - so the pitch faces different challenges depending on the time of year.

Noel advises many clubs and facilties in the west of Ireland and his practical experience is immense and beneficial to many.

Mr. Andy Turnbull a former Golf Course Manager having started greenkeeping at The Wentworth Club, followed by positions as a Head Greenkeeper, Head Groundsman and Golf Course Manager, and Agronomist for a golf course construction company.  He has studied part-time over the years picking up City & Guilds and the Institute of Groundsmanship Diploma, until 1999/2000 when he studied full-time for one year for a BSc(Hons) with my project being a study of composting of grass clippings. 

He spent five years from 2002 to 2007 as Curriculum Leader for Sports Turf at Warwickshire College teaching from NVQ 2 to BSc students before moving to Belfast in August 2007. He has and continues to provide training and consultancy services, and also manufacture and supply a range of carbohydrate, seaweed and garlic products to golf courses, sports grounds and farmers.

Mr. Terence Mc Shea is the golf course superintendent at Bundoran Golf Course. Terence has been a member of the GCSAI since 1989 and held the position of President from 2001 to 2003.
He obtained a certificate in agriculture from St. Patricks College, Monaghan in 1982.He went on to study farm management before starting work in Bundoran in 1985 and has been there since.He became supertintendent in 1989 whilst studing at the National Botanic Gardens for Phase 1 and 2 City and Guilds Greenkeeping and Sportsturf Management.He also obtained a certificate in Phase 3 City and Guilds and is currently studying for a certificate in golf club management at Kinsealy. He is currently studying a degree course in Greenmount College in Antrim.
Terence has a great deal of experience of maintaining this well known links golf course with a small budget and 3 staff. He also advises on pitch development and maintenance