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Triathlon Ireland has announced the official launch of its National Triathlon Centre at the University of Limerick (UL), a landmark development in Irish sport that reflects the organisation’s commitment to fostering high performance and community growth in triathlon.

This state-of-the-art centre marks a pivotal step in Triathlon Ireland’s strategic plan, providing Ireland’s most promising triathletes with unparalleled access to world-class facilities, expert coaching, and advanced training programmes. It represents a vision for Irish triathlon that blends excellence on the field of play with a focus on athlete education and personal development.

The National Triathlon Centre benefits from the exceptional sports infrastructure at UL, including its Olympic-sized swimming pool, high-performance athletics track, and expansive campus grounds ideal for swimming, running, and cycling training. These facilities, combined with UL’s status as Ireland’s sporting campus, make it an inspiring base for the next generation of triathletes.

The sporting campus was a training ground for Irish triathlete Carolyn Hayes, who competed in the Olympic triathlon event, representing Ireland at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Former UL sports scholar and triathlete Con Doherty made history in 2012 as the first Irishman to win a medal at the Junior Triathlon World Championships.

Among those attending today’s launch were rising star triathletes and NTC attendees Mathys Bocquet, Ethan Doherty, Senan McDonnell, Sean McMahon, and Izabella Chidlow.

Speaking at the event, University of Limerick’s Acting President Professor Shane Kilcommins highlighted the university’s long-standing dedication to advancing athletic and educational excellence and underscored the importance of the National Triathlon Centre for Ireland’s rising triathlon stars, saying, “Today marks a significant milestone for University of Limerick and Triathlon Ireland. The launch of the National Triathlon Centre at UL underscores our commitment to developing high-performance sports facilities and partnerships that benefit both our university and the broader athletic community in Ireland. This centre will not only enhance our standing in sports academia but also provide our student athletes with the resources they need to excel. As Ireland’s sporting campus, we are proud to be at the forefront of nurturing Ireland’s future sporting talent.”

Speaking at the launch, Triathlon Ireland CEO Darren Coombes celebrated the partnership and the transformational impact of the centre, “Today, we celebrate the opening of the National Triathlon Centre, a true home for triathlon in Ireland. This is a game-changer for our sport. Having a dedicated, fully staffed, student-athlete-focused centre will drive the development of future Irish triathletes on both national and international stages. I would like to thank in particular the Performance Team at Sport Ireland led by Paul McDermott and Niamh O’Sullivan for their ongoing guidance and support of our performance programme, this has been invaluable.

We are deeply grateful to the team at UL for their warm welcome and steadfast support, which has been as valuable as the world-class facilities themselves. I’d like to give a special mention to Dr. Lynne Algar, who sadly passed away this year. Lynne, an alumi of UL, was instrumental in building the original partnership between Triathlon Ireland and UL. Her vision, energy, and determination laid the foundation for this incredible project.”

The new centre will serve as a hub for elite and student-athletes, including those training and studying at UL, such as Junior Athlete of the Year and UL student triathlete, Mathys Bouquet.

Reflecting on the launch, Mathys shared, “Having the National Triathlon Centre here at UL, where I’m studying, means so much to me. Every day, I get to wake up and train with some of the top triathletes in Ireland, supported by the best coaches in the country. This is going to significantly advance the sport of triathlon in Ireland, not just for me but for the next generation of athletes as well.”

The opening also signifies an exciting opportunity for broader collaboration in the sport, with plans to host national squad training days, engage with international federations, and explore hosting national and international competitions in 2025 and beyond.

The National Triathlon Centre aligns with UL’s ongoing investment in sports innovation and its mission to be a leading hub for elite sports training in Ireland. With this facility, UL is positioned as a leading force as Ireland’s sporting campus, nurturing Ireland’s athletic talent and as an inspiring base for the country’s top triathletes.

The National Triathlon Centre at UL is more than a physical space; it represents a bold commitment to Ireland’s athletes, providing them with the tools to succeed and elevating the sport of triathlon to new heights. Together, UL and Triathlon Ireland are building a legacy that will benefit the triathlon community for years to come.