Kellie Harrington leads 14-strong Irish boxing team for European Elite Championships

Double Olympic champion Kellie Harrington headlines a 14-strong Irish boxing team selected for the European Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, next month.

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There is huge experience and championship pedigree within the team, with Olympians, World and European medallists and established Elite champions alongside boxers ready to make their mark on the European stage.

This competition will be Harrington's first elite international event since securing her second Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games. She announced her decision to come out of retirement last October and subsequently claimed her 12th national title in January. Her inclusion signals a strong return to the international stage.

The Irish squad boasts significant experience and championship pedigree. Reigning World Champion Aoife O’Rourke aims to add a fourth European gold medal to her collection, while her sister Lisa, a gold medalist at the 2022 World Championships, will also compete. The team includes six other Paris Olympians: Daina Moorehouse, Jenny Lehane, Michaela Walsh, Jude Gallagher, Dean Clancy, and Jack Marley.

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That blend of experience, ambition and potential gives us a very strong team.

Additional notable athletes on the team are Jon McConnell, a gold medalist at the recent Commonwealth Games, and 2024 European champion Shannon Sweeney. Cliona D’Arcy, the World Youth champion, along with Evelyn Igharo and Gavin Rafferty, complete the lineup. This marks the first European Boxing Elite Championships held under the World Boxing banner, with 33 national federations eligible to participate.

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The European Championships will be one of the biggest tests our athletes face this year, with an exceptionally high standard expected in Sofia.

Interim High Performance head coach Damian Kennedy expressed confidence in the team's blend of experience and ambition. "We have huge experience and championship pedigree within the team, with Olympians, World and European medallists and established Elite champions alongside boxers ready to make their mark on the European stage," Kennedy stated. He anticipates the championships will be one of the year's biggest tests, with an exceptionally high standard expected in Sofia. The team is preparing through a productive training block and a multi-nations camp to sharpen their skills before the competition, which runs from September 17th to 25th.

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Following a productive training block, our focus now turns to the multi-nations camp, where we will use quality international opposition to sharpen the technical and tactical elements of our boxing and make those final adjustments ahead of competition.