Irish Amateur Wrestling Est. 1947
A young wrestler in an Ireland singlet works for position on the blue competition mat at the Irish Open

Est. 1947 · Governing body for wrestling in Ireland

Irish Amateur Wrestling Association

The official governing body for Olympic Wrestling, Pankration and Grappling sports in Ireland — supporting clubs, coaches and athletes from under-10s to senior international level.

Upcoming eventsFind a club

Open for entry

Registration for these competitions and courses is handled on the IAWA entry platform, not on this website.

Which card is for me?

Each competition has two cards for the same event. Choose the one that matches you:

  • I.A.W.A. members only — you live in Ireland and your membership is valid.
  • International wrestlers only — you are coming from outside Ireland, including Northern Ireland and the UK.

I.A.W.A. members only

Leinster Open Freestyle Wrestling Tournament 2026

Senior, Junior & Kids — Male & Female Freestyle Wrestling

DCU Sports Hall, Collins Avenue Extension, Whitehall, Dublin, D09 W6Y4

Bring government-issued photo ID showing your name and date of birth to check-in. Entry and payment are online only — there are no entries or payments on the day.

Weigh-in
08:00–09:00 at the venue only. No video weigh-ins.
Entry fee
€30 until Sunday 22 November at 20:00. After that, €45 for all participants.
Closing date
Tuesday 24 November 2026 at 20:00

This link is for: You live in Ireland and your 2026 I.A.W.A. membership is valid.

Register as an I.A.W.A. memberEvent brochure (PDF)

International wrestlers only

Leinster Open Freestyle Wrestling Tournament 2026

Senior, Junior & Kids — Male & Female Freestyle Wrestling

DCU Sports Hall, Collins Avenue Extension, Whitehall, Dublin, D09 W6Y4

Bring government-issued photo ID showing your name and date of birth to check-in. Entry and payment are online only — there are no entries or payments on the day.

Weigh-in
08:00–09:00 at the venue only. No video weigh-ins.
Entry fee
€30 until Sunday 22 November at 20:00. After that, €45 for all participants.
Closing date
Tuesday 24 November 2026 at 20:00

This link is for: You are coming from outside Ireland — including Northern Ireland and the UK — and you are a member of your own country's wrestling federation.

Register as an international wrestlerEvent brochure (PDF)

Coaching course

I.A.W.A. Introductory & Level 1 Coaching Certificate Course

Accredited by Sport Ireland Coaching

Portlaoise Combat Academy, National Enterprise Park, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 A588

Four days of practical and classroom-based coach education for anyone with an interest in wrestling, grappling, pankration or other combat sports. No prior coaching experience needed.

Weekends
Sat 7 & Sun 8 November and Sat 21 & Sun 22 November 2026, 09:00–17:00
Course fee
€250, including light lunch, tea and coffee on all four days and IAWA coaching certification
Places
Strictly limited to 16 participants
Closing date
Thursday 5 November 2026 — a place is only secured once registration and payment are received

Four fully funded places for female coaches who complete the course — the €250 fee is refunded to the first four eligible participants.

This link is for: Anyone with an interest or background in wrestling, grappling, pankration or other combat sports. No prior coaching experience is required.

Register for the coaching courseCourse brochure (PDF)

Upcoming events

Competitions, open mats, coaching courses and association meetings for the current season.

All events
Sat 07Nov

Coaching Course Day 1

Portlaoise · irishwrestlingsecretary@gmail.com

Coaching Course
Sun 08Nov

Coaching Course Day 2

Portlaoise · irishwrestlingsecretary@gmail.com

Coaching Course
Sat 14Nov

Maltese Championships 2026

Malta · competitionsiawa@gmail.com

Competition
Sat 21Nov

Coaching Course Day 3

Portlaoise · irishwrestlingsecretary@gmail.com

Coaching Course

Find a club

Affiliated clubs across Ireland welcome beginners and experienced wrestlers alike. Every club listed here is registered with the association and covered by our insurance.

All clubs

Cavan Wrestling Club

Freestyle and Greco-Roman training for juniors and seniors in the heart of Cavan.

Cavan Swimming Pool & Leisure Complex →

Team Ryano

Wrestling and grappling classes in Finglas, north Dublin.

Unit 5 →

Portlaoise Wrestling Club

Community wrestling club serving the midlands.

Portlaoise →

Wrestling in Ireland since 1947

The Irish Amateur Wrestling Association is the national governing body for the sport, affiliated to United World Wrestling. We oversee Olympic freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, Pankration and Grappling, and we support the clubs and coaches who deliver the sport week in, week out.

Our work covers safeguarding and Garda vetting, coach education, competition pathways and governance — so that everyone who steps on a mat in Ireland does so safely and to a single standard.

About the associationGovernance & policies
Young wrestlers compete on the mat at the 2026 Irish Open

Our Partners

We work with the national and international bodies that support wrestling in Ireland.

  • Coaching Ireland
  • Olympic Council of Ireland
  • Sport Ireland
  • United World Wrestling
  • Federation of Irish Sport — proud member 2026

Get involved

Whether you want to compete, coach, officiate or help run a club, there is a route into the sport for you.

Become a coachBecome an officialJoin or renew