Allianz Ireland has strengthened its athlete ambassador team with the addition of Paralympian and para-rower Tiarnán O’Donnell.

The partnership extends Allianz’s wider commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic movements, with O’Donnell joining Rhasidat Adeleke, Orla Comerford and Kate O’Connor among the insurer’s Irish sporting ambassadors.

O’Donnell is still relatively new to rowing, having switched to the sport in 2023 after establishing himself as one of Ireland’s leading wheelchair basketball players.

His rise through Para rowing was rapid.

On his senior international debut at the 2024 World Rowing Cup II in Lucerne, he won silver in the PR2 Single Sculls before making his Paralympic debut at Paris 2024.

Competing alongside Katie O’Brien in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls, the Irish pairing finished second in the B Final and eighth overall.

Their reception back when coming off the water, captured in an RTÉ interview with Darren Frehill.

“I am delighted to be joining Allianz as a brand ambassador,” said O’Donnell.

“Their long-standing support of Paralympics Ireland has meant that athletes like me can continue to pursue the sport that we love. I’m looking forward to working with Allianz as I continue to build towards LA 2028.”

For Allianz, the appointment also fits closely with its emphasis on participation and inclusion as well as elite performance.

“Tiarnán’s journey from wheelchair basketball to the Paralympic start line in Paris embodies the resilience and determination at the heart of Para sport,” said Mark Brennan, Head of Marketing at Allianz Ireland.

“We are proud to welcome him into the Allianz ambassador family and to support him as he continues his rowing career.”

Keep Playing

O’Donnell will work with Allianz across initiatives promoting Para sport, inclusion and youth engagement, including the company’s Keep Playing campaign.

The initiative is designed to address declining levels of participation among young people, particularly around the transition from primary to secondary school.

Allianz says one in five children in Ireland currently leave sport during that period and that, through its portfolio of sporting partnerships, it provides opportunities for more than 60,000 children to participate in sport each year.

O’Donnell’s own sporting journey aligns well with that message.

Having remained engaged in sport despite significant medical challenges during his youth, his transition from wheelchair basketball into rowing illustrates the value of ensuring there remain different routes through which people can stay active and involved.

The ambassador appointment connects three strands of Allianz’s sports sponsorship strategy: supporting elite Irish athletes, increasing the visibility of Para sport and encouraging young people to remain involved in sport.

As a top sponsor of both the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, Allianz will support Team Ireland through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic cycle.

The addition of O’Donnell gives the brand another athlete story that can carry that partnership beyond competition itself and into wider conversations around participation, inclusion and opportunity in Irish sport.

 

We are proud to have Allianz as our partner in the Sport for Business Children and Sport Conference taking place in a school for the first time in two weeks’ time and which promises to cut straight to the heart of children and teachers’ views on sport

 


 

 

The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Sport Ireland, the Federation of Irish Sport, the FAI, GAA, and the Gaelic Players Association are among the many sporting organisations that see the value of a Sport for Business membership. If you would like to join them and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the conversation happening every day around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today and let’s see what is possible, or sign up straight away from the link below.

Image Credit: Sport for Business

ABOUT SPORT FOR BUSINESS

Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies, and public institutions through high-quality content, events, and insights.

Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, and how your story can be part of ours.

Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practices, and make better-informed decisions. It positions sport not just as entertainment but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.

Find out more about becoming a member today.

Or sign up for our Daily Sport for Business Snapshot email bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.

Sign up for our News Bulletins here.