Roscommon’s world champion boxer backs new partnership for elite athletes
Double Olympic champion and three-time Olympic medallist rower Paul O’Donovan, pictured with World Champion boxer Lisa O’Rourke, and Paralympic silver medallist swimmer Róisín Ní Ríain who were among the athletes attending Sport Ireland Institute on the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown for the launch event.
World Champion boxer Lisa O’Rourke from Castlerea was among the athletes attending Sport Ireland Institute on the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown today for the launch of new research commissioned by the National Dairy Council which has found that while most Irish adults value a healthy start to the day, convenience continues to strongly influence breakfast choices.
The survey of more than 1,000 Irish adults found that 84% say a healthy and balanced breakfast is important to them. However, 41% still typically choose carb-based options such as bread, toast, or pastries, with more nutrient-dense choices such as cereal with milk following behind.
Just over a quarter (26%) of respondents said convenience and practicality are their main priority when choosing breakfast, while only 4% opt for a traditional cooked breakfast. Nearly half (49%) eat cereal or granola with milk or yogurt, while 52% say they usually eat breakfast at the kitchen table compared with 11% who always eat it on the go.
The research was released alongside the launch of a new three-year partnership between the National Dairy Council and Sport Ireland Institute, Ireland’s national high-performance sport support centre for elite athletes, based on the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown.
The programme, “High-Performance Breakfast, Powered by Irish Dairy,” will provide a nutritious dairy-based breakfast for Ireland’s elite athletes, coaches, and support staff as they prepare for the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The partnership aims to highlight the role of dairy in supporting performance, muscle recovery after exercise, and overall health within a healthy, balanced diet.
Liam Harbison, Sport Ireland Institute Director, highlighted the importance of nutrition in elite sport. He said: “Elite performance starts long before the competition actually begins. What our high-performance athletes eat, when they eat it, and the quality of it makes a real difference at the highest level. We’re happy to partner with the National Dairy Council on this initiative, which puts first-class nutrition at the heart of daily preparation for Ireland’s best athletes, coaches, and support staff. As we continue to build toward the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, programmes like this are the kind of practical, evidence-based support that gives Irish sport a competitive edge.”
Double Olympic champion and three-time Olympic medallist rower, Paul O’Donovan, who joined the National Dairy Council at Sport Ireland Institute to mark the launch, said: “When you’re training at a high level, especially coming up to big competitions, it’s not just the sessions on the water that matter, the things around them make a difference too. Breakfast is one of those. You need something good to eat before the day gets going, and eating properly really helps with recovery and building strength – these are the things that give you the edge.”
“It’s great to see the National Dairy Council partnering with Sport Ireland Institute on this programme. Having a good breakfast available five days a week is a real support for athletes. We’re always trying to get the nutrition right, but we’re not always blessed with time. Dairy is something most of us know from everyday life, but it has a very practical role in sport too, particularly for energy, protein, and hydration.”
To learn more aboutâ¯the National Dairy Council andâ¯yourâ¯dailyâ¯dairy needs,â¯visit www.ndc.ie.
