Interests
Making your sporting life more circular
The good news: Ireland's sporting scene is embracing smarter ways to gear up. From equipment libraries to club sharing schemes, from repair workshops to kit swaps, brilliant alternatives are already thriving across counties and communities. Here's your guide to staying active without breaking the bank (or filling the shed).
Good for you
You spend less over time when you keep gear in use for longer, repair what you own, and swap what you’ve outgrown (especially kids’ boots and training gear).
Clubs can cut waste costs and build community buy-in through simple actions like encouraging reusable water bottles and reuse initiatives (e.g., gear swaps).
Did you know?
A lot of sportswear is made from synthetic fibres that can shed microfibres during washing. Long wash cycles increase wear and tear, and high temperatures can damage fabric structure, both associated with higher microfibre release.
Plenty of modern sports equipment uses composite materials (light and strong, but difficult to recycle), which is another reason why keeping gear in circulation, through repair, reuse and sharing, matters.
Tips for extending the life of your gear
Look for replaceable parts, longer warranties, and multi-season versatility. €200 boots lasting eight years cost €25 annually. €80 boots lasting 2 years cost €40 annually.
When to buy: New vs Pre-loved
Safety gear (helmets, climbing equipment) = buy new.
High-wear items with life left (boots, rackets) = brilliant pre-loved.
Seasonal gear (skis, surfboards) = try borrowing first or rent.
Multi-Season Smart Buying
Choose gear that works across activities: trail runners for hiking and gym, base layers for multiple sports, waterproofs for cycling and walking. The same sports shirt can be worn when running, hiking, playing football or cycling.
The Real Cost Calculation
Divide price by expected years of use. €300 skis used five times yearly, over a two-year timespan, results in €30 per use. Borrowing makes more sense.
Make ‘care’ part of training
Air-dry boots and kit where possible (reduces smell and material breakdown).
Keep wash cycles on low-heat where possible (high heat increases wear and tear) and, if you can, wash synthetics only when needed.
Swap before you shop (especially for kids)
Kids grow fast - clubs are perfectly placed to keep kit circulating locally.
The GAA Green Club Waste Toolkit (link) includes practical guidance on running a gear/boot swap, and it also provides posters and social media templates to help clubs promote their waste actions through club channels.
Available to you:
MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit
MyWaste offers a dedicated Sports Clubs toolkit with practical guidance on waste auditing, waste prevention, waste segregation and reuse, plus a Waste Action Plan template and a communications pack (posters, social assets and videos) to help sports clubs share their waste actions.
Green Clubs Programme
The GAA Green Clubs Programme helps clubs take sustainability action across five themes: energy, water, waste, biodiversity, and travel. It provides a Green Club Toolkit with practical guidance and case studies from clubs across the island of Ireland.
Refill stations
Refill.ie’s Mobile Hydration Stations are deployed on-site without an external water supply or power source - you might see them at park runs, trail events, and venues where permanent infrastructure isn’t available. Check out their Tap Map, which shows you where you can refill your water when you’re out and about.
Your Circular Sporting Network
We're growing this list every month. Spot something we've missed or want to share what you're doing? Drop Gordon a line here – we'd love to feature it.
Bikes, reuse and repair
- RepairMyStuff.ie Filter for sports equipment and find repair services near you.
- The Bike Hub (Dublin/Dún Laoghaire) A social enterprise running community bike shops and offering repairs (plus community training and accessible bikes).
- Frontline Bikes (Dublin) A social enterprise bike shop and training centre selling donated bikes that are upcycled, and providing repairs and training.
- An Mheitheal Rothar (Galway) Community bike workshop with DIY repair learning and a “ReCycle Your Cycle” initiative to repair unwanted bikes.
- Rediscovery Centre (Dublin) Rediscover Cycling runs bike courses and maintenance workshops.
- Cycle Sense (Skibbereen) Bike repair shop offering refurbished bicycles and quality reused paint products.
- Deaf Enterprises (Cork) Social enterprise providing furniture upcycling and bike repair services while supporting the deaf community.
- Renew Enterprises (Waterford) Multi-service enterprise offering bike repairs, furniture restoration, and quality reused paint sales.
DIY repair help (when you want to fix it yourself)
- iFixit iFixit hosts INTERSPORT repair and maintenance guides designed to keep sports products in use.
- RepairMyStuff.ie RepairMyStuff.ie is a national Irish repair directory with categories that include fitness/sports (useful for finding services by location).
Clubs, Share & Swap
- Mywaste.ie Single use waste reduction toolkit
- BoxUp Offering lending libraries of sporting equipment - find a locker near you
- Depop Large selection of GAA and football jerseys
- DoneDeal
- GAA Green Clubs
Make a start today
Pick one action you’ll actually do this month:
Join (or start) a club gear swap
Try refill stations at your next event
Repair one item you would usually replace
Borrow gear you only need a few times a year
Donate unused kit so it gets played again
These circular steps add up to a big impact for your wallet and the planet.
One Shared Goal
Clubs like Bohemians are putting circular central to their operations. Check out clubs putting circular at the heart of their operations
Have a query or feedback?
We're growing this list every month. Spot something we've missed or want to share what you're doing? Drop Gordon a line here – we'd love to feature it.
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