Speaker – Tiarnán O’Donnell

At just 26, Tiarnán O’Donnell has lived an incredible life journey, sharing it through powerful storytelling that captivates audiences nationwide. Training at the National Rowing Centre’s high-performance facility in Cork, he began his sporting journey as a leading wheelchair basketball player with the Limerick Celtics, where he earned multiple national titles, National Player of the Year, and European All-Star honours, and captained Ireland’s U23 team to a European podium finish in 2023.

Through the NextGen rowing programme, Tiarnán transitioned to rowing and quickly rose through the ranks. He represented Ireland in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, won silver at World Cups in Lucerne and Poznan, and in 2025 claimed his first international gold in the PR2 Men’s Single Sculls in Varese, followed by a bronze in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls in Lucerne.

Diagnosed with a rare vascular condition as a child, Tiarnán endured years of surgeries before choosing to amputate his right leg in 2018. Just six weeks later, after 13 days of intensive rehab, he was walking again. A Mechanical Engineering graduate, he now inspires audiences, hosting nationwide events that celebrate resilience, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.