Rowing Ireland is proud to announce the appointment of Niall O’Carroll as its new Head of High Performance, a key leadership role as the organisation builds on its historic results at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai and looks ahead to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Niall O’Carroll joins Rowing Ireland from his role as Chair of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA), where he has played a central role in guiding the organisation in recent years. During his tenure, he oversaw important governance and cultural reforms that safeguarded boxing’s Olympic pathway and strengthened the sport’s structures. He also supported the organisation during a period of notable sporting success, with Irish boxers winning gold medals at the Paris Olympics and more recently at the World Championships, while establishing a new senior leadership team. He leaves the association in a strong position for the future.
Beyond governance, Niall brings a wealth of leadership and performance experience. A former member of An Garda Síochána for 18 years, he later specialised in sports psychology and leadership development, working with athletes and organisations across three continents. He has supported Olympic champions, international federations, and high-performance environments, focusing on sustainable success and fostering a strong team culture.
This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Rowing Ireland. The Shanghai World Championships saw Ireland record some of its most successful results to date, including:
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Fintan McCarthy & Mags Cremin secure a landmark first-ever World Championship medal in the Mixed Double Sculls.
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Fiona Murtagh delivers a stunning gold medal performance in the Women’s Single Sculls.
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A hard-fought Bronze in the Men’s Double Sculls for Philip Doyle and Fintan McCarthy, with double Olympian Fintan making a seamless transition from lightweight.
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Jake McCarthy claims Bronze in the Men’s Lightweight Single Sculls, joining his twin brother in Ireland’s expanding medal tally.
These achievements highlight Rowing Ireland’s ability to diversify beyond traditional lightweight categories and deliver results across multiple disciplines, from Olympic boats to coastal and indoor rowing.
The organisation is also investing in its future. Significant upgrades are underway at the National Rowing Centre (NRC), ensuring world-class training, recovery, and development environments for athletes.
Niall O’Carroll will take responsibility for leading the performance programme. In this new structure, he will work together with the Head of Governance and Planning Matt McKerrow as part of a leadership team under CEO Michelle Carpenter. Lead coach Dominic Casey will maintain his pivotal role in guiding the coaching team. Together, they form a strengthened leadership group tasked with delivering Rowing Ireland’s strategy through to LA 2028 and beyond.
Rowing Ireland Chair Barry McWilliams said:
“We are delighted to welcome Niall O'Carroll as our new Head of High Performance. His proven track record in leadership, governance, and high-performance sport will be a tremendous asset to Rowing Ireland. Building on the historic triumphs of Shanghai, we now prepare the road to Los Angeles 2028, energised by the belief that Niall’s vision and commitment to excellence will help guide our athletes and teams to even greater achievements.”
Rowing Ireland CEO Michelle Carpenter said:
“Niall O’Carroll joins Rowing Ireland at a pivotal time for our sport. His experience in performance and cultural development will add real strength to our existing structures as we build towards Los Angeles 2028. With Dominic Casey and our coaching team continuing to drive excellence on the water, and our staff and volunteers underpinning that effort, I believe we are well placed to nurture the next generation of athletes and ensure lasting success for rowing.”
