Allianz, title sponsor of the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, has today announced a new brand ambassador partnership with Para rower, Tiarnán O’Donnell.
This new partnership is an extension of Allianz’s global commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Tiarnán joins fellow Allianz ambassadors, Rhasidat Adeleke, Orla Comerford and Kate O’Connor, in the Allianz family, a move that highlights Allianz’s continued commitment to championing elite Irish talent.
A relative newcomer to rowing, Tiarnán transitioned to the sport in 2023, having previously been one of Ireland’s top wheelchair basketball players. He went on to win a silver medal in the PR2 Single Sculls on his senior international debut at the 2024 World Rowing Cup II in Lucerne, Switzerland, before going in to make his Paralympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games. Competing alongside Katie O’Brien in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls, the pair placed second in their B Final to finish eighth overall.
Speaking on the announcement, Tiarnán O’Donnell said: “I am delighted to be joining Allianz as a brand ambassador. Their long-standing support of Paralympics Ireland has meant that athletes like me can continue to pursue the sport that we love. I’m looking forward to working with Allianz as I continue to build towards LA 2028.”
Mark Brennan, Head of Marketing, Allianz Ireland added: “Tiarnán’s journey from wheelchair basketball to the Paralympic start line in Paris embodies the resilience and determination at the heart of Para sport. We are proud to welcome him into the Allianz ambassador family and to support him as he continues his rowing career.”
As brand ambassador, Tiarnán will work with Allianz to support initiatives that champion Para sport, inclusion and youth engagement, including Allianz’s ‘Keep Playing’ campaign, a forward-thinking initiative addressing the growing challenge of declining sports participation among young people.
With one in five children in Ireland currently leaving sport during the transition from primary to secondary school, Allianz is working to help reverse this trend through its extensive sports partnerships, providing more than 60,000 children with opportunities to participate in sport each year. Tiarnán’s own journey reflects the importance of staying connected to sport, having continued to pursue his passion despite the significant medical challenges he faced during his youth. His story reinforces Allianz’s message that, regardless of the obstacles, there should always be an opportunity to keep playing.
As top sponsor of the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, Allianz will support Team Ireland throughout Los Angeles 2028, continuing its commitment to breaking down barriers, increasing participation in sport, and empowering athletes of all backgrounds and ability to achieve their full potential.
-ENDS-
About Allianz Ireland
Allianz Ireland is one of the country’s leading multi-line insurers, serving over 500,000 customers. As a proud sponsor of the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, Allianz is dedicated to supporting athletes at all levels and fostering a more inclusive and active society through initiatives like Keep Playing and Dare to Believe.
About Tiarnán O’Donnell
Tiarnán O’Donnell is a Limerick-born Paralympian who made his Paralympic debut at Paris 2024 in Para rowing’s PR2 Mixed Double Sculls, finishing eighth overall. Before taking up rowing in 2023, Tiarnán was one of Ireland’s leading wheelchair basketball players. He is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of the University of Limerick, where he held a sports scholarship.
