The Olympic Federation of Ireland has today named thirty-three athletes who will compete across seven sports in the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) later this month. The multi-sport event that is aimed at athletes aged 14-17 years, will take place in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia and will run from the 25-31 July 2022.
The EYOF is a prestigious event that plays an important role in the development of an athlete, replicating the Olympic Games model. It is run biennially, with the summer event ordinarily run on the alternate year to the winter EYOF. This year’s event was originally scheduled for July 2021 and was moved in line with the postponed Tokyo Olympics.
Announcing the team, Olympic Federation of Ireland Chef de Mission for the EYOF, Gavin Noble said,
“The EYOF is the only major multisport event for the best young athletes in Europe and it marks an important step for Team Ireland athletes on our Olympic pathway. This is an exciting young group and I know that they will all learn a lot. The event is also very important to our Paris 2024 preparations as we experience, learn and debrief together as a staff team. I am very happy too with our coaching group and I know that this event will also serve them well as they continue to help develop our young talents in unison with club coaches all around Ireland.”
Additionally, Bethany McAuley (Judo) and Sam Coleman (Cycling) have been named as the flagbearers for the Irish team later this month, with Derry’s McAuley holding the honour of also being the first Irish Judoka to compete in the EYOF. The Permanent TSB Flagbearer Announcement took place at the official Team Day at the Sport Ireland Institute yesterday at an event which saw athletes, coaches, and parents gather. Acknowledging the role of parents, community, and clubs in preparing athletes for events like the EYOF, where they have the opportunity to shine and inspire communities around Ireland, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications with Permanent TSB, Leontia Fannin, said,
“The sporting excellence demonstrated by these young athletes is an example of how drive, determination and resilience can achieve great heights. But of course, athletic success depends on the support of so many, and we would like to say particular thanks to the families, coaches, clubs, and communities that have come together to ensure that each athlete can achieve their best and raise the spirits of a nation.
It is an incredible achievement to have been chosen to represent Team Ireland and we look forward to supporting these inspiring athletes as they compete in Slovakia at the end of July.”
The Irish team departs for Banska Bystrica on the 22 July, with competition starting on the 25 July 2022.
Team Ireland Athletes (full details in table below):
Athletics
Amy-Jo Kierans (Monaghan) Medley Relay (F)
Cian Crampton (Offaly) Discus (M)
Clodagh Gill (Mayo) 3000m (F)
Cormac Dixon (Dublin) 3000m (M)
Cormac Crotty (Cavan) Medley Relay (M)
Hannah Falvey (Cork) 200m, Medley Relay (F)
Hollie Kilroe (Galway) 400m, Medley Relay (F)
Jason O’Reilly (Killarney) 400m (M)
Jesse Osas (Meath) 100m (M)
Lucy Foster (Lisburn) 1500m (F)
Maeve Fleming (Cork) High Jump (F)
Nicole Dinan (Cork) 800m (F)
Okwu Backari (Cork) Long Jump, 100m Hurdles, Medley Relay (F)
Sean Cronin (Rush) 1500m (M)
Senan O’Reilly (Cork) 800m, Medley Relay (M)
Toby Thompson (Dundonald) 200m, Medley Relay (M)
Jacqui Freyne – Team Leader
Brian Scanlon – Coach
Paul Byrne – Coach
Badminton
Dylan Noble (Dublin) Singles, Mixed Doubles
Michelle Shochan (Dublin) Singles, Mixed Doubles
Chloe Magee – Team Leader
Cycling
Áine Doherty (Belfast) Time Trial and Road Race
Aliyah Rafferty (Dungannon) Time Trial and Road Race
Mya Doocey (Navan) Time Trial and Road Race
Patrick Casey (Manchester) Time Trial and Road Race
Sam Coleman (Craigavon) Time Trial and Road Race
Seth Dunwoody (Craigavon) Time Trial and Road Race
Liz Roche – Team Leader
Jamie Blanchfield – Coach
Adrian Delaney – Mechanic
Gymnastics
Lily Russell (Dublin) Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
Maeve McGuinness (Dublin) Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
Sophie McGuinness (Dublin) Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
Niall Hooton (Suffolk) Men’s Artistic Gymnastics
Sandra Stevenson – Team Leader
Colm Murray – Coach
Andrew Smith – Coach
Judo
Bethany McAuley (Derry) Minus 57kg (F)
Chloe Vickers Cowen – Team Leader
Swimming
Conor Fitzgerald (Waterford) 100m Freestyle, 50m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly (M)
Grace Davison (Bangor) 400IM, 200 Breaststroke, 100 Freestyle (F)
Kathryn Wylie – Team Leader
Tennis
Eoghan Jennings (Westport) Singles, Mixed Doubles
Rachel Deegan (Dublin) Singles, Mixed Doubles
Lynsey McCullough – Team Leader
HQ Support Team
Gavin Noble – Chef de Mission
Martin Burke – Sport Director
Julianne Ryan – Head of Performance Support
Michelle Biggins – Physiotherapist
Robert Smyth – Physiotherapist
Dr. George Fuller – Chief Medical Officer
Linda O’Reilly – Operations Manager
Heather Boyle – Media Attaché
