Category Archives: Coach Education

Coach Education, Event

Connacht Coaching Conference 2026

Powerful Partnerships, Infinite Possibilities

Sunday 11 January 2026
Coral Leisure, Longford Pool, 0800 to 1000
Longford Golf Club, 1100 to 1500

Join us for an inspiring day of learning and networking with some of Ireland’s leading coaches.

Brian Sweeney – Head Coach, Templeogue Swim Club
Treble Swim Ireland Performance Coach of the Year and coach to Olympian Ellen Walshe

Jonathan Preston – Assistant Head Coach, National Centre Dublin
Swim Ireland Performance Youth Coach of the Year 2022 and Club of the Year 2023

✅ Athlete Development Strategies
✅ Maximising Resources and Building Strong Club Cultures
✅ Making the Most of Coach Development and Mentorship
✅ Advanced Butterfly and Training Tactics

Cost: €40
5 CPD Points are available for attending this conference.
Includes refreshments and hot lunch.

BOOK HERE

Coach Education

Cluster Clinic for Coaches: Butterfly Progressions for Age Group Coaches


Explore Butterfly technique and the drills that can be used to support its development.

We’re pleased to offer two 90-minute clinics this November, specifically designed for age-group coaches working with athletes aged 12 and under. These sessions will focus on butterfly drills and progressions to help build a strong technical foundation.

On registering, coaches receive an outline detailing current approaches to butterfly technique, along with recommended drills to support skill development. Coaches are encouraged to review this material in advance, as the clinic will begin with a group discussion based on the content.

Following the discussion, the session will move poolside to observe the practical application of the drills.

One CPD point will be credited to attendees Swim Ireland profile on completion of the clinic.

Registration Links

These clinics are open to all club coaches. Registration will close 48 hours before each clinic begins. Coaches from the host club may attend free of charge but must still register using the links below. 

Roscommon: Saturday 8  November, 0630-0800, CLICK HERE
led by head coach Deirdre Lavin, Comans Swimming Club

Claremorris: Friday 14  November, 1730 to 1900, CLICK HERE
led by Helen Gunning, Regional Pathway Development Coach

Galway: Sunday 30  November, 1830 to 2000, CLICK HERE
led by Helen Gunning, Regional Pathway Development Coach

Coach Education, Event, News, Swim Ireland

Shane Ryan: Workshops for Athletes and Coaches

Olympian, Shane Ryan, comes to Galway on Saturday 30 November 2024, for a series of workshops for athletes and coaches.

Athlete Workshops

Registration opens 0900 on Saturday 23 November 2024 and closes 1700 on Friday 29 November 2024

Backstroke and Butterfly with Olympian, Shane Ryan
0700-0900, Saturday 30 November at Kingfisher Club NUIG 

REGISTER HERE
Techniques and drills for performance backstroke and butterfly
Cost €20, includes a Meet and Greet with Shane Ryan from 1000-1100 at Kingfisher Club NUIG

Effective Starts and Underwaters with Olympian, Shane Ryan
1800-2000, Saturday 30 November at Leisureland Galway

REGISTER HERE
Techniques and drills for performance starts and breakouts
Cost €20, includes a Meet and Greet with Shane Ryan on Saturday 30 November, 1000 to 1100, at Kingfisher Club NUIG


Coach Workshops

Registration opens 0900 on Friday 22 November 2024

Video Analysis with Andrew Sheaff
1930-2030, Friday 29 November, online

REGISTER HERE
Coaches will be introduced to simple video recording which provides objective immediate feedback to athletes, helping improve individual performances and team development.

  • The value of video for coaches (how it can help us get better)
  • The value of video for swimmers (how it can help them get better)
  • Underwater versus overwater filming
  • Camera angles
  • The value of real-time feedback
  • How to make it EASY

Cost €25 (1CPD, includes €10 Swim Ireland administration fee)

Backstroke and Butterfly with Olympian, Shane Ryan
0700-1100, Saturday 30 November at Kingfisher Club NUIG 

REGISTER HERE
At the end of this CPD, coaches will be introduced to techniques and drills for performance backstroke and butterfly, followed by Athlete Journey. Shane shares his perspectives, faults and fixes through video.
Cost €25 (1CPD, includes €10 Swim Ireland administration fee)
Sponsored by Galway Swimming Club

