Offaly's Walsh and Roscommon's O'Rourke in Paris Olympics training squad
Midlands boxers Gráinne Walsh, from Tullamore, and Lisa O'Rourke, from Castlerea, Roscommon, have both been included in a 22-strong Irish boxing training squad ahead of this summer's Olympics in Paris.
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) last night, Thursday, announced the training squad seven weeks out from the next qualifying tournament for the Olympics, which will be held in Italy from February 29 to March 12.
So far, five Irish boxers have qualified for this year's Olympics, including Lisa O'Rourke's older sister, Aoife, who will compete at 75 kg.
Kellie Harrington, who famously won gold at the last summer Olympics in Tokyo, is also Paris-bound, along with Michaela Walsh, Jack Marley and Dean Clancy.
Each country can only hope to qualify one boxer per weight class, and the 66kg female welterweight category is perhaps the most competitive in Ireland.
Gráinne Walsh, who won two national Elite titles last year, was named in the Olympic training squad at 66kg, as were former world champions Lisa O'Rourke and Amy Broadhurst.
Irish boxing's high performance head coach, Zauri Antia, said: "This is an incredibly talented squad, and it's an achievement to be named within it – boxers, their club coaches and families can rightfully be proud."
The IABA said it was preparing to vie for the qualification in the remaining eight available Olympic weights, with qualifying tournaments happening at Busto Arsizio, Italy, in late February to early March, and in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 23 to June 3.
"To have five boxers qualified for the Paris Olympics at the European Games is testament to their commitment, and to the quality of their training and preparation.
"Our goal now is to get more boxers on the plane to Paris, and to once again highlight boxing as Ireland's most successful Olympic sport," said Zauri Antia.
"There are under 200 days to the opening bell in Paris; these 22 boxers are laser-focused on that goal."
The IABA's Paris 2024 Olympic Training Squad is as follows:
50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
50kg Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s BC, Westport, Co. Mayo
54kg Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
54kg Jennifer Lehane, DCU Boxing Club, Dublin
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG Boxing Club, Belfast
60kg Kellie Harrington, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin
66kg Amy Broadhurst, St. Bronagh’s ABC, Newry
66kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Co. Roscommon
66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin
75kg Aoife O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Co. Roscommon
51kg Sean Mari, Monkstown BC, Dublin
51kg Ricky Nesbitt, Holy Family, Drogheda
57kg Dylan Eagleson, St. Paul’s ABC, Antrim
57kg Jude Gallagher, Two Castles ABC, Tyrone
57kg Adam Hession, Monivea BC, Galway
63.5kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim
71kg Eugene McKeever, Holy Family, Drogheda
71kg Aidan Walsh, Holy Family GG Boxing Club, Belfast
71kg Dean Walsh, St. Ibar’s/St Joseph’s BC, Wexford
80kg Kelyn Cassidy, Saviour’s Crystal, Waterford
92kg Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin
92+kg Martin McDonagh, Crumlin BC, Dublin