About Us
Sailing in Ireland
Sailing is one of Ireland’s top Olympic sports. Over our 100 years of Olympic participation, sailing has driven 10% of Team Ireland’s medals. It is one of only four Olympic sports in which both male and female athletes have won medals for Ireland.
Ireland is an island nation with a strong maritime heritage. Our coastline and lakes are easily accessible from anywhere in the country.
An estimated 90,000 people are regular sailors. Increased access to clubs, training centres and marinas has resulted in significant growth in participation and greater support in recent years.
Sailing is a clean and green sport, powered by the Ireland’s greatest natural resources, wind and waves.
High Performance Sailing in Ireland
All High-Performance sport in Ireland comes under the remit of Sport Ireland’s High Performance unit, whose objective is to be “inclusive of those with talent, whilst focussing on providing resources to those with most potential to succeed”.
Best practice in High Performance sport is continually evolving and Irish Sailing also benefits from Sport Ireland’s learnings in this area.
Why the Irish Sailing Foundation Exists
Sport Ireland provides significant annual funding to Irish Sailing’s High-Performance programmes. However, there remains a shortfall, which the ISF aims to bridge.
In 2024, the cost of running these programmes is €1.8m. Sport Ireland funding in 2024, will be approximately €1.2m.
There is a wide gap between Irish Sailing’s High-Performance funding and that of the most successful sailing nations against whom we compete. Denmark and New Zealand are examples of small nations with similar demographics, who are two of the world’s most successful sailing nations. Both spend in the region of €3m annually on High-Performance programmes.
In order to ensure continued world-class success, Irish Sailing (IS) needs to have the financial capability to invest in development programmes for a broader and deeper pipeline of talent.
How We Are Funded
The ISF aims to raise funds, not only to bridge the existing funding gap, but also to facilitate the expansion of Irish Sailing’s Pathway Programme.
As an All-Island sport, we want to offer opportunity to talent across the island of Ireland.
State
Funding
Whilst state funding continues to provide additional funding will remain an imperative through corporate and individual philanthropic donations.
Philantrophic
Donations
Raising philanthropic donations is the core of the Foundations work. We work with an expanding network of donors to support more sailors through the Pathway to international success.
Corporate
Sponsorship / CSR
Corporate Sponsorship and CSR can play a role in offering greater opportunity to Irish athletes, regardless of background, by providing financial support support, graduate programme opportiunities and internships.
