Jim Kilty is a high performance coach to many Irish athletes and is originally from Meath. He is also co-founder of Setanta College, the only third level sport college in Ireland or the UK.
He began his high performance coaching career in 1970. In 1988 he was part of the 1988 Irish Olympic team in Seoul as track coach. Jim had coached three well known Irish athletes to Olympic level at a time when few leading coaches could claim a single participant at the games. His athlete at that Olympics were: TJ Kearns, Brendan Quinn and Ailish Smith.

He again accompanied the Irish team to the Atlanta 1996 games, where his athlete David Matthews got to the semi final of the 800m. One of Kilty’s most famous athletes is Derval O’Rourke, the champion Irish hurdler and indoor world champion. The highlight of his time with Derval O’Rourke was her win at the world indoor championships in Moscow, 2006.

Jim has also had great involvement and success in Gaelic games as a coach and trainer. While Kilty was trainer with Tipperary the team won the All-Ireland Hurling title in 2001. Not alone did they win both Munster and All-Ireland titles they also claimed the double with a National league title in the same year He also worked with the Wexford Hurling team after his time with Tipperary training them to a memorable Leinster title in 2004. These achievements for Kilty are all substantial wins for the athletes and the clubs that are coached by Jim. In addition Jim has coached with several other high profile teams including Mayo, Laois, Ballyboden, Dublin, Kerry and Cork. His expertise is extremely sought after in the sporting industry across several sports including Gaelic Football, Ladies football, Hurling , Camogie, Rugby, Soccer and Athletics.

Back to top