Thomas Barr fears lockdowns will lead to lost generation for Irish athletics

Few nations have kept the doors shut to underage sport as long and young Irish athletes are now facing a second straight summer with scant competitive outlets

Thomas Barr at the University of Limerick Sports Arena. Photo: Szymon Lazewski / Red Bull 

Like many others, Thomas Barr can’t help wonder where this all ends — the potential ripple effect on his sport of all that has occurred in Ireland over the past year.

Few nations have kept the doors shut to underage sport as long, with few as slow to open them up again, and young Irish athletes are now facing a second straight summer with scant competitive outlets.