Effective Starts and Underwaters with Olympian, Shane Ryan
1800-2000, Saturday 30 November at Leisureland Galway

REGISTER HERE
At the end of this CPD, coaches will be introduced to techniques and drills to help athletes perform better starts and breakouts.
Cost €25 (1CPD, includes €10 Swim Ireland administration fee)
Sponsored by Shark Swimming Club

Register for all three CPDS for €50

REGISTER HERE
(3CPDs, includes €10 Swim Ireland administration fee)

Coach Education

Skill Clinics for Age-Group Coaches: Developing Track Starts


This Clinic Focusses on drills and progressions to develop an effective start and adapt to the characteristics of each swimmer.

This 90-minute clinic is aimed at age-group coaches working with athletes aged 12 and under, and focusses on Track Starts. When you register for the clinic, you will receive an outline of the current thinking of the foundations of the track start and some of the drills that can be used to support development.

The clinic starts with a conversation on this information which coaches should read in advance to discuss. The session continues on-deck, observing the pool session and the application of the drills. Coaches should arrive on time for the session.

A CPD point will be credited to Swim Ireland profiles on completion of the clinic.

Registration Links

Open to all club coaches, registration will close 48 hours prior to the clinic start date. Host club coaches can enrol free-of-charge, but must register through the links below.

GALWAY: Wednesday 17 April 2024, 1745 to 1915 – CLICK HERE
led by Helen Gunning, RPDC

CLAREMORRIS: Monday 22 April 2024, 1700 to 1830 – CLICK HERE
led by head coach Yvonne Morris, Claremorris Swimming Club

ROSCOMMON: Saturday 11 May 2024, 0730 to 0900 – CLICK HERE
led by head coach Deirdre Lavin, Comans Swimming Club

Coach Education, Event

Success at Connacht Conference!

Swim Connacht host a jam-packed weekend of learning at the 2023 Connacht Coaching Conference in Athlone. More than 50 coaches enjoyed ten workshops and the perfect platform to connect with industry experts and swim coach professionals.

Experts covered many aspects of our sport including planning and sequencing for age-group programmes, dry land considerations, dive starts and turn progressions from an exciting line-up of specialists – including Loughborough University experts, Dr Mike Peyrebrune and Ian Armiger; strength and conditioning coach, Niamh Buffini; performance psychologist and Connacht Olympian, Nicholas Quinn; head coach of New Ross SC, Fran Ronan and Swim Ireland’s Kate Hills.

Huge thanks to all our speakers; attending coaches; supporters – Patricia Cleary, Athlone Swimming Club, SwimKit.ie and the 25 clubs from Connacht, Leinster and Ulster – Aer Lingus Swimming Club, Athlone Swimming Club, Ballina Swimming Club, Ballina Dolphins Swimming Club, Bluefin Swimming Club, Breifne ASC, Castlebar Swimming Club, Claremorris Swimming Club, Coman’s Swimming Club, County Sligo Swimming Club, East Cavan Swimming Club, Galway Swimming Club, Killarney Swimming Club, Laois Marlins Swimming Club, Laser Swimming Club, Longford Swimming Club, Marlins ASC, Mullingar Jets Swimming Club, New Ross Swimming Club, Shark Swimming Club, St Fiacc’s Swimming Club, Swilly Seals ASC, Terenure Swimming Club, Trident Swimming Club and Tuam Swimming Club.

Coach Education, Event

Schedule for ‘Retention Through Motivation’ Connacht Coaching Conference 2023

Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November 
Regional Sports Centre and Radisson Blu, Athlone

TALKS + DISCUSSIONS + INTERACTIVE CLINICS

SPEAKERS

Ian Armiger 
Olympic Coach and former director of swimming at Loughborough University
Click here to learn more about Ian

Dr Mike Peyrebrune 
Technical Advisor and Sport Scientist for British Swimming Olympic Teams
Click here to learn more about Mike

Niamh Buffini 
Performance Strength and Conditioning Coach to Paralympic silver medallist Nicole Turner and Taekwondo Olympic Coach
Click here to learn more about Niamh

Nicholas Quinn 
Performance Psychologist and Connacht Olympian
Click here to learn more about Nicholas

Fran Ronan 
Head Coach, New Ross Swimming Club and Sports Psychologist
Click here to learn more about Fran

Kate Hills
Head of Safeguarding, Ethics and Youth Development
Click here to learn more about Kate

BOOK HERE

Weekend Ticket €80 (8 CPD points)
Saturday Only €40 (3 CPD points)
Sunday Only €75 (5 CPD points)

Includes tea and coffee, plus breakfast and lunch on Sunday!

