Athletics Ireland announces an exciting new athlete support programme in partnership with the E.S.B at a launch in Irishtown Stadium, Dublin yesterday. The programme aims to support a group of talented young Irish Athletes in their quest to fulfil their athletic potential. 
This initiative is innovative, imaginative and inspiring as it identifies young athletes with the potential to reach the top of the sport and endeavours to offer the type of support that is needed to bridge the gap from talented youngster to successful senior. The group of twelve athletes on the Programme consists of four emerging seniors, four U23’s, and four junior level athletes. The seniors are David Gillick, Joanne Cuddihy, Paul Hession and Mary Cullen; the U23’s are Colin Costello, Danny Darcy, Linda Byrne and Ann Loughnane; the juniors are Ciar?n O’Lionaird, David McCarthy, Kelly Proper and Amy Foster. 
These athletes have already demonstrated their talent at international level in a variety of championships, including the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), the European Junior Championships, the European Indoor Championships and the NCAA's. These championships are early steps on the ladder of international success. The ESB Programme will give financial support to each athlete to help with their training, travel, coaching, sports science and medical support. The ESB Programme also identifies the importance of research in the pursuit of the best practice. Athletics Ireland has recently established a medical and sport science committee under the chairmanship of Professor Niall Moyna. The Committee will be funded by this programme as an additional support to the athletes. Athletics Ireland, chief executive, Brendan Hackett has welcomed the support of the ESB heralding it as a major boost to the sport. "Ireland has consistently produced talented athletes and they need all the help they can get to break through to international success. The ESB have shown considerable courage in supporting young talent and we are looking forward to assisting these and other emerging athletes in the coming years" ESB Athletics Ireland Athletes Profiles
ESB SquadSenior David Gillick DSD 1983 Dublin Paul Hession Athenry A.C. 1983 Galway Joanne Cuddihy UCD A.C. 1984 Kilkenny Mary Cullen North Sligo 1982 Sligo U23 Colin Costello Star of the Sea A.C. 1886 Meath Danny Darcy St. Laurence O’Toole 1986 Carlow Ann Loughnane Craughwell A.C. 1986 Galway Linda Byrne DSD 1986 Dublin Junior Ciaran O’Lionaird Leevale A.C. 1988 Cork David McCarthy West Waterford 1988 Waterford Kelly Proper Ferrybank A.C. 1988 Waterford Amy Foster North Down A.C. 1988 Down
This initiative is innovative, imaginative and inspiring as it identifies young athletes with the potential to reach the top of the sport and endeavours to offer the type of support that is needed to bridge the gap from talented youngster to successful senior. The group of twelve athletes on the Programme consists of four emerging seniors, four U23’s, and four junior level athletes. The seniors are David Gillick, Joanne Cuddihy, Paul Hession and Mary Cullen; the U23’s are Colin Costello, Danny Darcy, Linda Byrne and Ann Loughnane; the juniors are Ciar?n O’Lionaird, David McCarthy, Kelly Proper and Amy Foster. These athletes have already demonstrated their talent at international level in a variety of championships, including the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), the European Junior Championships, the European Indoor Championships and the NCAA's. These championships are early steps on the ladder of international success. The ESB Programme will give financial support to each athlete to help with their training, travel, coaching, sports science and medical support. The ESB Programme also identifies the importance of research in the pursuit of the best practice. Athletics Ireland has recently established a medical and sport science committee under the chairmanship of Professor Niall Moyna. The Committee will be funded by this programme as an additional support to the athletes. Athletics Ireland, chief executive, Brendan Hackett has welcomed the support of the ESB heralding it as a major boost to the sport. "Ireland has consistently produced talented athletes and they need all the help they can get to break through to international success. The ESB have shown considerable courage in supporting young talent and we are looking forward to assisting these and other emerging athletes in the coming years" ESB Athletics Ireland Athletes ProfilesESB SquadSenior David Gillick DSD 1983 Dublin Paul Hession Athenry A.C. 1983 Galway Joanne Cuddihy UCD A.C. 1984 Kilkenny Mary Cullen North Sligo 1982 Sligo U23 Colin Costello Star of the Sea A.C. 1886 Meath Danny Darcy St. Laurence O’Toole 1986 Carlow Ann Loughnane Craughwell A.C. 1986 Galway Linda Byrne DSD 1986 Dublin Junior Ciaran O’Lionaird Leevale A.C. 1988 Cork David McCarthy West Waterford 1988 Waterford Kelly Proper Ferrybank A.C. 1988 Waterford Amy Foster North Down A.C. 1988 Down 
