Irish athletics records most likely to be broken or ripe for revision in 2026  framed around recent breakthroughs, aging marks in the books, and athletes positioned to push standards even higher.

A Record–Breaking Momentum in Irish Athletics

Irish athletics is entering 2026 on the crest of a wave.

The 2025 season saw a flurry of national records fall, many in events long thought static  notably middle and long distances, multi-events and throws.

Ireland ended the year having rewritten its all-time lists more dramatically than any recent era, reflecting both emerging talent and athletes now competing at world-class levels. (The Irish Times)

Importantly for 2026, many remaining older records untouched for decades are now exposed to serious challenge.

A combination of world-ranking position, recent form and depth emerging through the ranks suggests several marks could finally give way this year.

1. The Men’s 800m Record Already in Flux

The Irish men’s 800m has undergone a seismic shift.

Mark English enjoyed a career-best resurgence in 2025, repeatedly lowering his own Irish record, dipping under 1:44 and ultimately clocking 1:43.37. (The 42)

• Cian McPhillips then rewrote that mark twice at the World Championships, most recently with a 1:42.15 performance to finish fourth in Tokyo. (Wikipedia)

That record is now both elite globally and movable, given McPhillips’ youth (23) and progression curve.

A sub-1:42 Irish record and a regular presence in global finals is well within reach in 2026, especially with a full season focused on peak performance.

Ripe for revision? Absolutely this mark remains one of Irish athletics’ most dynamic. The competitive depth between English and McPhillips suggests further gains. (trackathletes.ie)

2. Women’s Heptathlon Kate O’Connor Rising

Kate O’Connor is not just breaking records she’s redefining Irish standards.

In 2025 she:

• Twice broke her own Irish heptathlon record, culminating in 6,714 points at the World Championships  a historic silver medal performance. (Sport for Business)

This position within the global top tier shows she is still ascending.

The heptathlon demands multiple peak performances across 7 disciplines, and marginal gains in events like javelin or long jump can add significant points cumulatively.

With 2026 championship cycles coming, O’Connor could well push her own record further  especially as training and competition sharpen.

Ripe for revision? Very much so the record is active and likely to progress.

3. Long-Standing Field Marks Now in Sight

Most of the records that survived 2025 were established long ago, with decades existing between current bests and entrenched standards:

Triple Jump  Colm Cronin (49 years)

Cronin’s 15.89m mark from 1977 turns 49 in 2026.

Few modern Irish jumpers have closed in, but with younger talent and increasing technical coaching, this could be an early candidate for revision especially indoors where jumps can benefit from controlled conditions. (The Irish Times)

Hammer Declan Hegarty (41 years)

Hegarty’s 77.80m from 1985 remains a high ceiling, but with growth in strength and conditioning programs, hammer throwers are more competitive internationally an Irish breakthrough here can redefine the event. (The Irish Times)

Steeplechase  Brendan Quinn (Record from 1985)

The steeplechase has historically seen fewer top-level Irish challengers, but young distance runners with steeple training internationals could push the mark if prioritized. (The Irish Times)

Javelin Terry McHugh (2000)

McHugh’s 82.75m has stood since 2000. While an excellent throw, the event globally has accelerated with improved technique and training giving Irish throwers a real statistical chance to push beyond 80m again. (The Irish Times)

Ripe for revision? Yes these entrenched records are likely the next frontier once performance pathways mature.

4. Discus Niamh Fogarty Ends Long Gap; Can She Push Further?

In 2025 Niamh Fogarty finally broke Patricia Walsh’s 41-year-old discus record, throwing 58.40m. (The Irish Times)

That alone shows how even long-standing technical event marks are now within reach.

With continued development, Fogarty and upcoming throwers could push beyond this new level in 2026.

Ripe for revision? Yes now open territory following historic breakdown.

5. Marathon  Super-Shoe Era Advances

Though not as headline-grabbing as track events, the marathon remains an area where technology and training are reshaping times.

The Irish marathon record (2:22:23) set by Catherina McKiernan in 1998 has endured into the super-shoe era  often producing waves of personal bests around the world. (The Irish Times)

With athletes increasingly targeting major city marathons and sub-elite pace groups, this mark could be vulnerable as depth increases.

Ripe for revision? Moderately but contingent on race schedules and athlete focus.

6. Middle & Distance Other Events in the Balance

2025 saw records tumble in:

• 10,000m Efrem Gidey smashed the Irish mark, now one of the cleanest modern distance records. (The Irish News)

• 3000m Andrew Coscoran rewrote the indoor record, pushing Irish distance standards. (The Irish Times)

These areas remain fertile, especially as Irish runners continue to break onto European and global leaderboards.

Ripe for revision? Yes especially if training systems continue to produce high-ranking athletes for Championship finals.

 A Year of Potential Progress

As Ireland heads into 2026, the athletic record books are not relics they are moving targets.

Most ripe for revision fall into three categories:

1. Records already being redefined  especially the men’s 800m with McPhillips and English battling at world level.

2. Multi-event and throws the heptathlon and technical areas now well within reach after years of stagnation.

Historical marks long untouched  like triple jump, hammer, steeplechase and marathon, poised for breakthrough with the right talent and focus. (The Irish Times)

Irish athletics isn’t just poised for incremental change it’s positioned for transformational ones.

In a sport where margins of improvement can be razor-thin, 2026 looks to be a year where records aren’t just challenged they are rewritten.