The Irish Sailing Foundation has announced that in 2025 it provided support of more than €500,000 to Irish Sailing’s Performance Pathway, entirely from philanthropic donations. The support included €400,000 in cash and more than €100,000 in accommodation and transport benefits provided by Foundation donors. The Foundation, a separate entity to Irish Sailing, raises philanthropic donations to support the Performance Pathway.
The Performance Pathway provides opportunities for young Irish sailors to develop their performance skills, while supporting their education and other life developments. The Pathway relies entirely on funding from Sport Ireland, the Foundation and the families of participants. The Foundation provided approximately 30% of the Pathway’s 2025 budget.
In 2025, a total of 20 donors, six of whom are based in the United States and the United Kingdom, contributed to the Irish Sailing Foundation. The Foundation has ambitious targets to double this number in 2026. Eight donors signed up for the Foundation’s “Patron Programme”, for which they have each pledged €50,000 annually for five years. All Irish donors to the Foundation can receive a 40% tax rebate on their donations, with similar tax incentives for overseas donations made through The Ireland Funds.
Reporting on the results, Catherine Tempany, the Foundation’s Executive Director, said that “2025 was a pivotal year for the Foundation, driven by the generosity of both long-standing and new donors and the tax incentives provided in the 2024 Finance Act. We are particularly grateful to those who have joined the Patrons Programme; their long-term commitment allows us to build a legacy through the development of the Performance Pathway in addition to supporting our Olympic sailors through and beyond the current Olympic cycle.”
James O’Callaghan, Irish Sailing’s Performance Director, added that “the additional funding from the Foundation is vital for developing world-class programmes. Our sailors won six senior medals in 2025, and we had 40 young sailors in our Performance Pathway - our goal is to extend this to 100 participants. The impact of increased funding is clear. We really appreciate the support received from the Foundation and its donors.”
Colm Barrington, Chair of the Foundation said “I would like to thank sincerely all those who have supported the Foundation, including our donors, our directors and others who have provided benefits in kind. As a former competitive sailor, I know that winning takes talent, dedication and resources. I’m really grateful that the Foundation’s donors are helping bridge the resource gap and helping our talented and dedicated young people reach their potential”.
Barrington added: “Our additional challenge is to fund the proposed High-Performance HQ at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. We have an ideal location within the footprint of the planned National Watersports Campus and have developed detailed plans to transform a derelict building into a world-class facility. However, the €3 million renovation budget is beyond the reach of individual donations and so we continue to seek government support for the project. State backing for other sports headquarters has boosted participation and international success. Similar support will accelerate the development and success of Irish sailing, and the results will inspire the nation”.
The Irish Sailing Foundation was established in 2015 to raise funds from sources other than those that traditionally provide sponsorship for sailing at the national and regional levels.
