Ireland at the Olympics and Paralympics
Ireland's Olympic journey came full circle in 2024, returning to where it first began 100 years ago: Paris.
165+ athletes carried the hopes of Ireland with them at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in France, competing in the green jersey across 27+ sports. They brought home 13 medals across both Games: 5 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze.
Travelling to France for the Olympics or Paralympics?
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Ireland at your fingertips
An immersive art experience, showcasing corners of Ireland and glimpses into Irish culture
100 Years of the Games: Ireland’s Journey
An exhibition mapping Ireland's Olympic and Paralympic journey over the last century
Ireland in France
Find out more about Ireland and France's thriving links and connections
100 years of Team Ireland
The 1924 Paris Olympic Games were the first Ireland was permitted to compete in as a separate country, following the creation of an Irish Free State in 1922.
Ireland's first medal winner in that Games was not an athlete, but an artist - Jack B. Yeats won a silver medal for his painting, The Liffey Swim. Ireland has competed at all but one Olympic Games since, winning 38 medals.
There has been strong Irish representation at the Paralympic Games since its beginnings in 1960. Our Paralympians regularly surpass expectations for a small country, having won over 220 medals since the Games' inception.
Having returned to the City of Lights in 2024, Ireland marked a centenary of sporting achievements. With 165+ athletes who travelled to Paris, this was our largest ever team to compete at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
165+
number of athletes who competed across the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024
1924
Ireland first competed at the Olympics with 10 athletes
278
number of medals won by Irish athletes at the Olympics and Paralympics
100 Years of the Games: Ireland’s Journey
This summer, Paris becomes only the second city to host the Olympic Games on three occasions. It did so previously in 1900 and 1924, the latter a landmark date in Irish sporting history.
The exhibition was commissioned by the Embassy of Ireland in Paris and the Irish Cultural Centre to mark the centenary of Ireland’s first participation in the modern Olympics. It also aims to tell a larger story of an Olympic and Paralympic journey that is at once particular to Ireland and relevant to the international experience.
Ireland at your fingertips
We have partnered with French artist 'The Blind' ahead of the Paralympics to present this immersive art experience, showcasing corners of Ireland and glimpses into Irish culture.
Immerse yourself in scenes shot around Ireland, exploring the full 360° view and listening to the audio description of the sights and sounds of each location.
Discover more about Ireland at the Olympics and Paralympics
Laura Weber’s 2024 designs
New York based Irish designer on her Olympics uniform inspiration
Ireland's first Olympic medal: an artistic victory
Dr Caroline Campbell of the National Gallery, tells us why 'The Liffey Swim' was medal-worthy
Olympic athletes
Find out more about the Irish athletes qualified for the Olympics
Paralympic athletes
Find out more about the Irish athletes qualified for the Paralympics
Ireland in France
Ireland’s relationship with France is one of enduring friendship and affinity going back centuries. Our political and economic relations are thriving, our people-to-people links are stronger than ever before while culture remains at the heart of our connections.
