Medical experts have warned that concussion in sport should now be treated as a public health issue, not one left to individual sporting bodies, in evidence to an Oireachtas Committee yesterday.

The Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications and Sport heard from Colin Doherty, Head of the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin, alongside Matthew Campbell and former rugby player Andrew Dunne.

Their central message was that the current model of self-regulation in sport is no longer sufficient to deal with the long-term risks associated with repeated head impacts.

“Our purpose here is not to diminish sport, but to ensure that it can continue to thrive safely for future generations,” said Doherty.

For decades, concussion was treated as a short-term injury, with players often encouraged to continue after heavy blows. That understanding has shifted over the past two decades, as research has linked repeated impacts to lasting brain damage.

The emergence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in former athletes has been central to that shift, highlighting how cumulative trauma can lead to cognitive decline, mood disturbance and dementia.

While governing bodies such as World Rugby and the GAA have introduced protocols, and in football some restrictions are in place for the heading of footballs at a young age, Doherty argued that responsibility remains too fragmented.

“This issue should no longer be viewed solely as a matter for individual sporting organisations,” he said. “It is unfair to put this burden on these organisations to deal with it alone.”

The Trinity group proposed a series of measures to address what they described as a systemic gap:

  • A national clinical and policy group to develop consistent, evidence-based guidance
  • A publicly funded National Concussion Centre
  • A surveillance system to track concussion and head impact exposure
  • A stronger focus on prevention, particularly in youth sport
  • Sustained investment in research

The Committee also heard new findings from Trinity College Dublin and St James’s Hospital, indicating that some retired athletes show persistent disruption of the blood-brain barrier.

This “leakiness” — a breakdown in a key protective system — was found to correlate with measurable cognitive decline, particularly affecting memory, and may persist years after retirement.

“This is not a transient injury. It represents a chronic condition,” said Doherty, pointing to cases where former athletes develop symptoms consistent with traumatic encephalopathy syndrome.

He added that there have been documented cases, including among Irish athletes, of dementia linked to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

“A public health issue”

Andrew Dunne’s contribution underlined the lived reality behind the research, reinforcing concerns around long-term player welfare.

Taken together, the evidence reflects a broader international shift  from managing concussion as an in-game issue to recognising it as a lifelong health risk.

“It should be recognised as a public health issue requiring coordinated national leadership,” Doherty said.

The Committee’s deliberations are expected to inform future recommendations on player welfare and concussion management across Irish sport.

 

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