Three Centres. One Nation.

The Performance Programme operates three National Centres, one at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin, one at the University of Limerick and one at the Bangor Aurora Leisure Centre.

The three National Centres provide performance support for identified athletes across Ireland as we continue to prepare for the Olympic Games in 2024 and 2028 and operate as performance hubs for swimming .

Each continue to grow from their current Centre-based coaching group programme to an all-encompassing approach to preparation, development and education for both athletes and coaches.

The National Centres have an open door policy for targeted athletes and coaches within Ireland’s Performance and Performance Pathway systems.

If you would like further information on any of the National Centres or Programmes within them, please complete this enquiry form.

Key Features

The key features of the National Centres include:

  • Daily access to both 50m and 25m pools
  • Provision of a fully integrated daily training environment with over 25 hours of dedicated pool coaching per week available. Over 75% of the swimming water time is allocated to long course coaching
  • Commitment to providing the best possible living environment conducive to Performance training, with accommodation available on campus at both Centres
  • An aim to give holistic support to athletes to ensure that they achieve an ideal lifestyle and performance balance
  • Targeted athletes and coaches will be invited to attend Centres for experiential, development and testing purposes across the course of a season
  • A ‘Hub’ approach to educate our Performance coaches of the future
  • Full time coaching support in a world class performance facility with priority access to water time
  • An integrated Sports Science and Sports Medicine (SSSM) support programme determined by the National Centre Head Coach or Head of Physical Preparation and subject to approval by the National Performance Director.

National Centre Athlete Membership

  • Athletes must be eligible to compete for Ireland. If an athlete is not eligible to compete for Ireland, the enquiry will only be considered if such a membership is considered to accentuate the daily training environment of the Irish athletes in situ
  • Athletes must complete an Application Form which will be considered by the relevant National Centre Lead Coach and the National Performance Director (forms are available upon completion of an enquiry form)
  • Athletes must achieve the relevant entry standards for the Centre/Squad they wish to join. These standards will be issued following completion of the enquiry form
  • The aim is to notify applicants within two weeks as to whether or not their application has been successful
  • If the application is successful, an athlete may be offered a trial at the National Centre
  • Athletes who are offered a Full-Time place at a National Centre will undergo an Induction Process and will be subject to a National Centre Agreement
National Hub

Dublin

Based at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin, National Hub (Dublin) houses the National Centre (Dublin) Performance Squad and the Project28 Squad.

Coach Steven Beckerleg is the Lead Coach for the Centre (Swimming), assisted by Assistant Head Coach Andrew Addison and Assistant Coach Zoe Smith.

Both groups are supported by Heads of Physical Preparation Paul Talty, with assistance from Dean Ryan.

As part of our ‘person first – athlete second approach’ in Performance swimming & diving, the National Hub (Dublin) works closely with two partner Higher Education Institutions who both offer scholarship opportunities, a preferred academic entry scheme and a comprehensive athlete support programme:

National Centre

Limerick

Based at the University of Limerick, National Centre (Limerick) consists of a Performance Pathway Squad.

Coach John Szaranek is the Lead Coach for the Centre, assisted by Assistant Head Coach Mikey McCarthy and Assistant Coach Jade Murphy

Athletes are also supported by S&C Coach Lorna Barry & Physiotherapist Kathryn Fahy

As part of our ‘person first – athlete second approach’ in Performance swimming & diving, the National Centre (Limerick) works closely with a partner Higher Education Institution which offers scholarship opportunities, a preferred academic entry scheme and a comprehensive athlete support programme:

National Centre

Ulster

Based at the Bangor Aurora Leisure Complex and supported by Swim Ulster, National Centre (Ulster) consists of a Performance Pathway Squad.

Coach Kevin Anderson is the Lead Coach for the Centre, assisted by Coaches Andrew Bree, Curtis Coulter, Aaron Rickhuss, Jordan Sloan and David Thompson.

Athletes are also supported by the SSSM providers at the Sport Northern Ireland Sports Institute.

As part of our ‘person first – athlete second approach’ in Performance swimming & diving, the National Centre (Ulster) is working closely with two partner Higher Education Institutions to offer scholarship opportunities, a preferred academic entry scheme and a comprehensive athlete support programme.

Ulster University provides dedicated swimming scholarships annually in association with the National Centre Ulster. Queens University Belfast supports the National Centre Ulster through their Elite Athlete Program.

The National Centre Ulster, through fundraising initiatives, can increase scholarships for the right athlete and is committed to providing an extraordinary international swimming experience for all athletes.