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 – 28th July
Historic Firsts and Podium Finishes Across Surfing, Athletics, Cycling & Hockey Golden Waves: McDaid Makes Irish Surfing History It was a moment for the ages in Santa Cruz as Gearóid McDaid became the first Irish surfer to win gold at the European Surfing Championships. Riding clean and confident in challenging conditions, McDaid dominated the men’s [...]
ALLIANZ FLAGBEARERS NAMED FOR TEAM IRELAND AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
The Allianz Flagbearers for Team Ireland at the Closing Ceremony of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) have been named as Peadar Sheridan (Table Tennis) and Faye McDonnell (Basketball). The multi-sport Games featuring athletes aged between 14-17 is a key learning point on the pathway of young athletes, and takes place every second year. This [...]
MEDAL ALERT: GOLD MEDAL FOR CHESTER ENRÍQUEZ ON THE VAULT AT EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
Historic gold for Origin gymnast on final day of action in Skopje 2025 In an historic moment for Team Ireland today at the European Youth Olympic Festival, when gymnast Chester Enríquez won not only Ireland’s first gold medal at these Games, but the first gymnastics gold medal for Team Ireland ever. Added to his bronze [...]
IRISH RECORD FALLS FOR MEDLEY RELAY IN EYOF
In temperatures reaching over 40 degrees, the Todor Proeski National Arena enjoyed scorching performances from the Girls’ Medley Relay this evening, with Team Ireland qualifying for tomorrow’s final with the third fastest qualifying time. Also in action was Hammer Thrower Thomas Williams who threw a season’s best throw of 73.07 to finish just outside [...]
DOUBLE MEDAL MORNING FOR TEAM IRELAND ON DAY FOUR OF THE EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
Team Ireland athletes Ellis McHugh and Joe Burke won two bronze medals within 30 minutes of each other this morning (Friday) at the European Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje. Competing in the Girls’ 400m hurdles, McHugh cruised up the final straight in third place in this morning’s final, with a time of 59.25. Half an [...]
CHESTER ENRIQUEZ WINS BRONZE FOR TEAM IRELAND ON DAY FOUR OF THE EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
Medal on Floor brings Irish medal count to 5 in Skopje Team Ireland’s Chester Enriquez won the third Irish medal of the day, with a phenomenal bronze medal in the Boys’ Floor exercise at the European Olympic Festival (EYOF). Going into the competition, the Origin Gymnastics athlete was ranked 7th, and his clean routine [...]
BUSY DAY FOR TEAM IRELAND ON DAY FOUR OF THE EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
It was a busy morning for Team Ireland at the European Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje, with seven sports fielding Irish representation today. All cyclists were in action in a fast paced and aggressive road race. Joe Burke advanced to the final of the Boys’ 200m sprint on the track, and the basketball 3x3 team [...]
TOP PERFORMANCES ON DAY THREE OF THE EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
On a quieter day of competition for Team Ireland at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje, athletes continued to deliver top-class performances, with highlights including Galwegians Matthew Newell and Conor Penney finishing fourth and sixth respectively in the finals of the Race Walk and High Jump. Belfast’s Caleb McGreevy stormed through a stacked [...]
MAEVE KYLE RIP
With great sadness, the Olympic Federation of Ireland today (23 July) learned of the passing of Irish Olympian and trailblazer for women’s sport, Maeve Kyle, at the age of 96. Born in Kilkenny in 1928, and educated in Dublin at Alexandra College and Trinity College, Kyle (nėe Shankey) was a formidable multi-sport athlete who [...]
MORE SUCCESS FOR TEAM IRELAND IN SECOND DAY OF ACTION AT EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
Skopje sun scorches at EYOF with action across seven sports Team Ireland enjoyed continued success on Day Two of competition at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje. Following Erin Friel’s sensational bronze medal performance this morning in the Girls’ 400m, Irish athletes continued to shine across seven sports. Despite scorching conditions reaching [...]