Paralympics Ireland have announced the appointment of Richard Doyle as Chef de Mission for Team Ireland at the upcoming European Para Youth Games which will be held from July 21–28, 2025, at the Cebeci Sports Complex in Istanbul, Turkey.
Richard Doyle brings extensive experience and expertise to the leadership role. He currently serves as Performance Operations Manager and has long been a vital part of Paralympics Ireland’s core support team. Most notably, he served as Deputy Chef de Mission for Team Ireland at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, playing a key role in coordinating support across 14 sports and managing logistics, performance, and athlete welfare.
In his new position, Richard will lead Ireland’s delegation which includes 18 young Para-athletes, coaches, and support staff ensuring a safe, well managed experience that allows competitors to excel both in and out of competition. Richard’s contribution was also recognised when he was selected as the ‘Support-Team Spirit’ Award at the Paralympics Ireland Paris 2024 Ball.
Speaking about his appointment, Richard Doyle said: “I’m really excited to lead this team in Istanbul. Supporting our up-and-coming athletes and working closely with their NGBs is a key priority for us, and EPYG marks an important step in that journey. This promises to be the biggest European Para Youth Games yet, and we’re all looking forward to representing Team Ireland in just three weeks’ time.”
His background in delivering world-class logistical and athlete support environments ensures he’s ideally placed to lead Team Ireland at this important youth event.
Stephen McNamara, CEO of Paralympics Ireland, added: “Richard’s background in delivering world-class logistical and athlete support environments ensures he’s ideally placed to lead Team Ireland at this important youth event. The role of Chef is one that brings huge responsibility and with-it enormous pride, and I congratulate and thank Richard. Our goal is to ensure a supportive environment where athletes can concentrate on the task at hand, within a culture and atmosphere which is high performance driven, while ensuring a friendly and welcoming experience for all.”
The European Para Youth Games is Europe’s premier multi-sport event for young Para athletes. The competition offers an important developmental step on the pathway to Paralympic participation.
Team Ireland’s delegation for the European Para Youth Games will be supported by a dedicated group of professionals across multiple disciplines. Para Athletics will be supported by Alison /O’Riordan and Annmarie Carroll, while Para Swimming will be staffed by Patrick Harmon and Ríona Campion. The Para Table Tennis team will be backed by Eilís O’Callaghan, Michael Cunningham, and Sam Logue. Wheelchair Basketball will be supported by Fergal Leonard, Kieran Dufficy, Wesley O’Connor and Alan Dineen.
Team Ireland will also be supported by Antonia Rossiter, Matthew Hooks and Sinéad Murphy from the Sport Ireland Institute.
In addition, a strong team from Paralympics Ireland will travel to the Turkish capital. Support personnel Alice Wainwright, Brian Hughes, Fiona Scally, and Cliona Horan will play a central role in Team Ireland’s preparations and day-to-day operations at the Games. Their support will be key to fostering a focused, inclusive, and high-quality experience for Ireland’s young Para-athletes.
Team Ireland Support Staff:
Para Athletics
Alison O’Riordan
Annmarie Carroll
Para Swimming
Patrick Harmon
Riona Campion
Para Table Tennis
Sam Logue
Eilis O’Callaghan
Michael Cunningham
Wheelchair Basketball
Fergal Leonard
Kieran Dufficy
Wesley O’Connor
Alan Dineen
Paralympics Ireland
Richard Doyle (Chef de Mission)
Alice Wainwright
Brian Hughes
Cliona Horan
Fiona Scally
Sport Ireland Institute
Antonia Rossiter
Matthew Hooks
Sinead Murphy
About the European Para Youth Games
The European Para Youth Games (EPYG) are held every two years under the governance of the European Paralympic Committee. This edition will see nine sports contested: Para Athletics, Para Swimming, Para Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia, Goalball, Para Archery, Para Judo, and Para Taekwondo. The inclusion of new sports like Para Archery and Para Taekwondo marks a significant expansion in the scale and ambition of the Games.
In addition to elite-level sport, the EPYG incorporates a Discovery Programme, designed to offer education, life skills training, and community engagement opportunities. Topics include athlete classification, mental wellbeing, anti-doping, and leadership development. The Games not only provide an international platform for competition but also play a critical role in preparing young athletes for future success on the world stage.
