IRISH OLYMPIANS' ASSOCIATION
Once and Olympian, Always an Olympian
The Irish Olympians’ Association (IOA) unites Ireland’s Olympians to honour their achievements and maintain a community among the over 1,000 athletes who have proudly represented Ireland at the Olympic Games since 1924.
Mission
The IOA is dedicated to fostering the values of the Olympic movement, in collaboration with the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI), the IOA aims to enhance engagement between Olympians, current and aspiring athletes, and the broader sporting community.
Through initiatives that promote contact, provide resources, and elevate the role of Olympians as role models in society, the IOA strives to strengthen the Olympic legacy in Ireland and ensure that future generations are inspired, supported, and empowered to achieve their sporting goals.
The Irish Olympians’ Association is one of 148 National Olympians Associations (NOAs) spread across all five continents.
The IOA is mandated by the Executive Committee of the OFI and is led by an Honorary President.
The current President of the IOA is Athens 2004 & Beijing 2008 Olympian Roisin McGettigan-Dumas, who took up the reigns from Olympic Gold Medalist (Melbourne 1956) Ronnie Delany in December 2023.
You can get in touch with Roisin by email
Olympian's Recources
Team Ireland Plaques
Ireland’s Olympians come from communities across the country and the world. If you, your club, school or community organisation would like to recognise an Olympian, you can now apply for a special plaque.
The Team Ireland plaque features the Olympic rings, alongside the name and details of the Olympian being commemorated.
World Olympians Association
The WOA supports the more than 100,000 living Olympians throughout the world and works for their benefit at all stages of their lives.
The WOA also handles registrations for OLY – a post nominal (like PhD, MD) that gives a 24/7 public recognition of years of hard work, dedication and promotion of the Olympic values.
Irish Olympians’ Association Facebook Group
Connect with other Irish Olympians and stay in touch with news and events at home and abroad.
This is a closed facebook group for Irish Olympians and those interested in Team Ireland’s heritage.
Join the IOA Database
Every athlete who has been selected to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games is automatically a member of the IOA, however the IOA doesn’t always have contact details for athletes who competed in Games pre the internet age.
If you, or any Irish Olympian you know does not already receive occasional emails from us, please fill in our form and help us update our database.
Irish Olympians' Association News
Olympian Spotlight – Fionnuala McCormack
Few Irish athletes embody endurance, resilience, and sheer love of sport quite like Fionnuala McCormack. With a remarkable career spanning nearly two decades, she has represented Ireland at five Olympic Games—from Beijing 2008 right through to Paris 2024—and capped it all with her highest-ever global finish, 9th place at the 2025 World Championships. In this [...]
Celebrating the Olympic Spirit: the Irish Olympians’ Association BBQ
The Irish Olympic community came together in the courtyard of Olympic House on Sport Ireland Campus for the inaugural Olympic Day BBQ. The event brought together Olympians spanning six decades of Irish sporting excellence, along with their families, friends, and staff from the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) for an afternoon of connection, celebration, and [...]
School Honours McClenaghan and McKibbon with Commemorative Olympic Plaques
Olympians Rhys McClenaghan and Peter McKibbon have been honoured by their former secondary school with commemorative plaques. McClenaghan, who won gold in the men’s Pommel Horse at Paris 2024, and McKibbon, a member of Ireland’s men’s hockey team in Paris, both attended Regent House School in Newtownards as teenagers. It has recognised their Olympic achievements [...]
Olympian Spotlight – Julie Parkes & Carol-Ann Heavey
Swimmers Carol-Ann Heavey and Julie Parkes at Dublin airport before departing for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. More than 1,000 people have represented Ireland at the Olympic Games since our nation first participated in Paris 1924. In the second of an ongoing series exploring the personal stories of Ireland's Olympians, Julie Brown (nee [...]
Olympian Spotlight – Terry McHugh
Earlier this month, Terry McHugh was presented with the Olympic Federation of Ireland President’s Award in recognition of his achievements across two sports and six Olympic Games. As well as being the only Irish athlete to have competed in so many Games, Terry is in an exclusive club of dual winter and summer Olympians - [...]
100 YEARS OF TEAM IRELAND CELEBRATED AT CENTENARY OLYMPIC BALL
PHOTOS Last night, over 700 guests gathered for the special Team Ireland Centenary Olympic Ball, at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin. In 1924 the first team competed for Ireland at the Olympic Games in Paris, and throughout the evening athletes and performances spanning the one hundred years were celebrated. The unique event was [...]
Team Ireland Kickstart Centenary Celebrations at Trinity College Dublin
Yesterday, the Olympic Federation of Ireland brought together a number of Olympians to kickstart our centenary celebrations at Trinity College Dublin. Last night's function was the first in a series of events that Team Ireland has planned throughout our Centenary year to celebrate our Olympians, recognise their achievements and inspire the next generation of athletes to [...]
