The Irish Sports Council (ISC) was established in 1999 under the Irish Sports Council Act by the Government. The mission of the ISC is to plan, lead and coordinate the sustainable development of sport in Ireland. The aims of the ISC are to increase participation through the removal of barriers, and to make better use of facilities.To help deliver these aims the ISC saw that the best mechanism was through the Local Sports Partnership Initiatives. Donegal was one of eight counties selected by the ISC to pilot the Local Sports Partnership Initiative. By 2003 there will be National coverage.

The Donegal Sports Partnership is a company limited by law. It has a Board of Directors who represents key agencies who influence sport at local level. These include the County Development Board and the Community Fora’s, Donegal County Council, Donegal VEC, FÁS, Health Service Executive (formally the N.WH.B.), Third Level Sector, Partnership Companies, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Irish Business and Employers Confederation

The Partnership employs a full time Co-ordinator, Myles Sweeney, Administrator, Deirdre O’Toole, Researcher, Danny Nee, Sports Inclusion Development Officer (SIDO) Therésè Laverty,  and Cross-Border Development Officer Michael Black. The Donegal Sports Partnership has been in operation since January 2002.

Currently the Sports Partnership is engaged in formulating our second strategy which will seek to increase the opportunity for everyone to participate in sport particularly among the target groups of Young Children, Women, the Unemployed, the Older Person and the Disabled.

We have been in consultation with a number of community groups and organisations throughout Donegal and will continue to consult with as many clubs/organisations and associations in Donegal to build a profile of the various types of sports and related activities available in Donegal.

We are continuing to develop our database of all types of sporting clubs/organisations and related associations who provide access to sport or sporting facilities in County Donegal. This information is compiled into an annual directory made available throughout Donegal and are actively encouraging all clubs/organisations to submit information to this directory.