Olympians Rhys McClenaghan and Peter McKibbon have been honoured by their former secondary school with commemorative plaques.
McClenaghan, who won gold in the men’s Pommel Horse at Paris 2024, and McKibbon, a member of Ireland’s men’s hockey team in Paris, both attended Regent House School in Newtownards as teenagers.
It has recognised their Olympic achievements by mounting two plaques in its main building – a lasting tribute to their accomplishments and an inspiration for future students.
Peter McKibbin, who captained the school’s hockey team, expressed his excitement at seeing the plaque:
“It’s very cool, I think it’s a very nice way to commemorate our achievements over the last 12 months so I am very happy to have it (the plaque) up.”
Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan was similarly excited about his plaque and the experience of returning to his old school: “It’s so good to be back here at my school in Regent House, I am so proud to be back here and show all the kids my medal.”
Erect a Plaque in Your School or Club
Any school or club can erect a plaque to commemorate their local Olympic hero – find out how:
More Team Ireland News
Team Ireland Reflects on a Proud Week at EYOF Skopje 2025
Team Ireland concluded a successful and rewarding week at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje last Sunday, where 35 athletes competed across eight sports in scorching temperatures reaching up to 44 degrees. Reflecting on the week, Team Ireland Chef de Mission for the EYOF in Skopje, Gavin Noble, praised both the performances and [...]
Road to LA 2028: Key Updates on Schedule and Logo
It's three years to go until the start of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and with it came the release of the first official competition schedule by the LA28 Organising Committee. Competition Schedule – First Details Announced Among the most notable updates is a historic shift in the Olympic calendar: Athletics will take place [...]
Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games: Medal Design Revealed
The official unveiling of the medal designs for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games occurred earlier this month. The ceremony took place in Venice and featured appearances from celebrated Italian athletes Federica Pellegrini and Francesca Porcellato, underscoring the symbolism and national pride of the moment. Medal Design Highlights Splitsurface composition: [...]
PERFORMANCE ROUND UP – JULY 2025
Catch up on the latest results of Team Ireland athletes throughout the month of July: EQUESTRIAN SPRUCE MEADOWS, CANADA Daniel Coyle Won the $1 million ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup, producing two flawless rounds with Incredible and winning the jump-off in 35.21 seconds. SWIMMING EUROPEAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, ŠAMORÍN, SLOVAKIA John Shortt Gold – 100 m backstroke [...]
Sport events coming up in August
23 July – 7 Aug SHOOTING Largest ever Irish team – European Shotgun Championships – Chateauroux, France LINK 27 July – 2 Aug HOCKEY Team Ireland (Men), 2025 Men’s EuroHockey Championship II,Lousada, Portugal LINK 27 July – 3 Aug SWIMMING Team Ireland, World Aquatics Championships, Singapore LINK 6-10 Aug EQUESTRIAN Team Ireland – Aga Khan Trophy, Dublin [...]
KONAN PAZZAIA ON HIS ROWING CAREER BREAKTHROUGH
‘Fintan and Paul have got to live the wars that I haven't even got to see the start of yet’ It was only nine years ago, as a teenager glued to watching the 2016 Olympic Games in his home in France, that rowing first caught Konan Pazzaia’s imagination. His surname is Italian (from [...]
In The News – 28th July
Historic Firsts and Podium Finishes Across Surfing, Athletics, Cycling & Hockey Golden Waves: McDaid Makes Irish Surfing History It was a moment for the ages in Santa Cruz as Gearóid McDaid became the first Irish surfer to win gold at the European Surfing Championships. Riding clean and confident in challenging conditions, McDaid dominated the men’s [...]
ALLIANZ FLAGBEARERS NAMED FOR TEAM IRELAND AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
The Allianz Flagbearers for Team Ireland at the Closing Ceremony of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) have been named as Peadar Sheridan (Table Tennis) and Faye McDonnell (Basketball). The multi-sport Games featuring athletes aged between 14-17 is a key learning point on the pathway of young athletes, and takes place every second year. This [...]
MEDAL ALERT: GOLD MEDAL FOR CHESTER ENRÍQUEZ ON THE VAULT AT EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
Historic gold for Origin gymnast on final day of action in Skopje 2025 In an historic moment for Team Ireland today at the European Youth Olympic Festival, when gymnast Chester Enríquez won not only Ireland’s first gold medal at these Games, but the first gymnastics gold medal for Team Ireland ever. Added to his bronze [...]
IRISH RECORD FALLS FOR MEDLEY RELAY IN EYOF
In temperatures reaching over 40 degrees, the Todor Proeski National Arena enjoyed scorching performances from the Girls’ Medley Relay this evening, with Team Ireland qualifying for tomorrow’s final with the third fastest qualifying time. Also in action was Hammer Thrower Thomas Williams who threw a season’s best throw of 73.07 to finish just outside [...]
DOUBLE MEDAL MORNING FOR TEAM IRELAND ON DAY FOUR OF THE EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
Team Ireland athletes Ellis McHugh and Joe Burke won two bronze medals within 30 minutes of each other this morning (Friday) at the European Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje. Competing in the Girls’ 400m hurdles, McHugh cruised up the final straight in third place in this morning’s final, with a time of 59.25. Half an [...]
CHESTER ENRIQUEZ WINS BRONZE FOR TEAM IRELAND ON DAY FOUR OF THE EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL
Medal on Floor brings Irish medal count to 5 in Skopje Team Ireland’s Chester Enriquez won the third Irish medal of the day, with a phenomenal bronze medal in the Boys’ Floor exercise at the European Olympic Festival (EYOF). Going into the competition, the Origin Gymnastics athlete was ranked 7th, and his clean routine [...]