NMCU Elite Sports Fund backing promising young athletes to reach highest level

The North Midlands Credit Union (NMCU) Elite Sports Fund continues to support promising young athletes in reaching the highest levels of sporting achievement.

For many years, NMCU has operated a Social and Cultural Fund, which has provided over €2.6 million in financial assistance to voluntary organisations across its common bond. While that continues to play a vital role, it focuses on group and community initiatives.

Recognising a growing need to support individual athletes, the Credit Union expanded its commitment with the introduction of the Elite Sports Fund last year. It has been developed to assist young sports people who demonstrate exceptional potential, dedication, and ambition to compete at elite national, international, and potentially world levels.

Through engagement with athletes, coaches, and mentors, NMCU has gained valuable insight into the significant demands placed on emerging talent. These include intensive training schedules, often involving multiple sessions per day, five to seven days per week, personal sacrifices, such as putting academic and career plans on hold, financial pressures, including costs associated with equipment, travel, training camps, and everyday living expenses.

The fund aims to ease some of the burdens and enable athletes to focus on achieving their potential.

As part of the initiative, NMCU is supporting a group of talented athletes who embody the spirit and commitment the fund seeks to encourage.

Cormac Dalton

Mullingar athlete Cormac Dalton studied biotechnology for four years at DCU, and completed his Master’s in Business in Oklahoma, USA. Cormac now works part time in a pharmaceutical engineering company.

Achievements to date: Qualified for the 2024 European 10,000 meters track championship; Competed in Men’s 10,000m at Rome European Championships, June 2024; Won the All-Ireland Cross-Country in 2023; Top Irish finisher in both 2023 and 2024 in European Senior Cross Country; 8th in the European Cross-Country; 10th in the USA 10,000 metres.

Short term goals include making it to more European and World Championships. He wants to keep competing among the great quality runners in Ireland. Long term goal is to make it to the LA Olympics in 2028.

Oisin Lane

Oisin Lane is 22 years old and from Ballymahon. He is studying psychology at the University of Limerick. Oisin competes in race walking mainly in 20k events.

Achievements to date: 28th in the World Athletics Championships (Tokyo Japan); 11th in the World University Games in Germany; 23rd in the European Senior Championships in Rome; National Seniors 10K Champion 2024; National Juvenile titles and U23 titles.

Short-term aiming for top 10 in the 2026 European Championships in Birmingham. And then moving on to top 12 in the World Championships in Beijing 2027.

Ammar Elamin

Ammar Elamin, 23 years old, from Mullingar, has an ambition is to be the number one ranked tennis player in Ireland. He is associated with Mullingar Tennis Club and Tennis Ireland.

Achievements to date: Irish Close Championships Winner in 2024 and 2025; Irish number one junior and two-time National Champion; Currently the 3rd ranked professional in Ireland; Reached an ITF World Junior Ranking of 130 and played in the Junior Australian Open.

Darragh Greene

Darragh Greene is a full-time athlete from Longford. Having represented Ireland in swimming at every major competition, from European Championships to the 2020 Olympic Games, he is currently training for Paris 2026.

Achievements to date: Tokyo 2020 Olympian; World Championships finalist 2024, Semi-finalist 2018/2019; European Championships finalist/semi-finalist 2018/2021/2022/2024; World University Games finalist 2017; National Record holder in the 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke.

First Irish swimmer to break 60 seconds for 100m Breaststroke. Paris Olympic games 2024.

Darragh is focused on competing at his third Olympics and hoping to have the competitive edge in the European Championships 2026 in Paris and World Championships 2027 in Budapest before LA 2028.

Fund Details

The Elite Sports Fund has been established with an initial allocation of €10,000 for the 2024/25 financial year. The 2026 applications will be open in September. The fund is: Open to athletes across a wide range of sports; Targeted at individuals who are not already heavily supported by other sponsors or governing bodies; Awarded based on merit, fairness, and transparency, with input from relevant sporting organisations and references.

Derek Smith, CEO of North Midlands Credit Union said these athletes represent the best of local sporting ambition, and the Credit Union is proud to play a role in supporting them. “We have always been committed to supporting our communities, and this fund reflects our belief in the potential of our young people. These athletes show extraordinary dedication and resilience, and we are proud to help them pursue their ambitions.”