Tánaiste Simon Harris joined Minister Jerry Buttimer to open Ireland’s first National Philanthropy Awareness event in the RDS Dublin, May 14th. The conference focused on the theme: Where Philanthropy Fits- Roles, Partnerships and Public Value. Among the speakers at the event was Irish Sailing Performance Director James O'Callaghan, who spoke about the important role philanthropy continues to play in supporting Irish Sailing athletes and creating pathways to international success.
James O’Callaghan has also played a significant role in advocating for improvements to Ireland’s tax treatment of philanthropic donations, helping create a more supportive environment for philanthropic giving in sport and across the Irish non-profit sector. These changes have helped make philanthropy more accessible and impactful for donors wishing to support Irish sporting organisations and athletes.
For the Irish Sailing Foundation, philanthropy has already had a transformative impact on Irish sailing performance. When Irish sailor Eve McMahon won Gold at the 2025 Grand Slam regatta in Los Angeles, the result reflected far more than performance on the racecourse. Behind that success was the support of an Irish donor who funded a training base on the Pacific coast, allowing Irish athletes to prepare in the same waters that will host the 2028 Olympic Games.
Established in 2015, the Irish Sailing Foundation became Ireland’s first sports foundation dedicated specifically to support aspiring Olympians. Through fundraising and donor investment, the Foundation supports Irish Sailing’s Performance Pathway from youth development through to Olympic competition. Currently, led by Executive Director Catherine Tempany the Foundation had one of it’s most successful years in 2025 and looks set to build on that momentum in 2026.
Importantly, the support extends well beyond medals and podium finishes. The pathway helps young sailors develop resilience, discipline, leadership and confidence during some of the most formative years of their lives. ISF bursaries have also supported talented sailors from across Ireland, helping remove financial barriers to participation at elite level.
Recent results demonstrate the impact of sustained philanthropic investment. In 2025, Irish sailors secured six senior international medals, while all four of Ireland’s Paris 2024 Olympians achieved World Sailing Top Five rankings. Irish athletes also claimed major U23 World and European Championship success, supported directly through coaching and development initiatives funded by the Foundation.
Philanthropy allows long-term investment in people and programmes and super charges the investment already made by government through Sport Ireland. It supports the additional coaching sessions, equipment, travel bursaries, participation in programmes and the overseas training base all of which make a meaningful difference to athlete progression and opportunity.
Through the continued generosity of supporters in Ireland and abroad, the Irish Sailing Foundation continues to ensure that talent, ambition and commitment, rather than financial circumstance, determine how far an Irish sailor can go.