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
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 […]
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 […]
Eve McMahon’s Breakthrough Moment As She Wins Her First Senior Medal
Eve McMahon has had so much success at youth and age-level sailing that it is easy to presume her historic bronze medal at the ILCA 6 sailing World Championships in Qingdao in May was expected. The 21-year-old Howth Yacht Club star’s phenomenal trajectory – back-to-back World U21 titles and 13th on her Olympic debut last [...]
TEAM IRELAND WINTER OLYMPIC HOPEFULS GATHER FOR TEAM CAMP IN DUBLIN
MILANO CORTINA 2026 THE TARGET AS HOST OF NEXT WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES This week, the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) hosted six Irish Winter Olympic hopefuls at a team camp in Dublin, with others dialling in online. With just nine months to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, the camp provided a valuable [...]
Federation of Irish Sport Briefs Oireachtas Members on Urgent Funding and Policy Needs
FIS called for: An introduction of guaranteed year-on-year increases in newly proposed multi-annual funding model An establishment of a national pay frameworkfor the professional sports workforce An implementation of a new1% betting levy to fund grassroot sport programmes The Federation of Irish Sport hosted an engaging high-level briefing in the AV Room of Leinster House [...]
LA28 Open Days: Early Engagement, Key Insights, and Camp Planning for Team Ireland
Chef de Mission Gavin Noble and Deputy Chef Nancy Chillingworth recently returned from the LA28 Open Days — the first official in-person engagement hosted by the LA28 Organising Committee. Their visit marked Team Ireland’s third trip to Los Angeles since the Paris Games, highlighting the proactive timeline the team are working to. At this point [...]
Performance Round Up – May 2025
Catch up on the latest results of Team Ireland athletes throughout the month of May: Ellen Walshe setting a new Irish national record in the 400m Individual Medley with a time of 4:35.32, at the 2025 Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale. Andrew Coscoran wins the 3000m in 8:17.56 at the Grand Slam Track meeting [...]
In The News – May 26th
Team Ireland Round-Up | Medals, Records, and Milestones Across Europe and the U.S. ATHLETICS | Gidey’s Breakthrough, Healy Shines, English and Coscoran Impress Efrem Gidey made history on Saturday evening in Pacé, France, becoming the first Irish athlete to win individual gold at the European 10,000m Cup. The 24-year-old surged ahead with just over [...]
OLYMPIC FEDERATION OF IRELAND BACKS LANDMARK WINTER SPORTS ARENA PLANS
DEVELOPMENT OF ICE FACILITY IS KEY PILLAR ON IRELAND’S WINTER SPORTS STRATEGY 2022-2026 The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) today formally endorsed the proposed development of Ireland’s first Olympic standard winter sports and entertainment facility at Cherrywood, South Dublin. The €190 million project, led by Prime Arena Holdings, represents a major advance in delivering on [...]
Sport Ireland Campus have announced a new partnership with Allianz Ireland and Team Ireland for its School Tours
Sport Ireland Campus has announced a new partnership with Allianz Ireland and Team Ireland for its popular multi-sport Primary and Secondary School Tours. The sponsorship brings together organisations with the shared mission of inspiring Ireland’s next generation through sport. This new partnership sees Allianz Ireland – title partner of the Olympic Federation of Ireland - [...]
Gerard O’Donnell – Flogas Performance Fund
Gerard O'Donnell is a high performance athletics coach that specialises in sprints and hurdles events. He discusses the difference it makes to an athlete to have their coach at an abroad training camp, to ensure they're keeping to their training routine and not overworking themselves. A big thank you to Flogas for supporting our athletes [...]
Jack Fairclough Sets New Irish Record and Makes History at ISSF World Cup in Cyprus
Jack Fairclough Sets New Irish Record and Makes History at ISSF World Cup in Cyprus Nicosia, Cyprus — Jack Fairclough has delivered a landmark performance for Irish shooting sport at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Nicosia, Cyprus, setting a new Irish record in Men’s Olympic Skeet with a remarkable score of 122 out of 125 [...]