Paralympics Ireland welcomed members of the national Para sport community to the GAA National Games Development Centre on Tuesday for a highly engaging Spring Edition of the Paralympics Ireland Sports Forum.
The day was opened by Paralympics Ireland President Lisa Clancy, who welcomed attendees and set the tone for a programme focused on collaboration, shared learning and strengthening the Para sport system in Ireland.
Designed with a practical and pragmatic focus, the forum brought together coaches, practitioners, National Governing Bodies and key stakeholders to share lived experience and explore how programmes, pathways and supports for Para athletes and coaches can continue to develop.
An early highlight saw Enda Lynch, CEO of Badminton Ireland, present a detailed case study on the development of their Para badminton strategy, outlining the process, principles and challenges involved in building and launching a national programme.
The Paralympic Pathway session then focused on coach development across UL, Paralympics Ireland and Sport Ireland. Alan Dineen (UL), PhD candidate, shared insights and recommendations from his research in Para coach development, while Geraldine McTavish (Sport Ireland), Disability in Sport Lead, presented the Coaching People with Disabilities guidelines developed in collaboration with Sport Ireland Coaching. The session also reflected ongoing work to better understand and support the development of coaches working in Para sport.
A further session explored the ‘PI Communications Agency’ model through a Table Tennis Ireland case study, with David McNally sharing insights into the collaboration between Paralympics Ireland and Table Tennis Ireland during the 2025 European Championships, and the impact of aligned communications.
An update on Paralympics Ireland activities and offerings for the 2026 season was delivered by Clíona Horan, Para Community Lead, outlining key programmes, supports and opportunities available across the year.
The afternoon then centred on a Collective Impact Workshop focused on athlete gateways and development pathways.
Led by Paralympics Ireland COO Neasa Russell, the workshop was delivered across three stages: case studies from organisations working in Para sport, group discussion on recruitment and development experiences, and capturing key insights and next steps. The interactive format encouraged strong engagement and open exchange across the room.
Contributions from James Nolan and Annmarie Carroll (Para Athletics and UCD Para Academy), Hayley Burke and Patrick Harmon (Para Swimming), and Padraig Healy and Tracey Percy (Vision Sports Ireland) provided practical examples of different approaches to programme development and athlete recruitment.
Throughout the day, the forum’s core objectives were clear: to connect the Para sport community, share challenges and opportunities, and strengthen collaboration across organisations to improve collective impact.
Closing the day, Paralympics Ireland CEO Stephen McNamara reinforced the importance of continued collaboration, noting that much of the organisation’s work goes into forward planning and looking ahead to future Games, while continuing to strengthen the systems that support athletes at every stage of their journey.
The forum highlighted the value of bringing the Para sport community together in one room. Through shared learning and collaboration, organisations are better positioned to support the continued growth of Para sport in Ireland.
