Swim Ireland Announces CEO Sarah Keane to Step Down After Transformative 21-Year Tenure
Swim Ireland today announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Keane, will step down from her role in February 2026, to take up the position of CEO at Cricket Ireland. Keane’s departure marks the end of an extraordinary 21-year period of leadership that has seen Swim Ireland undergo unprecedented growth, transformation, and success on both the national and international stages.
Under Sarah Keane’s visionary leadership since 2004, Swim Ireland has been fundamentally reshaped, establishing itself as a leading national governing body in Irish sport. Her tenure has been defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence, immense drive and a real passion for governance every step of the way. This has led to many successes for Swim Ireland and culminated in a record-breaking era for Irish aquatics. This includes an impressive haul of European, World, and Olympic medals, most notably the historic Olympic medals won by Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry at the Paris 2024 Games.
Beyond elite performance, Keane oversaw the launch by the Government of the first ever National Swimming Strategy last year with a particular focus on infrastructure, outdoor and indoor swimming and the continued recognition of swimming as the second most popular sport for adults in this country. As a great advocate for DEI, she has promoted and spearheaded initiatives for female leadership as well as seeking to include a wider cohort in the life-skill that is swimming.
She has played a fundamental role in not just the professionalising of Swim Ireland but has also massively contributed to the professionalisation of Irish sport. Swim Ireland were delighted to nominate and support her to become the first ever female President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, and she continues to represent Irish Aquatics at International level by her successful election to both the boards of European and World Aquatics.
Speaking on her departure, Sarah Keane said: “Leading Swim Ireland for the past 21 years has been an absolute dream come true. It has been an immense privilege to work alongside such excellent board members, dedicated and extremely talented staff, coaches, athletes, and volunteers who share a passion and ambition for Irish aquatics. I have had so many incredible experiences and learnings as together we have sought to face the challenges and grow the sport and the organisation to enable enhanced grassroots participation, great clubs with our athletes achieving historic feats like Daniel Wiffen’s Olympic gold in Paris. It is up to us as sports administrators to build an organisation and system to support others to thrive and the wider professionalism of the organisation has been a massive highlight of my professional life. I am committed to continuing to complete certain important matters within Swim Ireland including the appointment of the next National Performance Director for the organisation and to support the Board and the staff in the transition. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and I leave with the deepest gratitude for the support and commitment of everyone in the Swim Ireland community. I am also incredibly grateful for the support of the Government, Department, Sport Ireland, Sport NI, the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Paralympics Ireland and many others in Irish sport who have helped Swim Ireland and me personally on this journey so far. I am fully confident that the organisation and the people in it are in a strong position for upward continued success.”
Cathal Marley, Chairperson of Swim Ireland, commented: “On behalf of the entire Board and the wider Swim Ireland community, I want to extend our profound thanks to Sarah Keane for her immense contribution over more than two decades. Sarah has not just led Swim Ireland; she has transformed it, leaving the sport in a far stronger, more professional, and more successful position than she found it. Her legacy of high performance, increased participation, and sound governance provides a fantastic platform for her successor to build upon. Sarah will stay connected to the organisation through her international roles and as a continued part of the Swim Ireland family. While we are sad to see her go, we wish her every success in her new role at Cricket Ireland and look forward to seeing her continue to make an impact on Irish sport.”
Cathal continued ‘Sarah will not depart the organisation for a couple of months yet, and as part of its robust governance structures Swim Ireland will proceed in an appropriate manner to consider the process to appoint a successor who will build upon the formidable foundations laid by Sarah, and we will continue to build on the current strong momentum for Swimming and the aquatics in Ireland’.
Swim Ireland remains committed to its strategic goals, ensuring continued development and success across all levels of aquatic sport in Ireland.
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