Roisin McGettigan-Dumas Becomes President of the IOA, Olympic Champion Ronnie Delany Steps Down
OLYMPIAN ROISIN MCGETTIGAN-DUMAS BECOMES THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE IRISH OLYMPIANS’ ASSOCIATION OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST RONNIE DELANY STEPS DOWN AND IS AWARDED THE IOA PRESIDENT EMERITUS TITLE Olympic Champion Ronnie Delany has stepped down from his position as President of the Irish Olympians’ Association and the mantle will be passed to 2008 Team Ireland […]
HUGH RUSSELL – OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLIST – RIP
The Olympic Federation of Ireland is sad to hear of the passing of Olympic Bronze Medallist Hugh Russell. The Belfast boxer died following a short illness and is remembered fondly by the Irish Olympic and boxing community. He won his bronze medal in the Men’s Flyweight category at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. The OFI [...]
Olympic Medallist Jim McCourt RIP
Olympic Bronze Medallist in Boxing, Jim McCourt dies The Olympic Federation of Ireland is sad to learn of the passing of Tokyo 1964 Olympic Medallist, Jim McCourt. The Belfast boxer was one of 18 boxers to win an Olympic medal for Ireland and was the only Irish medallist at the Olympic Games in Tokyo […]
How to secure tickets for LA28
Your Journey to LA28 Starts Now! The LA28 Olympic Games ticketing process is now underway and it works differently to what many fans might expect. There is no general public sale. There is no first come, first served release. This is a process, not a moment. Every fan enters through a registration and draw system, [...]
Official Look of the LA28 Games unveiled
With just over two years to go until the world’s greatest athletes gather in Los Angeles, LA28 is bringing the Games to life through the unveiling of the official Look of the Games, the signature graphic patterns and color palettes used to identify all touchpoints of a Games edition, which is centered around the concept [...]
In The News – 23 March 2026
Athletics 2026 World Indoor Championships Kate O’Connor delivered another landmark moment for Irish athletics, securing bronze in the pentathlon at the 2026 World Indoor Championships and further cementing her place among the country’s most consistent championship performers. Her 4,820-point total represented a significant step forward, 97 points higher than her silver-medal performance the previous year, [...]
In The News – 16 March 2026
Gymnastics 2026 Antalya World Cup Gymnastics Ireland enjoyed one of its strongest days on the FIG World Cup circuit in Antalya, securing three medals across two apparatus finals. Eamon Montgomery opened the finals on floor exercise, producing a clean and expressive routine executed with precision. Montgomery, who had qualified fifth, delivered under pressure to score [...]
WATCH: Ronnie Delany’s Destiny – Olympic Champion
Ronnie Delany’s final-lap surge in 1956 delivered one of Ireland’s greatest Olympic moments — a gold medal that still echoes through generations. Watch as the recently deceased legend of Irish athletics relives the moment in which he made Olympic history.
OBITUARY: RONNIE DELANY 1935 – 2026
Irish sport is in mourning following the sad news that Ronnie Delany has passed away. Ronnie, who had turned 91 last Saturday, captured the hearts of the nation when he won the 1500m Olympic gold medal in Melbourne in 1956, bridging a gap of 24 years after Dr Pat O'Callaghan and Bob Tisdall had topped [...]
RIP OLYMPIC CHAMPION RONNIE DELANY
The Olympic Federation of Ireland has expressed its deep sadness at the passing of Olympic champion Ronnie Delany, one of the most iconic figures in Irish sporting history and a lifelong contributor to the Olympic movement. Delany secured his place in sporting history when he won gold in the 1,500m at the 1956 Summer Olympics. [...]
In the News – 9 March 2026
Hockey The Irish Men’s and women’s hockey teams qualify for the FIH World Cup, after competing in the Qualifiers tournament in Santiago, Chile. The Ireland Men’s Hockey Team closed out their FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers with a win over France to take top spot in the tournament. Having trailed by a goal, Ireland fought [...]
Invitation to Tender: External Audit Services for the Olympic Federation of Ireland
The Olympic Federation of Ireland invites suitably qualified firms to tender for the provision of external audit services for the organisation and the Team Ireland Athletes Foundation. Interested firms should review the Invitation to Tender and Tender Declaration documents, which outline the scope of services, submission requirements and evaluation process. Completed submissions should be returned [...]
Events coming up in March
Athletics European Throwing Cup – Nicosia, Cyprus – 14th and 15th March World Indoor Championships – Torun, Poland – 20th-22nd March Hockey FIH World Cup Qualifiers - 1st - 8th March - Santiago, Chile Swimming Edinburgh International - 13th - 15th - Edinburgh, Scotland Giant Open Meet - 20th - 22nd - Paris, [...]