Minister McConalogue to undertake Cultural and Sporting Programme on visit to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
- Published on: 18 February 2026
- Last updated on: 18 February 2026
Minister McConalogue to undertake Cultural and Sporting Programme on visit to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
Minister of State with special responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue TD, will travel to Milan from 18-21 February for a series of cultural, sport and policy engagements.
The visit will include attendance at the Abbey theatre co-production Mirandolina at Teatro Verd and the speed skating in the Milano Speed Skating Stadium. The Minister will also participate in both Enterprise Ireland and Olympic Federation of Ireland events.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Minister McConalogue said:
“Ireland and Italy share a deep cultural connection, built on centuries of exchange in arts, heritage, education and sport. The Milano–Cortina 2026 Cultural Olympiad is an opportunity for the Abbey Theatre to strengthen that partnership.
I am also delighted to congratulate our Olympians, Thomas Maloney Westgaard, Anabelle Zurbay, Cormac Comerford and Ben Lynch. In qualifying for the Olympics and representing the best of us in Milan-Cortina, our athletes are an inspiration to the entire nation.”
On Wednesday evening, the Minister will attend the Abbey Theatre’s co-production ‘Mirandolina’ at Teatro Verdi. Part of the Milano–Cortina 2026 Cultural Olympiad, Mirandolina is an international coproduction by the Teatro Stabile del Veneto – Teatro Nazionale Fundation, created together with the Abbey Theatre and the Croatian National Theatre of Rijeka – HNK Rijeka, with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin.
On Thursday, the Minister will meet with Irish State Agencies in Milan: Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Bord Bia. The Minister will also attend the Enterprise Ireland’s business networking dinner. Providing the Minister with an opportunity to meet with Enterprise Ireland client companies in the sports technology sector.
On Friday, Minister McConalogue will be attending a Speed Skating Event held in the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, located within the Milano Ice Park.
This will be followed by the Olympic Federation of Ireland Working Dinner, where he will be given an overview of the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s work. He will also meet Olympian in attendance, Cormac Comerford and representatives of Stakeholders who support Team Ireland - Commercial sponsors and partners, Sport Ireland and the Snow Sports Association of Ireland.
Sport Ireland has provided Winter Sports Funding (€50,000) to the Olympic Federation of Ireland over the 2023-2026 cycle, to support Team Ireland’s participation at the Winter Olympic Games.
The Snowsports Association of Ireland plays a key role in supporting Irish athletes to qualify and participate in the Winter Olympic Games. In 2024 Sport Ireland provided €25,000 of High Performance funding to the Snowsports Association of Ireland.
The Minister will return to Ireland on Saturday, 21 February.
ENDS