Swim Ireland

Swim Ireland
Association crest
Founded1998
FINA affiliation1998
LEN
Websitewww.swimireland.ie
Swim Ireland previous logo

Swim Ireland (Irish: Cumann Snámh Éireann) is the national governing body of swimming, open water swimming, synchronised swimming, diving, and water polo on the island of Ireland (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). Swim Ireland is affiliated with European Aquatics, World Aquatics and the Olympic Council of Ireland.

Competitors from Northern Ireland can opt to compete under the aegis of Swim Ireland or Aquatics GB in international competitions, with the exception of the Commonwealth Games, where they can compete for Northern Ireland.

History

Swim Ireland emerged in 1998 from the Irish Amateur Swimming Association (IASA), that was dissolved in January 1999 following proven sexual abuse and other scandals involving senior coaches. Swim Ireland assumed IASA abuse victim liabilities.

Domestic competitions

Swim Ireland runs national meets which include:

Swim Ireland works with the different regions in organising competitions such as provincial Age Group Championships as well as other graded, distance and inter-club meets. They also work with the Irish Schools Swimming Association who run the Irish Minor and Secondary Schools Championships.

The Age Group InterProvincial takes place every year at the beginning of the summer months for swimmers up to the age of 16 years. This is where teams from the 4 provinces of Ireland (Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht) compete against each other.

These competitions take place in either the National Aquatic Centre, Dublin or at University Arena, Limerick. Both pools have the compatibility to be changed into 50m and 25m.

In 2003, Swim Ireland hosted the European Short Course Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin. The event was a resounding success with a world record being broken by the Dutch in the final race, the men's 4x50m Freestyle relay.

Swim Ireland also organise The Liffey Swim which takes place in August to September annually.

Irish swimmers

Swim Ireland recently introduced a new squad structure. This begins with Club Level, then Regional Level, National Level and finally the Elite Squad.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Who is Swim Ireland? from the Swim Ireland website (www.swimireland.ie); retrieved 2010-07-13.
  2. ↑ "Report into Irish Swimming". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 18 June 2026. p. 6 – via BritishNewspaperArchive.co.uk.
  3. ↑ McCarthy, Justine (2009). Deep Deception - Ireland's Swimming Scandals. O'Brien Press.
  4. ↑ Watterson, Johnny (11 February 2008). "Swim Ireland not bankrupt". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 July 2026.