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
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 […]
WATCH: BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS
TOKYO MEDAL MOMENTS REVISITED IN MINI-DOCUSERIES OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDAL IN WOMEN’S FOUR THROWBACK As athletes pass the halfway mark in the shortest Olympic cycle in history, the Olympic Federation of Ireland today launched the first film in a mini docuseries reflecting on some of the Olympic medal moments from Tokyo 2020, a timely reminder of […]
In The News – September 8th
Irish athletes delivered a thrilling blend of drama, historic performances, and progress across the weekend - from the fairways of Kildare to the rings of Liverpool. Golf Rory McIlroy Wins Irish Open in Stunning Fashion Rory McIlroy thrilled fans at the K Club with a breathtaking 30-foot eagle putt on 18 to force a playoff [...]
Performance Round Up – August 2025
CATCH UP ON THE LATEST RESULTS OF TEAM IRELAND ATHLETES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF AUGUST: SAILING ILCA European Championships, Marstrand, Sweden Eve McMahon wins u23 bronze medal. Ewan McMahon places 9th, which is a PB and best ever gold fleet performance for him. 49ERFX WORLDS Championships, Copenhagen, Denmark Erin McIlwaine and Ellen Barbour claimed [...]
Getting better with age – Mark English on his record breaking season
ANY Irish athlete who has ever been frustrated by the inference of an age-limit on their progress or career is surely admiring the thrilling form of Donegal’s Mark English this Summer. There has never been any doubt about the Letterkenny half miler’s talent. Thirteen years ago he was fifth in the World Junior 800m final [...]
SPORT EVENTS COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER
DATES EVENT (SPORT) CONTACT DETAILS 30 August – 14 September CYCLING 11-person team – Cross Country, Downhill, Enduro, Senior and Junior UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, Valais, Switzerland Eoin Smith [email protected] 4-7 September CANOEING TBC ICF World Cup Final, Augsburg, Germany Sam Curtis [email protected] 4 – 14 Sept BOXING 17 athletes to represent Ireland – first World Boxing tournament – World Boxing Championships, Liverpool [...]
In The News – August 25th
Swimming: John Shortt closes off a very successful World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania, by claiming a second World Junior Title! Full Results: 200m Backstroke - Gold (1:56.19 - Breaking the Irish Senior and Junior Record) 100m Backstroke - Gold (53.86s) 50m Backstroke - Bronze (25.06s) On the importance of World Junior Championships experience [...]
Mark English – FLOGAS PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME
Mark English and his training group have been training at altitude this season and it has proved to be very beneficial to his performance! Setting PB’s and breaking National Records Athletes train at high altitude in search of performance gains. More red blood cells → more oxygen to muscles Increased plasma volume → greater endurance [...]
IN THE NEWS – AUGUST 11th
New Kids on the Block – Ireland’s Rising Stars Shine This Summer This summer has been a defining moment for Team Ireland’s rising stars. From the pool to the river and the track to the showjumping arena, our junior athletes have charged into finals, stood proudly on podiums and achieved remarkable milestones on both European [...]
Team Ireland Reflects on a Proud Week at EYOF Skopje 2025
Team Ireland concluded a successful and rewarding week at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje last Sunday, where 35 athletes competed across eight sports in scorching temperatures reaching up to 44 degrees. Reflecting on the week, Team Ireland Chef de Mission for the EYOF in Skopje, Gavin Noble, praised both the performances and [...]
Road to LA 2028: Key Updates on Schedule and Logo
It's three years to go until the start of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and with it came the release of the first official competition schedule by the LA28 Organising Committee. Competition Schedule – First Details Announced Among the most notable updates is a historic shift in the Olympic calendar: Athletics will take place [...]
Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games: Medal Design Revealed
The official unveiling of the medal designs for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games occurred earlier this month. The ceremony took place in Venice and featured appearances from celebrated Italian athletes Federica Pellegrini and Francesca Porcellato, underscoring the symbolism and national pride of the moment. Medal Design Highlights Splitsurface composition: [...]