IWA-Sport has formally taken over governance of Boccia in Ireland, marking a significant development for one of the most inclusive sports on the Paralympic programme.

The announcement was made at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena on Sunday, April 19th, in front of a large gathering of athletes, volunteers, partners and stakeholders, underlining the importance of the transition for the future growth of the sport.

Following a detailed process completed during 2025, and delivered in partnership with Paralympics Ireland and with the support of Sport Ireland, IWA-Sport now assumes responsibility as the National Governing Body for Boccia in Ireland.

The move is expected to accelerate the development of the sport across both grassroots and performance pathways, opening up new opportunities for participation nationwide. Boccia is widely regarded as one of the most accessible sports globally, designed specifically for athletes with physical disabilities and requiring skill, strategy and precision.

“Today, we mark and celebrate Boccia coming under our wing,” said Nicky Hamil, Director of IWA-Sport. “We take our responsibility to nurture and grow the sport in Ireland very seriously, and we are excited for its future. Our vision is to grow the sport within our clubs, in our community centres and through new programmes and competitions.”

Sean Mulligan, Sports Development Officer for Boccia with IWA-Sport, emphasised the broader participation opportunity. “This is about more people, in more communities, having the chance to take part in sport in a meaningful way. Boccia is accessible and fun, and we now have the structure to grow it.”

The launch event also provided a practical showcase of the sport, with attendees at a Wheelchair Basketball Junior Blitz given the opportunity to experience Boccia first-hand.

A strong community foundation already exists, highlighted by the contribution of the PK Boccia Club, which has been a driving force in promoting the sport at local level. Founded over a decade ago, the club now includes around 20 players and 10 volunteers, with a family-oriented structure supporting its continued growth.

“We love the game of Boccia,” said coach Liam Bracken. “It’s a close community, and we have made lots of friends from other teams. We can’t wait to have more people playing.”

The club has also produced competitive success, with Caoimhe Daly winning national honours and Jason Kearney marking four decades in the sport, including a Paralympic bronze medal in 1992.

In a symbolic moment at the launch, Paralympic medallist Gabriel Shelly passed the torch to Daly, representing the transition to a new generation of Irish boccia talent.

With governance now aligned under IWA-Sport, the focus will shift to embedding Boccia more deeply within communities through clubs, volunteers and local sports partnerships, ensuring greater access and long-term sustainability for the sport across Ireland.

Join us tomorrow morning when Ann Marie O’Grady, CEO of the Irish Wheelchair Association will be our guest on the Sport for Business Podcast.

Image Credit: Irish Wheelchair Association

 

IWA Sport, Paralympics Ireland and Sport Ireland mentioned in this story are full members of the Sport for Business community.

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