What We Do
Paralympics Ireland works to create opportunities for people with disabilities in sport, support Irish athletes to achieve world-class performances and build a more inclusive Ireland.
Working with athletes, National Governing Bodies, Sport Ireland, the Sport Ireland Institute and our partners, we are building a vibrant and sustainable Para sport system. Our strategy connects access and athlete development with Paralympic performance, while using the power of sport to challenge perceptions and inspire change.
We Are Mór. Live Limitless.
Read the Paralympics Ireland Strategy here.
Our Vision
Through sport, build a more inclusive Ireland.
Our vision is for an Ireland where everyone, regardless of ability, can thrive through sport and in doing so help deliver lasting positive change in a more inclusive society.
Our Mission
Create a vibrant and sustainable Para sport system that enables Irish athletes to achieve world-class performances which inspire change.
We are committed to building a thriving Para sport system that supports athletes at every stage of their journey to compete at the highest level and, through their performances, change perceptions of disability in society.
Our Strategic Objectives
1. Lead Team Ireland to perform to its potential and deliver success at Paralympic Games
We are committed to providing world-class support that enables every member of Team Ireland to prepare, perform and thrive at the Paralympic Games.
We will:
- Deliver a Paralympic Games operational and performance support plan that optimises the performance environment and experience.
- Cultivate a positive and professional Team Ireland culture and community of practice.
- Create development opportunities for Team Ireland at international multisport Games.
- Design and deliver a holistic performance development programme to better prepare performance pathway athletes for a career as a professional athlete.
- Lead and guide National Governing Bodies in developing and delivering robust classification programmes to support Para athletes on their pathway to international performances.
2. Transform Para sport access and opportunities
We are committed to leading a collective effort to expand access to Para sport and create opportunities for people to develop within it.
We will:
- Deliver creative, innovative and engaging athlete recruitment events at national and community level.
- Develop targeted recruitment, retention and development strategies for underrepresented groups and critical support roles in the Para sport system.
- Grow the Para sport network by engaging a broad range of local and national stakeholders.
- Collaborate on local Para sport development projects with our partners and athletes.
- Deliver inspiring development opportunities for athletes participating in Para sport with National Governing Bodies and other service providers.
3. Use our voice to build a more equitable and inclusive Ireland
We are committed to challenging societal perceptions of disability and driving greater inclusion through the voices of Paralympians and the platform of Para sport.
We will explore funding options that enable us to:
- Deliver public campaigns that showcase the excellence and lived experiences of Paralympians.
- Create programmes and pathways for Paralympians to develop and lead within Paralympics Ireland and the Irish sporting system.
- Strengthen athlete voice in Para sport by developing forums for listening to, and acting on, Para athletes’ perspectives.
- Champion increased representation of people with disabilities in the Para sport workforce through athlete career support, skills development and training initiatives.
- Advocate for equitable funding for the Para sport system.
Our Values
Excellence
We aim high and support each other to perform at our best.
Respect
We build an inclusive culture where everyone belongs and feels valued.
Courageous Leadership
We lead by example, challenge the status quo and take action to create change.
Fairness
We champion equity, access and representation across everything we do.
Accountability
We take responsibility for our actions and the impact we have.
Delivering Our Strategy
Five organisational enablers underpin the delivery of our strategy.
A high-performing, values-based organisation
We will lead with purpose and integrity, uphold the highest standards of governance and invest in people, systems and sustainability.
An engaged athlete voice
We will champion the voices of our Paralympian community and support their development as leaders, enabling them to shape our work and drive wider impact.
Collaborative partnerships
We will work with our partners to grow a vibrant Para sport system, creating more opportunities and shared success.
A sustainable business model
We will build long-term, values-driven partnerships that generate the resources and visibility needed to power performance and inspire change.
Monitoring and evaluating progress
We will develop measures to establish a baseline, track progress and understand the outcomes and impact of our work across the Para sport system.
Paralympics Ireland Strategy 2026
Paralympics Ireland Strategy 2026 Accessible Version
