Ireland Active

What Ireland Active does

Ireland Active is a Dublin-based, Irish-registered company limited by guarantee operating as the national trade association for Ireland's leisure, health and fitness industry. Founded circa 2009 (per company copyright records), it represents leisure facilities, health clubs, fitness centres, swimming pools, sports facilities, equipment suppliers, and individual exercise professionals across Ireland. The association delivers four interconnected product categories: membership services (advocacy, supplier discounts, networking, Garda Vetting); training services through the LHF Skillnet network and dedicated safeguarding/pool plant courses; the National Quality Standard (NQS) Awards, the only sector-specific quality recognition programme in Ireland, now in its 25th year; and the REPs Ireland national register for exercise professionals.

The business model is membership-based and recurring, with revenue generated from membership subscriptions, discounted training course fees (e.g., €20 per-person safeguarding courses delivered via Zoom), supplier partnership programs, and annual event/conference income (Ireland Active Conference & NQS Awards, Pool Operators Conference, Irish S&C Conference, paf Ireland, and the Strive Fitness Race). Distribution is domestic Ireland-only via direct membership sales, website self-service, and a network of approved suppliers including Technogym, The Leisure Experts, Vintia, and Speedflex. The association is led by CEO Karl Dunne and operates from Irish Sport HQ at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

There is no technology product in the conventional sense; the offering is a services and advocacy platform underpinned by brand recognition, regulatory access, and ecosystem coordination rather than proprietary software or AI.

Name

Ireland Active

Legal name

Ireland Active

Website

https://irelandactive.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ireland Active is the Dublin-based national trade association representing Ireland's leisure, health and fitness industry, delivering membership services, training, NQS quality standards awards, and advocacy for facilities, suppliers, and exercise professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAFAF

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Rights Holders & Governing Bodies (Federations, Associations, Sanctioning Bodies)

Keywords

• Fitness industry association
• Leisure trade association
• Professional training services
• Quality standards awards
• Industry advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Ireland Active generates revenue through membership fees from leisure facilities, health clubs, fitness centers, hotels with leisure amenities, and suppliers in the fitness industry. Members receive benefits including advocacy, training discounts, networking opportunities, and access to LHF Skillnet courses.
2. Training Services: The organization offers training courses including safeguarding training, pool plant operator courses, and other professional development programs for members at discounted rates.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Ireland Active is a membership-based trade association providing industry advocacy, quality standards recognition (NQS Awards), professional training courses (via LHF Skillnet), and networking services to leisure facilities, health clubs, fitness centers, hotels with leisure amenities, and industry suppliers across Ireland. Members receive benefits including government advocacy, discounted training, supplier discounts, networking, and access to professional registration through REPs Ireland.

Product overview

Ireland Active is a membership-based industry association for Ireland's leisure, health, and fitness sector. The organization operates as a platform offering multiple interconnected services: the National Quality Standard (NQS) Awards serves as the core quality assurance and recognition programme; Membership Services provides advocacy, financial benefits, networking, and training access; LHF Skillnet delivers sector-specific professional development courses; and Safeguarding Training and Pool Plant Operator Courses address compliance and operational needs. The association also manages REPs Ireland (national exercise professional register), a Garda Vetting service for members, and organizes annual conferences and events including the NQS Awards ceremony. The Active Spaces video series showcases member facilities. The organization functions as an advocacy and standards body rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REPs Ireland: National register for exercise professionals in Ireland
• LHF Skillnet
• NQS Awards

