Athletics Ireland has welcomed a landmark
€28.5 million investment in the nation’s high-performance sport system for 2026, announced by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. Distributed through Sport Ireland, this marks the largest single-year funding commitment ever made to elite sport in Ireland.
The announcement from Minister Patrick O’Donovan and Minister of State Charlie McConalogue comes at a pivotal point in the Olympic cycle, as athletes intensify preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. It follows an exceptional 2025 season for Irish athletics, which delivered 22 medals across major international competitions.
CEO of Athletics Ireland, Hamish Adams welcomed the investment, highlighting its importance to the continued progression of the sport: “We are delighted to see this level of support from Government and Sport Ireland. We thank Minister O’Donovan and Minister of State Charlie McConalogue for their continued backing of Irish athletics. This funding makes a significant contribution to the success and sustainability of our high-performance programmes.”
Deirdre Ryan, Chairperson of the Sport Ireland High Performance Committee, also welcomed the announcement: “At Sport Ireland we would like to thank the Government for their investment in high performance sport. This backing will allow us to accelerate system improvements across coaching, innovation, and pathway development. The 2026 investment reflects this commitment, with €2.5 million planned to be spent in these areas.
Sport Ireland is working with colleagues across the high performance system to support the additional costs that the LA Olympic Games will bring. We’re committed to protecting and enabling performance whilst maintaining cost efficiencies.”
Together, the investment signals a strong commitment to building on Ireland’s recent success and positioning its athletes for continued excellence on the global stage.
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Pictured : Kate O’Connor
Photo : Sportsfile/Sam Barnes