Coach Education, Event

Coach Fran Ronan presents at the Connacht Coaching Conference 2023

Fran discusses CO-OMPETITION… the impact of coaching collaboration on youth development

Fran Ronan the Head coach of New Ross Swimming Club, and she is the Principal Sports Officer for Sports Active Wexford – a role which involves strategic managing opportunities for participation in physical activity for all.

Fran has been coaching at national level for over 25 years; she swam at international level and played hockey, both indoors and outdoors at national level.

From her beginnings as the assistant age group coach for the University of Bath programme, Fran has been selected for British Swimming National Programmes and Swim Ireland High Performance Programmes at three European Juniors, three Celtic Tri-Nations and the US Open Championships. Fran has coached swimmers who’ve represented GB and Ireland at the Olympics Games in 2012 and 2016, and Swim Ireland Junior and Senior international teams.

Fran was selected as a member of the select coaches’ group, performance in Excellence programme – Irish Institute of Sport 2009-2011, which then was developed into the Horizon PEP 2012-2013, and then Fran mentored the programme in 2014-2015. Now, Fran is a member of Sport Ireland’s Female Elite Coaching Programme.

Fran has a Masters in Applied Exercise and Sport Psychology and a Professional Doctorate in Human Performance and Innovation. Fran has applied theory and research into her coaching, and through better understanding and application in the coaching environment, Fran believes she has improved her performance and that of her athletes.

Meet Fran on Sunday:
CO-OMPETITION, The Impact of Coaching Collaboration on Youth Development

Connacht Coaching Conference 2023

Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November 2023
Regional Sports Centre and the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone

BOOK HERE

Coach Education, Event

Kate Hills presents at the Connacht Coaching Conference 2023

Kate discusses the Challenges and Adversities of Club Level Swimming at the Connacht Coaching Conference 2023

Kate has been working with Swim Ireland as the Head of Safeguarding and the National Children’s Officer for 17 years, overseeing changes to legislation and safeguarding practices to ensure Swim Ireland Safeguarding Policies are up-to-date and relevant for our sport.  As the Head of Safeguarding, Kate reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer in Swim Ireland and, through the CEO, to the Swim Ireland Board.  Kate also works closely with the Swim Ireland Athletes’ Commissions advising on safeguarding matters to ensure the protection and confidentiality of athlete information is maintained and concerns are dealt with in the correct manner.    

Kate currently holds a Master’s Degree in Child Protection and Welfare and is writing a thesis on understanding the stressors and challenges of club level swimmers for a Professional Doctorate in Childhood Studies.  Kate also sits on the strategic groups for safeguarding children in sport in both Sport Ireland and Sport NI.      

Meet Kate at the Connacht Coaching Conference 2023

Saturday 25 November: Challenges and Adversities of Club Level Swimming

Connacht Coaching Conference 2023

Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November 2023
Regional Sports Centre and the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone

BOOK HERE

Coach Education, Event

Nicholas Quinn presents at the Connacht Coaching Conference 2023

Motivational Tools from Performance Psychologist and Olympian, Nicholas Quinn

Pre-Olympic Swimming & Diving Press Briefing, St. Catherine’s Community Centre, Dublin 22/7/2016 Nicholas Quinn Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Gary Carr

Nicholas’s career spans the domains of competitive swimming and business consulting. As an Olympic swimmer, Nicholas represented Ireland internationally for over ten years, including his participation in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games before recently moving into a role as a Management Consultant.

Alongside his athletic pursuits, Nicholas completed a Master’s degree in Performance Psychology from Edinburgh University. Here he focused his attention on resilience and how performance can be optimised across several domains. Nicholas took these academic learnings applying them in both his swimming and management consulting careers.

Nicholas understands what it takes to succeed across several domains and remains heavily involved in swimming through his role as co-chair of the newly established Swim Ireland Athletes’ Commission.

Meet Nicholas in Athlone on Sunday 26 November

Connacht Coaching Conference 2023

Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November 2023
Regional Sports Centre and the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone

BOOK HERE