Category Archives: 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 SweeneyHead 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

Summer Swim Camps 2025


SwimQuest Pre-Season Development Camp
featuring Arena Skills Training

Are you ready to supercharge your skills before the season kicks off? This Summer, we’re diving into the Arena Skills – the essential technical and tactical tools that every competitive swimmer needs to race smarter… and faster.

Swimmers will take-away game-changing skills they can …and should… apply to every session to keep getting better to make a big difference on race day.

Our coaches break down the small details that matter:
🎯  Drills for blistering turns
🎯  Techniques for explosive starts
🎯  Strategies for seamless breakouts and transitions
🎯  Tactics to improve finishing speed
🎯  Challenges designed to build fast, confident swimmers

SwimQuest Junior 

Open to Swim Ireland members born 2013 to 2015, who are actively training and competing with a competitive swimming club.

Kingfisher Club, Renmore, Galway: Book Here
Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 August, 1800 to 1930

Roscommon Leisure Centre, Roscommon: Book Here
Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 August, 1400 to 1530

SwimQuest Senior 

Open to Swim Ireland members born 2010 to 2012, who are actively training and competing with a competitive swimming club.

Kingfisher Club, Renmore, Galway: Book Here
Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 August, 1930 to 2100

Roscommon Leisure Centre, Roscommon: Book Here
Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 August, 1530 to 1700


AquaXcel: Pre-Season Development Camp

Open to swimmers born in 2011 or earlier with national qualifying times, or by coach recommendation.

Join us for a two-day intensive camp designed to give swimmers a head start before the new season begins. AquaXcel offers a comprehensive assessment of both technical and athletic performance in a high-performance environment.

What’s Included:
🎯  Skill Development Workshop
🎯  Two Technical Swim Sessions in 50m Pool
🎯  Video Analysis and Technique Review
🎯  Sports Nutrition and Goal-Setting Clinic
🎯  Building Robustness and Mobility Gym Session

Sport Arena, Limerick: Book Here
Thursday 21 August and Friday 22 August, 0930 to 1530

Places limited
Cost €90


Registration for Summer Camps open on Saturday 28 June 2025 at 1200

Visit https://swimireland.justgo.com/ to book your camp through your athlete’s Swim Ireland Membership profile.  

Swim Ireland membership is renewed annually through your Club. As a member of Swim Ireland, you have access to a wide range of benefits and support through your individual online membership profile. If you do not have access to your athlete’s Swim Ireland profile, contact your club secretary. You will need your athlete’s Swim Ireland number and the registered email address to reset the password.

Registration closes Friday 15 August 2025


For more information, contact Helen Gunning at helengunning@swimireland.ie

Regional Programme Development Day for Athletes (2013)

Introducing the Regional Programme and the Skills Academy!

Open to all Swim Ireland club members born in 2013, who are competing in the Future Challenger Series.

Discover how the region supports young athletes in their development into age group swimming at the Regional Programme Development Day on Saturday 22 February 2025 at UL Sport Arena, Limerick, from 13:30 to 16:30.

Swimmers can expect to learn more about the Regional Programmes and the Competition Pathway, before diving into a pool clinic that explores effective stroke development.

Itinerary:
13:30-13:45 
Check-in 
13:45-14:45 
Welcome and Presentation
14:45-15:00 Transfer to poolside
15:00-16:30 Pool Session 

Cost: €15 (exclusive of credit/debit card payment surcharge of 2%)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Register through the athlete’s Swim Ireland Membership profile.

Closes at 5pm on Thursday 20 February 2025

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 €20includes 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)

Regional Programme Development Day for Athletes (2013)

Introducing the Regional Programme and the Skills Academy!

Open to all Swim Ireland club members born in 2013, who are competing in the Future Challenger Series.

Discover how we support young athletes in their development into age group swimming. The Connacht Regional Programme Development Day takes place on Sunday 10 November 2024 at Coral Leisure Tuam, Co Galway from 13:00 to 16:30.

