Canoeing Ireland would like to wish the very best of luck to Performance Director, Jon Mackey, as he announces his departure from the role.

After taking on the role of Performance Director for Canoeing Ireland in 2018, Jon Mackey has left an indelible mark on Irish paddle sports. His leadership of the performance programme has been pivotal in the resurgence of competition paddle sports in Ireland, culminating in the qualification of four boats for the Canoe Slalom event the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – an historic achievement for the nation.

Jon’s commitment to athlete development and performance excellence will continue to shape paddle sports in Ireland for the better, with the recent completion of a comprehensive Competition Pathway Strategy. This innovative strategy brings Ireland to the cutting edge of junior development, paving the way for the recent successes of Irish paddle sport athletes to continue.

Canoeing Ireland CEO Moira Aston paid tribute to the outstanding contribution Jon has made in the role –

“On behalf of Canoeing Ireland, I want to sincerely thank Jon Mackey for his dedication and contributions as Performance Director. Jon has played a key role in advancing our high-performance program and supporting our athletes in reaching new heights. His leadership, expertise, and passion for the sport have been invaluable, and his absence will certainly be felt across the organisation. While we are sad to see him go, we wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”

Speaking about his time with Canoeing Ireland, Jon Mackey, emphasised the people at the heart of our sport who made the journey so special –

‘After seven incredible years with Canoeing Ireland, it’s time for me to move on. It has been an absolute privilege to work in such a supportive, high-paced environment alongside an amazing group of colleagues and athletes who continuously push the boundaries of what’s possible.
From working across two Olympic Games to the standout achievement of qualifying four boats for Paris 2024, the journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. While I will miss the sport and the people who make it so special, I will never be a stranger. Thank you all for the memories, the friendships, and the shared pursuit of excellence—see you on the water!’

On behalf of the entire paddle sports community we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Jon Mackey for his years of commitment to the athletes, volunteers and the sport as a whole. We are looking forward to seeing Jon bring this same dedication to excellence and innovation to his next role.