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 […]
ALLIANZ FLAGBEARERS REVEALED FOR TEAM IRELAND AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS
Thomas Maloney Westgård and Anabelle Zurbay to fly the Irish flag at the Opening Ceremony in Milano Cortina 2026 The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) is proud to announce Thomas Maloney Westgård and Anabelle Zurbay as the Allianz Flagbearers for Team Ireland at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. In line with the [...]
OLYMPIC FEDERATION OF IRELAND RE‑ITERATES SUPPORT FOR DUBLIN ICE FACILITY AT CHERRYWOOD
The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) today reaffirmed its strong support for the development of Ireland’s first permanent Olympic‑standard ice facility at Cherrywood, South Dublin as proposed by Prime Arena Holdings - About Dublin Arena — Prime Arena Holdings. Speaking today, Olympic Federation of Ireland CEO, Peter Sherrard said, “This major investment, a significant majority [...]
Leadership, Preparation and Performance: Key Patent Innovations in Conversation with Team Ireland Ahead of Milano Cortina 2026
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games starting in just a few day’s time, Team Ireland are in advanced preparations at their pre-Games camp in the Italian Alps. As one of Team Ireland’s partners, Key Patent Innovations understands the value of preparation, precision and performance under pressure. In this Q&A, Angela Quinlan, Managing Director [...]
Hertz: Keeping Team Ireland Moving at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will present one of the most complex logistical challenges in Olympic history. Spread across northern Italy, the Games will take place over vast distances, rugged mountain terrain and multiple athlete villages. For Team Ireland, a small team competing across several locations, the ability to move quickly, safely and independently [...]
TEAM IRELAND LINE UP NAMED FOR THE WINTER OLYMPICS
The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) has confirmed a four-athlete Team Ireland squad for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, with Irish competitors set to contest events across four competition clusters in northern Italy. The team combines emerging talent and established experience, with three first-time Olympians and one athlete competing in his third [...]
Aifric Keogh takes on a different challenge – ensuring athletes have a stronger voice in Irish sport.
After two Olympic cycles and a medal-winning career, Aifric Keogh is taking on a different challenge – ensuring athletes have a stronger voice in Irish sport. Keogh returned from Tokyo with a bronze medal and, as a passionate supporter of her Team Ireland colleagues across all Olympic sports, felt a strong desire to give something [...]
Strengthening Pathways: Irish Coaches and Federations Supported Through International Development Programmes
The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) continues to support the development of athletes, coaches and systems across Irish Olympic sport, with recent international programmes and federation-level initiatives highlighting the impact of targeted investment through IOC Olympic Solidarity and European governing bodies. Kerrie Leonard Completes World Archery Coaching Accelerator Programme Irish Paralympic archer Kerrie Leonard [...]
Ciara McCallion Appointed as Games Head of Performance Support for Team Ireland at Milano Cortina 2026
The Winter Olympics run from the 6 - 22 February, 2026. The Olympic Federation of Ireland is delighted to announce the appointment of Ciara McCallion as Games Head of Performance Support for Team Ireland at the Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina in February 2026. In this role, McCallion will lead the performance support provision [...]
OFI ATHLETES’ COMMISSION LAUNCHES ATHLETE-CENTRED STRATEGY AND COMMISSION PLAYBOOK
The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) Athletes’ Commission (AC) today officially launched its new Athlete-Centred Strategy alongside the Athletes’ Commission Playbook, setting out a clear, athlete-led roadmap for how athlete voice will shape Irish Olympic sport over the coming cycles. Developed by athletes, for athletes, the strategy marks a significant evolution in the role [...]
Olympic medal winner Sam Griffiths announced as Ireland’s new High Performance Manager
Former Badminton Trials winner and team medal winner takes reins as HSI High Performance Manager Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Griffiths as its new High Performance Eventing Manager ahead of the FEI World Championships in Aachen this summer and in the lead-up to the LA Olympic Games in [...]