Ice skates made from animal bones dating from at least the 12th century have been excavated in Dublin by the National Museum of Ireland. Ice skating was also widely practised in Ireland during the 19th century, but has only become organised in the recent past.
The Republic of Ireland Ice Skating Association (RIISA) was founded in 1995.
In February 2007 at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), the RIISA became the Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI). The ISAI was recognised by the International Skating Union (ISU) in 2008 as the governing body for the sport of figure skating in Ireland.
Figure skaters began representing Ireland on the international stage in the 2008/2009 season and have competed at World Junior, European and World Championships to date as well as other events around the world.
In 2013 the ISAI was recognised by Sport Ireland (Sports Council of Ireland at the time).
In 2014 the ISAI successfully hosted the 55th ISU Ordinary Congress in Dublin with 350 delegates from 65 countries in attendance and also introduced speed skating as a discipline for the first time on the island of Ireland.
In 2016 the ISAI was recognised by the ISU as the governing body for speed skating in Ireland.
Speed skaters began representing Ireland on the international stage in the 2016/2017 season.
Milestones
1995 – The Republic of Ireland Ice Skating Association (RIISA) is established
2007 – The RIISA becomes the Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI)
2008 – Ireland becomes a member of the International Skating Union (ISU)
2008 – Clara Peters becomes the first Irish skater to compete at an ISU event at the Junior Grand Prix Czech Skate in Ostrava, Czech Republic
2009 – Clara Peters becomes the first Irish skater to compete at the European Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki, Finland
2009 – Clara Peters is also the first Irish skater to compete at the World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles, U.S.A.
2009 – Viv Murphy becomes the first Irish male skater to participate in an ISU event at the Junior Grand Prix Torun Cup in Torun, Poland
2010 – Viv Murphy is the first Irish skater to take part in the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in The Hague, Netherlands
2013 – Clara Peters is the first Irish skater to medal at an ISU international when she finishes 3rd at Skate Down Under in Sydney, Australia
2013 – Margery Hilko is the first ISAI judge to officiate at an ISU international at Coupe de Nice in Nice, France
2013 – The ISAI is recognised by Sport Ireland (Sports Council of Ireland at the time)
2014 – Ireland hosts the 55th ISU Ordinary Congress in Dublin
2016 – Ireland becomes an ISU member for speed skating
2016 – Ryan McAnuff and Sean McAnuff are the first Irish speed skaters to race in international competition at the Desert Classic Short Track in Salt Lake City, U.S.A.
2016 – Ryan McAnuff and Sean McAnuff become the first Irish skaters to compete at an ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating event in Calgary, Canada.
2017 – Ryan McAnuff is the first skater representing Ireland to participate in the European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Turin, Italy.
2017 – Sean McAnuff is the first skater representing Ireland to participate in the World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.
2017 – Ryan McAnuff is the first skater representing Ireland to participate in the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
2017 – Tara Donoghue is the first skater representing Ireland to participate in a long track speed skating event at the Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Inzell, Germany. She is also the first female Irish speed skater to take part in an ISU competition.
2018 – Conor Stakelum is the first male skater representing Ireland to participate in the European Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, Russia.
2019 – Tara Donoghue is the first skater representing Ireland to participate in the World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Baselga di Piné, Italy.
2019 – Tara Donoghue is the first skater from Ireland to qualify a spot at the Youth Olympic Games.
2019 – Ava Ryan is the first female skater from Ireland to race at an international short track speed skating competition in Montreal, Canada.
2020 – Ava Ryan is the first female skater from Ireland to compete at the ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Bormio, Italy.
2022 – Elizabeth Golding is the first skater to represent Ireland at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Vuokatti, Finland.
2022 – Laura Hegarty and Kevin Hegarty become the first Irish ice dance to compete at an ISU event at the Junior Grand Prix Courchevel in Courchevel, France.
2024 – Margery Hilko is the first ISAI judge to officiate at an ISU Championships at the European Figure Skating Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania.
2024 – Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus are the first ice dancers to represent Ireland at an ISU Championships at the European Figure Skating Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania.
2024 – Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus are the first ice dancers to represent Ireland at the World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal, Canada.