Irish Sailing are very pleased to receive continued support from Sport Ireland for the High Performance Programme in 2023 with a budget of €800,000 for this year and next in the lead up to the Paris Olympic Games.

In addition, €94,000 goes from Sport Ireland directly to Irish Sailing Team athletes for individual carding support, effectively paying them a salary so they can continue to compete professionally.

The Sport Ireland funding, announced earlier today, goes directly to the Performance Programme which supports the Olympic Team as well as the six Olympic Pathway classes  (ILCA 6 (formerly Laser Radial), ILCA 4 (formerly Laser 4.7), 29er, 420, Topper and Optimist).

Over 200 of these young sailors will compete at the upcoming Irish Sailing Investwise Youth National Championships in April in Howth Yacht Club.

Newly appointed CEO of Irish Sailing Tim Bourke said “the summer of 2022 saw our youth programme perform outstandingly well, with Eve McMahon taking home three world and European gold medals. This continued funding support from Sport Ireland for the High Performance Programme for this year and into 2024 meaning we can continue to populate and nurture our pipeline of young talent feeding into the senior Olympic Team and ensure that Ireland continues to punch above our weight on the international stage”. 

Adding to this, Irish Sailing Performance Director James O’Callaghan said “today’s announcement of the annual grant is a result of the long-term strategic thinking from Sport Ireland, and will have a big impact on how we plan this year and onto the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. This continued support allows us to plan for a very young team, who are already thinking ahead to the LA Games in 2028”.

You can read the full Sport Ireland performance funding breakdown here:  

https://www.sportireland.ie/news/sport-ireland-to-invest-eu24m-in-high-performance-sport-in-2023