Swimmers can expect to learn more about the Regional Programmes and the Competition Pathway, before diving into a dry land workshop and pool clinic that explores effective stroke development.

Itinerary:
13:00-13:15 
Check-in 
13:15-14:00 
Welcome and Presentation
14:00-14:45 Strength and Conditioning
14:45-15:00 Transfer to poolside
15:00-16:30 Pool Session 

Cost: €25 (exclusive of credit/debit card payment surcharge of 2%)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Register through the athlete’s Swim Ireland Membership profile.

Closes at 5pm on Friday 1 November 2024

Hy-Tek Sports Software Workshop

To support clubs, gala secretaries and competition organisers, Swim Connacht will host a Hy-Tek Sports Software Workshop on Sunday 22 September 2024.

Patricia Cleary, Yvonne Morris and Christine Watterson will be discussing common issues and answering your questions from 10am to 12noon at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris.

Please confirm your attendance to connachtsecretary@swimireland.ie by 5pm on Friday 13 September 2024.

Summer Swim Camps 2024


SwimQuest is a pre-season development camp which aims to help athletes prepare for the season ahead by exploring the fundamental skills that can improve performance.

Our three-day camp will review:

  • Body position and balance 
  • Starts, turns and finishes 
  • Underwater dolphin kick and breakouts
  • Stroke progression and efficiency

SwimQuest Junior is open to Swim Ireland members born 2012 to 2014, who are actively training in a competitive swimming club.

SwimQuest Senior is open to Swim Ireland members born 2009 to 2011, who are actively training in a competitive swimming club.

Places limited to 18 swimmers
Cost €50

Carrick on Shannon:
Aura Leitrim Leisure Centre

SwimQuest Junior: BOOK HERE
Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 August, 0915 to 1045

SwimQuest Senior: BOOK HERE
Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 August, 0745 to 0915

Galway:
Kingfisher Club, Renmore

SwimQuest Junior: BOOK HERE
Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 August, 1300 to 1430

SwimQuest Senior: BOOK HERE
Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 August, 1430 to 1600

Ballina:
Community Sports Centre

SwimQuest Junior: BOOK HERE
Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 August, 1700 to 1830

SwimQuest Senior: BOOK HERE
Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 August, 1830 to 2000

Registration opens at 12:00 on Sunday 30 June 2024
Visit https://swimireland.justgo.com/ to book your camp through your athlete’s Swim Ireland Membership profile.  

Swim Ireland membership is renewed annually through your Club. As a member of Swim Ireland, you have access to a wide range of benefits and support through your individual online membership profile. If you do not have access to your athlete’s Swim Ireland profile, contact your club secretary. You will need your athlete’s Swim Ireland number and the registered email address to reset the password.

Registration closes Thursday 15 August 2024


For more information, contact Helen Gunning at helengunning@swimireland.ie

Regional Skills Academy Development Camp for Athletes (2012)

Introducing the Regional Programme and the Skills Academy!

Come along to the Connacht Regional Skills Academy Development Camp and find out how we support young athletes in their development into age group swimming. Swimmers can expect to learn more about the Regional Programmes and the Competition Pathway, before diving into a dry land workshop and pool clinic to explore effective stroke development.

This camp is open to Swim Ireland club members born in 2012, who are competing at the Future Challenger Series.

The Connacht Skills Academy Development Camp takes place on Saturday 17 February 2024 at Coral Leisure in Tuam from 13:00 to 16:30.

Itinerary:
13:00-13:15 
Check-in 
13:15-14:00 
Welcome and Presentation
14:00-14:45 Strength and Conditioning
14:45-15:00 Transfer to poolside
15:00-16:30 Pool Session 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Cost: €25 (exclusive of credit/debit card payment surcharge of 2%)

Registration through the athlete’s Swim Ireland Membership profile.
Places limited.

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.

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!