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Ó Lionáird: "You wonder why kids in Ireland don't want to do athletics? Medal and you're cut." ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Here are the big-name athletes who've had their funding cut this year

€1.6 million will be provided in direct funding for Ireland’s top athletes this year, the Irish Sports Council confirmed today.

FUNDING FOR A number of Ireland’s London Olympians has been cut this year, figures released today by the Irish Sports Council show.

In total €1.6 million will be provided in direct assistance to the country’s top athletes, a slight decrease on the €1.7 million issued under the carding scheme in 2013.

At the top end Ciarán Ó Lionáird has been cut from €20,000 to €12,000 despite winning 3000m bronze at the European Indoor Championships last year.

“Despite a Euro Indoor medal and fastest indoor 1500 in Europe in 2013, I’ve been cut by 40pc in @irishathletics funding,” a frustrated Ó Lionáird tweeted this afternoon.

“No words really.

“You wonder why kids in Ireland don’t want to do athletics? Medal and you’re cut. What does that tell young dreamers? Terrible message.”

screenshot.1392395716.64244 Ciarán Ó Lionáird Ciarán Ó Lionáird

screenshot.1392395917.65016 Ciarán Ó Lionáird Ciarán Ó Lionáird

Ireland’s other medallist in Gothenburg, Derval O’Rourke, will receive €12,000 again this year. O’Rourke finished fourth in the women’s 60m hurdles but was upgraded to bronze in the official records following a failed doping test by Turkey’s Nevin Yanit.

Olympic boxer Darren O’Neill has also been cut from €20,000 to €12,000 while his London team-mate Adam Nolan has been dropped entirely having received a €20,000 “world class” grant 12 months ago.

In total 85 athletes from 15 sports will receive funding under the scheme this year, 18 of whom — 9 Olympic and 9 Paralympic — are on “podium” level grants of €40,000.

World boxing silver medallist Jason Quigley and top triathlete Aileen Reid are among those who have been bumped up to the top tier.

This year’s scheme marks the first time that Athletics Ireland, Swim Ireland and the Irish Sailing Association have taken direct control of the carding process, one of the changes recommended following a review in 2012.

Kevin Ankrom, high performance director at Athletics Ireland, said: “The selection panel is confident that we have delivered fair and equitable carding selections with robust criteria which will support targeted athletes in order to deliver more medals on the world stage over the next three years.”

Ankrom also pointed out that athletes receive other services on top of their carding including sports science and medical assistance, travel support, injury treatment and rehabilitation, and coach support.

“We have in the past and will continue to be in the future very supportive of athletes who are injured,” he added. “In 2013 we worked with leading carded athletes to ensure they gained access to world leading consultants and paid in full for their surgery and travel.”

See the 2014 carding in full here >

Irish athlete Sean Greenwood suffered a bad crash in Sochi today

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40 Comments
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    Mute Kerrill Thornhill
    Favourite Kerrill Thornhill
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    Dec 21st 2011, 9:45 PM

    No disrespect to Nina Carberry but wtf does Katie Taylor need to do to get some recognition. Arguably the best athlete, male or female, we have ever produced.

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    Mute Ricky Smith
    Favourite Ricky Smith
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    Dec 22nd 2011, 2:07 AM

    I was coming in here to write exactly what you said. I think it is an absolute joke that Taylor can’t even win the Female award let alone the overall one. Does she really have to win Gold on the Olympics just to get some recognition? I think there’s a very strong case to say she’s the greatest athlete this country has produced. Can’t remember the exact top 10 greatest list compiled the last time but Stephen Roche wasn’t even in it if Im not mistaken. Bit of a joke considering what him and Taylor have achieved.

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    Mute Phil Mc Donald
    Favourite Phil Mc Donald
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    Dec 22nd 2011, 12:43 PM

    I hope she thanked the horses who did all the running…

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