Who are the Irish Olympians competing in the Olympic Games in Paris? Let’s focus on the Olympians from the midlands on Team Ireland. With the largest-ever contingent of 133 athletes en route to Paris, Team Ireland is already breaking records. Ireland is commemorating its centenary of the team’s debut as an independent country in the same venue.
Tullamore woman is named co-leader of Irish Olympic boxing team
As the countdown to the opening of the Olympic Games continues, Gráinne Walsh and her Irish boxing teammates have already arrived in Paris this week. Along with Belfast’s Aidan Walsh, the 28-year-old Tullamore resident also had the honour of being chosen as one of the two co-leaders of the 10-person Irish Olympic boxing squad. This Thursday is the day for the Olympic boxing draw. The Games’ opening ceremony is scheduled for the following day. This Saturday is the scheduled start date for the boxing match; however, Gráinne’s first “round of 32” fight may take place on Sunday, depending on the outcome of the draw.
Offaly strong: Shane Lowry and Grainne Walsh
Offaly are well represented at the Olympics
Alongside Grainne Walsh, Offaly is well-represented in the Irish Olympic squad, as Megan Burns and Jordan Conroy of the Rugby Sevens team will also travel to Paris. The Men’s Rugby Sevens feature Jordan Conroy, a Tullamore man who is contracted to Buccaneers RFC and who also previously played with Athlone Town.
Clara’s Shane Lowry, who made his Olympic golfing debut last time in Tokyo, is partnering up with Rory McIlroy yet again, and they have their sights set on a medal.
Lara Gillespie (left) and Megan Armitage (right) at the 2023 UCI World Championships (Image: SWPix)
Offaly Cyclist Megan Armitage makes her Olympic debut
Offaly road cyclist Megan Armitage will compete for Team Ireland along with Ben Healy (Cork/Stourbridge UK) and Ryan Mullen (Meath/Birkenhead UK). They will join the four-person track cycling team in a sport that has been on the Olympic programme since the first edition of the Modern Games in 1896. Armitage, will become the first Irish woman to compete in the women’s road race at the Olympics in thirty years when she races on August 4.
Alanna Fitzpatrick from Portarlington is part of the Womens Rugby Sevens
This is the first time the Irish women have qualified for the Olympics Rugby Sevens since it became an Olympic sport in 2016. Look out for Portarlington’s Alanna Fitzpatrick who made her international debut at the European Sevens Championship Series in Hamburg when she scored a try. Alanna is competing for Ireland in the Womens Rugby Sevens. She joins a select group of Olympians from Laois that includes Anne Keenan Buckley (3,000m) and Frank Moore (rowing).
Alanna Fitzpatrick
Swimming
Swimmer Shane Ryan is a native of Pennsylvania, whose father, Thomas, hailed from Portarlington. He arrived in Ireland in 2015 to complete a one-year residency to enable him to compete in the Rio Games. Ryan claimed a new national record last month when he swam the 50-metre freestyle in 21.82 in his heat at the European Aquatics Championship. He is looking forward to joining forces with Fannon, McCusker and Darragh Greene in the relay.
Sean Ryan who has Portarlington roots
Longford native Darragh Greene, originally from Newtownforbes, holds the Irish 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke records. He was seventh in the European LC 100m final this summer and tenth in the 200m. He was a 2024 European Championships finalist in the 100-metre breaststroke (seventh). In 2018, he became the first Irish swimmer to break one minute for 100-metre breaststroke, clocking 59.92 in the semifinals of the European Championships in Glasgow (GBR).
Darragh Greene competing in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke Final at the Irish Open Championships/Olympic Trials Photo: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Olympic Coverage
There will be coverage of all 17 days of action across TV, radio, and online following Team Ireland, with over 250 hours of live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
The Olympic Games will open on Friday, July 26, and continue until Sunday, August 11.
