In another strong weekend of results, Irish athletes delivered on the world stage.
Rowing: Three Medals for Ireland at World Rowing Cup I
Rowing Ireland made an impressive start to the international season at World Rowing Cup I, returning from Seville with three medals and a series of strong early‑season performances across the squad.
Medal Performances
- Fiona Murtagh – Bronze, Women’s Single Sculls. The reigning World Champion opened her 2026 campaign with a hard‑fought bronze, demonstrating trademark composure in a tightly contested final.
- Mags Cremen & Zoe Hyde – Bronze, Women’s Double Sculls. At last year’s World Championships two-time Lightweight Olympian Mags Cremen paired up with Paris Olympian, Zoe Hyde, winning the B Final. Last weekend they stepped it up a gear, securing third place in the same event, showing excellent early‑season form against a world‑class field.
- Isobel Clements – Silver, Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls. Clements continued her upward trajectory with a superb silver medal, reinforcing her status as one of the leading lightweight scullers on the circuit.
Notable Results
- Alison Bergin & Sophia Young – 5th, Women’s Double Sculls (A Final). A promising debut outing for the new combination, who held their own in a competitive final, finishing just two spots behind the Irish bronze medallists.
- Women’s Four – 6th, A Final The crew of Natalie Long, Imogen Magner, Emma Fagan and Claire Feerick delivered a solid performance to finish sixth, gaining valuable experience as preparations intensify for the season ahead.
Cycling: Lara Gillespie Takes Two Podiums at Giro d’Italia Women
Ireland’s Lara Gillespie continued her remarkable rise on the European road scene with second‑place finishes on both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia Women, one of the sport’s most prestigious Grand Tours.
Riding for UAE Team ADQ, Gillespie featured prominently in both sprint finales, showcasing her speed, race intelligence and growing confidence at the WorldTour level. Her performances mark one of the strongest Irish openings to a Grand Tour in recent memory and reinforce her status as a major force on the road as well as on the track.
Boxing: Kellie Harrington Confirmed for Four Nations Return
Two‑time Olympic champion Kellie Harrington has been named on Ireland’s team for next month’s Four Nations tournament in Scotland, marking a significant step in her competitive comeback.
Harrington, who returned to the ring earlier this year after stepping away post‑Paris 2024, will compete in Motherwell from 11–14 June. Her selection follows a strong showing at the National Elite Championships and signals her intent to re‑establish herself on the international stage.
Her inclusion adds further strength to an 88‑strong Irish squad spanning youth and elite categories.
Athletics: Strong Irish Showing at Rabat Diamond League
Irish athletes delivered encouraging early‑season performances at the Rabat Diamond League, with LA Scholar Andrew Coscoran opening his 2026 campaign in competitive form. Mark English, fresh from his recent success at the Shanghai Open, also produced a strong result.
Andrew Coscoran – 1500m
Coscoran finished 6th in a world‑class field, clocking 3:31.65, a time close to his personal best and a strong indicator of form heading into the European summer.
Mark English – 800m
In the men’s 800m, Mark English placed 11th in 1:45.00, a solid follow up to his success two weeks ago. These performances provide a valuable benchmark as he builds towards the major championships later in the season at the Europeans.