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 – 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 […]
FINTAN MCCARTHY – ON TOP OF THE WORLD
NO ONE was surprised when Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy won the World Lightweight Double Sculls title last month, given that the reigning Olympic champions already also had one World (2019) and two European titles (2021/2022) in their locker. What made it unusual though was their lack of training together this season due to the […]
Ronnie Delany Inducted to NCAA Hall of Fame
Marking the recent 100th staging of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) track and field championships, Ronnie Delany was one of 30 past winners to be inducted to the inaugural Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame. The Irish Olympic Champion’s name stands strong alongside global stars such as Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Jim Ryun, Henry Rono, […]
Celebrating Team Ireland’s ESA Awards Nominations
The European Sponsorship Association (ESA) Awards are the gold standard for recognising the very best in sponsorship across Europe. This week, we are thrilled to have been nominated for Rights Holder of the Year, standing alongside incredible organisations such as AEG, Paralympics GB, and Ryder Cup Europe. This nomination is a testament to the impact [...]
Top Results from the Weekend
9 March 2025; Sarah Healy of Ireland celebrates winning gold in the women's 3000m final on day four of the European Athletics Indoor Championships 2025 at the Omnisport Apeldoorn in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile A Golden Weekend for Team Ireland! A massive congratulations to our athletes on their incredible performances over the weekend! [...]
SONIA’S OLYMPIC ODYSSEY
New Documentary Film Celebrating Sonia O’Sullivan’s Legacy on International Women’s Day In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we proudly present ‘Sonia’s Olympic Odyssey’, a new documentary film honouring the inspiring career and legacy of Sonia O’Sullivan, who won an Olympic silver medal in the 5000m at Sydney 2000. The film follows O’Sullivan’s [...]
Olympians LIVE! Over 26k Students Danced with the Stars!
Thousands of Students Engage with Olympic Champion Rhys McClenaghan and Dance Star Laura Nolan The latest Olympians LIVE! webinar reached an incredible 26,262 students and 931 teachers/schools from across Ireland tuning in to take part in this unforgettable event. Fresh from his Paris 2024 gold medal win on the pommel horse, Olympic Champion Rhys McClenaghan [...]
Olympic Federation of Ireland joins the European Olympic Committees EU Office as partner
The European Olympic Committees EU Office (EOC EU Office) proudly welcomes the Olympic Federation of Ireland among its partners. The EOC is the umbrella body for Europe’s 50 National Olympic Committees and works to spread the Olympic values and inspiring sport and healthy lifestyles across Europe. Thanks to the EU Office of the EOC, the [...]
CANDIDATES SOUGHT FOR NEW ATHLETES’ COMMISSION
Recruitment has begun for the new Athletes' Commission 2025 - 2028 We are currently recruiting members for the new Olympic Federation of Ireland Athletes’ Commission, in what will be an exciting opportunity to have input into many of the decisions and operations across relevant areas in the Olympic movement. The Athletes’ Commission plays a key [...]
Olympians Live! with Rhys McClenaghan
Save the Date: Olympians LIVE! on Friday March 7th We are thrilled to have a brilliant opportunity to catch up with our Olympic Champion Gymnast Rhys McClenaghan, Ireland’s pommel horse gold medallist from Paris 2024. Students will get a cool opportunity for a dance & gymnastics tutorial from Rhys and his Dancing with the Stars [...]
IOC grants provisional recognition to World Boxing
The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally recognised World Boxing (WB) as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level, during a remote meeting held today. Following an assessment of the situation of World Boxing, it was noted that, among the criteria for recognition that [...]
EYOF 2025 Nomination Policies
We are excited to share the Team Ireland nomination policies for the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF). The event will take place in Skopje, North Macedonia, from July 20-26, and it’s a huge opportunity for young Irish athletes to step onto the international stage. For many, the EYOF is their first taste of high-level [...]
TEAM IRELAND COMPETITION CONCLUDES AT THE EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
Finlay Wilson named as flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony Team Ireland wrapped up its participation in the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) today, as skier Julia Deakins delivered a determined performance in the Girls Slalom, finishing 34th on a challenging course that saw half the field unable to complete their runs. With competition [...]