The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) has welcomed today’s announcement by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport confirming a record €28.5 million investment in high-performance sport for 2026, to be distributed through Sport Ireland.
The announcement, made by Minister Patrick O’Donovan and Minister of State Charlie McConalogue, represents the highest-ever annual investment in Ireland’s high-performance system and comes at a pivotal midway point in the cycle towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The funding increase follows a record-breaking 2025 for Irish athletes, who secured 127 major international medals across a wide range of sports.
Welcoming the announcement, OFI CEO, Peter Sherrard, said,
“We welcome the Government’s increased investment in high-performance sport and thank the Ministers and the Department for their commitment to the athletes and the NGB programmes that support them. Investment is critical to success on the international stage.
“High-performance sport also plays an important role in encouraging young people into sport. The achievements of our athletes can lift the nation and bring communities together, providing a crucial sense of social cohesion.
“We know that LA will present many financial challenges, and this increased investment is very welcome as we work collectively to support our athletes on the road to 2028.”
The OFI reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Sport Ireland, National Governing Bodies, and key partners across the system to maximise the impact of this investment and support sustained success for Team Ireland athletes on the world stage.