Reflecting on her time with Mountaineering Ireland, Jackie Newton said:
“I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Mountaineering Ireland and lead the coaches, teams and squads on the Performance Pathway. Although I have only been here a short time, stepping away is going to be incredibly hard. The climbing community have made me very welcome and I am excited about the success that will certainly come down the line because of the passion and hard work that I see every day.’
Mountaineering Ireland CEO Liam Feeley commented:
“Jackie has played a transformative role in shaping the future of performance climbing on the island. Drawing on her extensive experience in talent and performance systems, Jackie has established a strong foundation of strategy, structure, and support that will now be built upon by Eimir and the wider team.
We are deeply grateful for Jackie’s leadership and commitment over the past year. She has set a high standard, established strong foundations for success, and leaves with our best wishes. Her impact on Irish performance climbing has been significant and lasting. On behalf of everyone at Mountaineering Ireland, I want to sincerely thank Jackie for her outstanding contribution and dedication.’
Eimirs brings with her a strong background in high-performance sport and a deep connection to the Irish climbing community. A highly respected figure within the sport, Eimir has competed at national and international level and has long been a passionate advocate for the development of Irish climbing talent. Her appointment marks a significant step in the ongoing evolution of Performance climbing in Ireland.
Mountaineering Ireland CEO Liam Feeley stated:
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Eimir McSwiggan as our new Performance Coordinator. Her passion, experience, and deep understanding of climbing make her the perfect fit to lead our athletes forward. I have no doubt that under Eimir’s guidance, Irish performance climbing will continue to grow and thrive. We wish her every success in this exciting new role.”
Eimir McSwiggan will work closely with Jackie Newton over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition and continuity for athletes, coaches, and partners as Mountaineering Ireland moves into the next phase of performance development.