Products and services

• National Quality Standard (NQS) Awards Industry-specific recognition programme for Ireland's leisure, health, and fitness sector with Outstanding, Exceeded, and Achieved standards categories, serving leisure facilities seeking quality recognition.
• Membership Services Membership benefits including advocacy, financial discounts, networking opportunities, training access, and expert advice for leisure, health, and fitness facilities and suppliers across Ireland.
• Leisure, Health & Fitness Skillnet (LHF Skillnet) Training Sector-specific training and professional development courses through Skillnet, offering discounted rates for Ireland Active members covering fitness classes, swim teaching, and managerial skills.
• Safeguarding Training Children First Safeguarding courses for the leisure and fitness industry including Foundation Level and Designated Liaison Person (DLP) courses, delivered online via Zoom at €20 per person for Foundation Level.
• Pool Plant Operator Courses Training courses for pool and spa maintenance helping operators maintain safe, efficient swimming facilities.
• REPs Ireland Register National register for exercise professionals in partnership with Ireland Active, ensuring trainers meet recognized industry standards.
• Garda Vetting Service Member Garda Vetting service for the active leisure sector, appointed by the National Vetting Bureau (NVB), complying with Data Protection Act and GDPR.
• Ireland Active Conference & NQS Awards Annual industry conference and awards ceremony celebrating excellence in the leisure, health, and fitness sector.
• Strive Fitness Race Technology-powered fitness race event with live leaderboards featuring pairs (4 stations) and double exercise stations, held at Sport Ireland Campus as part of European Week of Sport.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 3 in 10 (28%) of adults surveyed indicated they would likely take up gym or swimming pool memberships if tax relief were available
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sport Ireland CampusminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 August 2025Ireland Active partnered with Sport Ireland Campus to deliver the inaugural Strive Fitness Race as part of European Week of Sport. The event promotes fitness racing participation among Ireland Active members.
• Les Mills UKminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2025Ireland Active and REPs Ireland partnered with Les Mills UK to deliver a Global Fitness Report Insights 2026 webinar.
• Swim IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2025Ireland Active partnered with Swim Ireland to deliver the Pool Operators Conference 2025 and to produce the first-ever Swimming Pool Gap Analysis Report. Both organizations work together as part of the National Swimming Strategy working group.
• Irish Strength & Conditioning Network (ISCN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2025Ireland Active partnered with ISCN to deliver the Irish S&C Conference 2025, demonstrating shared vision for supporting the strength and conditioning industry.
• HYROX365minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 February 2025Ireland Active and REPs Ireland partnered with HYROX365 to offer benefits to members in the growing fitness racing space.
• REPs IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland Active and REPs Ireland work closely together on professional standards for fitness professionals. REPs Ireland is the national register for exercise professionals in Ireland, and Ireland Active supports its operations and development.
• LHF SkillnetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Leisure, Health & Fitness Skillnet is a training network operated in partnership with Ireland Active, offering sector-specific training and professional development courses to members at discounted rates.
• Sport IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland Active works with Sport Ireland on policy initiatives, including support for Sport Ireland's Women in Sport policy and participation in government sport infrastructure funding programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CIMSPA: UK Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. Comparable as a professional standards body and register for sport, fitness, and physical activity professionals — directly analogous to Ireland Active's REPs Ireland mandate.
• REPs (Register of Exercise Professionals) UK: UK national public register for qualified exercise professionals. Direct counterpart to REPs Ireland and therefore a closely comparable sub-component of Ireland Active's professional standards portfolio.
• ukactive: UK national trade association for the physical activity, fitness, and leisure sector. Operates as a membership body for gyms, leisure centres, and suppliers, with parallel advocacy, training, and standards programs — the closest structural analogue to Ireland Active in a larger adjacent market.

Regional players

• Fitness Australia: Australia's national health and fitness industry association. Closely comparable in mandate (membership-based trade association for fitness industry) but serves a different geographic market.
• Community Leisure UK: UK membership body for charitable and community leisure trusts. Comparable in representing public-sector and community leisure operators, with parallel training and advocacy services — though serving UK trusts rather than Irish operators.

Others

• The Leisure Database Company: UK-based data and research provider tracking the leisure, fitness, and sports facility sectors. Comparable as a sector intelligence supplier to Ireland Active's member base, though not a direct competitor.
• Sport Ireland: Irish statutory body overseeing sport and physical activity policy. Ireland Active is itself a partner of Sport Ireland; included here as the key national stakeholder and ecosystem counterpart within Ireland.

Broad incumbents

• EuropeActive: European-level not-for-profit association representing the fitness and physical activity sector across the EU. Comparable in advocacy mandate and standards-setting role but operates at supranational scope rather than single-country focus.
• Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA): Global trade association for the health and fitness industry with a broad membership base of gyms and suppliers. Operates the same advocacy + industry-representation model as Ireland Active but at international scale.

Emerging players

• Swim Ireland: National governing body for aquatic sports in Ireland. Direct strategic partner of Ireland Active (Pool Operators Conference, Swimming Pool Gap Analysis) and partial overlap in pool-operator training and aquatic standards.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/irelandactive
• Facebookfacebook.com/IrelandActive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ireland-active
• Instagraminstagram.com/irelandactive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ireland Active