Irish Sailing Maintains Sport Ireland Funding in 2021 With Expensive Year Ahead for High-Performance Athletes

24th April 2021

Sport Minister Catherine Martin and Minister of State Jack Chambers (centre) at the launch of Sport Ireland’s funding this week

Irish Sailing maintains its NGO and high-performance funding in 2021 under Sport Ireland’s latest allocations, announced on Thursday (22 April).

The national governing body for sailing receives another €410,000 this year, with €800,000 awarded under High Performance Programme funding — also matching last year’s grant.

It shares in a total of €40 million being invested by Sport Ireland in NGOs and high-level athletes after a year which saw their livelihoods “significantly impacted by Covid-19 restrictions”.

In particular, this is predicted to be an expensive one for athletes with Olympic ambitions “as there remains a high level of uncertainty around competition and training camp plans”, Sport Ireland says.

It adds that it “will provide further support in 2021 to address the immediate and confirmed costs to high performance programmes in respect of the Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

For more details see the Sport Ireland website HERE.

Published in ISA, Olympic

Published in ISA

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Irish Sailing

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MacDara Conroy

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Irish Sailing

The Irish Sailing Association, also known as Irish Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.

Founded in 1945 as the Irish Dinghy Racing Association, it became the Irish Yachting Association in 1964 and the Irish Sailing Association in 1992.

Irish Sailing is a Member National Authority (MNA) of World Sailing and a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The Association is governed by a volunteer board, elected by the member clubs. Policy Groups provide the link with members and stakeholders while advising the Board on specialist areas. There is a professional administration and performance staff, based at the headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Core functions include the regulation of sailing education, administering racing and selection of Irish sailors for international competition. It is the body recognised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for nominating Irish qualified sailors to be considered for selection to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games. Irish sailors have medalled twice at the Olympics – David Wilkins and Jamie Wikinson at the 1980 games, and Annalise Murphy at the 2016 games.

The Association, through its network of clubs and centres, offers curriculum-based training in the various sailing, windsurfing and powerboating disciplines. Irish Sailing qualifications are recognised by Irish and European Authorities. Most prominent of these are the Yachtmaster and the International Certificate of Competency.

It runs the annual All-Ireland Championships (formerly the Helmsman’s Championship) for senior and junior sailors.

The Association has been led by leading lights in the sailing and business communities. These include Douglas Heard, Clayton Love Junior, John Burke and Robert Dix.

Close to 100 sailors have represented Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership of Irish Sailing is either by direct application or through membership of an affiliated organisation. The annual membership fee ranges from €75 for families, down to €20 for Seniors and Juniors.