Rowing Ireland has appointed Niall O’Carroll as its new Head of High Performance, as the organisation looks to build on its record-breaking results at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai and prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
O’Carroll brings a strong blend of governance, leadership, and performance expertise to the role.
He joins from the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA), where he served as Chair during a period of both organisational reform and sporting achievement.
His leadership was instrumental in guiding the IABA through governance and cultural challenges that had threatened boxing’s Olympic future. Under his tenure, the association safeguarded its place on the Olympic pathway, restructured its leadership team, and oversaw a period of sporting success that included gold medals at the Paris 2024 Games and the recent World Championships.
O’Carroll is a former Garda with 18 years’ service. He went on to specialise in sports psychology and leadership development, working with athletes and sporting bodies across three continents.
His clients have included Olympic champions and international federations, where his focus has been on creating high-performance environments that combine sustainable success with strong team culture.
In addition to the success in Shanghai, Rowing Ireland is also investing heavily in infrastructure to support this progress.
Upgrades at the National Rowing Centre (NRC) are already underway, aimed at providing athletes with world-class training, recovery, and support facilities. These improvements are designed to sustain momentum as the NGB sets its sights on qualification and podium success at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
As Head of High Performance, O’Carroll will lead the performance programme, working alongside Head of Governance and Planning Matt McKerrow and reporting to CEO Michelle Carpenter.
Long-serving coach Dominic Casey will continue to play a central role in athlete development, with the strengthened leadership team tasked with implementing Rowing Ireland’s strategy through the next Olympic cycle and beyond.
Rowing Ireland Chair Barry McWilliams described the appointment as a timely boost for the organisation.
“We are delighted to welcome Niall O’Carroll as our new Head of High Performance. His proven track record in leadership, governance, and high-performance sport will be a tremendous asset to Rowing Ireland. Building on the historic triumphs of Shanghai, we now prepare the road to Los Angeles 2028, energised by the belief that Niall’s vision and commitment to excellence will help guide our athletes and teams to even greater achievements.”
CEO Michelle Carpenter emphasised the significance of O’Carroll’s arrival in aligning high performance with cultural and structural development.
“Niall O’Carroll joins Rowing Ireland at a pivotal time for our sport. His experience in performance and cultural development will add real strength to our existing structures as we build towards Los Angeles 2028. With Dominic Casey and our coaching team continuing to drive excellence on the water, and our staff and volunteers underpinning that effort, I believe we are well placed to nurture the next generation of athletes and ensure lasting success for rowing.”
With a strengthened leadership team, upgraded facilities, and a pipeline of athletes already demonstrating world-class potential, Rowing Ireland is consolidating itself as one of Ireland’s leading Olympic sports.
O’Carroll’s appointment is designed to ensure that progress continues all the way to Los Angeles and beyond.
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