At the Federation of Irish Sport Leaders Forum Conference the Irish Sailing Foundation shared how national policy and philanthropy are working together to strengthen Ireland’s high-performance sailing pathway. Sports policy has a real and measurable impact when it is aligned with high-performance ambition, effective governance and sustainable funding.
The Irish Sailing Foundation outlined how tax incentives provided through the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport have enabled meaningful private investment into Sport Ireland high-performance programmes. John Menton and James O’Callaghan highlighted how this framework supports the objectives of the National Sports Policy, particularly the goal of empowering sports to generate their own financial resources.
This approach has delivered tangible outcomes. In 2025, the Irish Sailing Foundation contributed €500,000 directly to the sailing performance programme, strengthening preparation, infrastructure and long-term planning. Looking ahead to 2026, Irish Sailing will host a home World Championships and explore the development of a world-class headquarters in collaboration with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
Under the leadership of Catherine Tempany, the Foundation is focused on building on this momentum, ensuring philanthropy remains a cornerstone of performance delivery. The progress achieved reflects the commitment of donors, government and partners working together to deliver lasting impact for Irish sport.