TEAM IRELAND LAUNCH EUROPEAN GAMES CAMPAIGN TODAY

*All interviews on soundcloud*

21 June 2019

The second edition of the European Games officially opens in Minsk today. The Games run from the 21-30 June, and Team Ireland will be represented by 63 athletes across nine sports, including many of the top names in Irish sport, such as boxer Kellie Harrington, cyclist Ryan Mullen and Canoe Sprint racer Jenny Egan.

Day one will be a quiet one for Ireland with Maeve Reidy being the sole Irish representative, competing in Archery. Three boxing events had originally been scheduled for the 21 June, but the strength and talent of the Team Ireland boxers has bought them several byes to later rounds.

Speaking ahead of the event Performance Director for boxing, Bernard Dunne, said,

“Everybody is happy. Preparations for this competition have been superb. We trained in Belfast for a few weeks, it was fantastic, and great preparation for our guys. We are ready, we are as prepared as we can be. Now it’s just a matter of going out and fighting. Our guys are eager to get in, we want to get some action. We have a couple of byes, but eventually we are going to have to fight the best. It doesn’t matter if we fight them tomorrow or in a few days time; we are ready and just want to show our best. That’s what our guys want to do.”

Archery will see Reidy compete in the preliminary rounds of the Women’s Recurve Individual at 11:15 Irish time. The results from today will provide the seeding for the 1/32 Elminiation Rounds on the 25 June for the Dubliner.

Team Leader for Archery, Martin Cunningham explains what to expect today,

“In the Preliminary Rounds archers shoot 72 arrows, their score from these rounds will rank them one to forty eight, basically this will then give them a seeding which will see them compete in brackets, like you see in football or boxing. Archers then go head to head in five round matches, where they shoot three arrows in each match. At the end of the match the winner gets two points, loser gets zero points, and a draw gives you one point. The first person who reaches six points goes through to the next round.”

The Opening Ceremony takes place in the Dinamo Stadium tonight at 18:00 Irish time. Coverage of the European Games is on eir Sport for the duration of the Games, with previews and interviews with the Irish athletes featuring throughout the competition also.

The European Games take place in Minsk, Belarus, from the 21 – 30 June, with athletes competing across nine sports, five of which are part of the Tokyo 2020 qualification journey.

DAY ONE SCHEDULE (IRISH TIME):

11:15 – Archery Maeve Reidy (Preliminary Rounds Women’s Recurve Individual)

18:00 – Opening Ceremony

-ENDS-

For more information please contact:

Olympic Federation of Ireland Public Relations Officer

Heather Boyle,

heather@olympicsport.ie,

+353 87 337 1954

 

TEAM IRELAND ATHLETES

SPORT DISCIPLINE NAME LOCATION  
Archery Recurve Maeve Reidy Dublin
Athletics Brandon Arrey
Amy O’Donoghue Pursuit Race Limerick 27/01/1994
Àndrew Mellon Mixed 4 x 400m Down 08/11/1995
Brandon Arrey Mixed 4 x 400m Dublin 18/07/1996
Catherine McManus Mixed 4 x 400m Dublin 09/05/1992
Ciara Deely Mixed 4 x 400m Kilkenny 28/03/2000
Conall Kirk Pursuit Antrim 06/01/1996
Gerard O’Donnell 110m H Leitrim 06/05/1988
Grace Casey Javelin Kildare 16/06/1999
Kelly McGrory Reserve Sligo 24/12/1996
Lily-Ann O Hora Reserve Limerick 30/11/1994
Luke Lennon-Ford Mixed 4 x 400m Dublin 05/05/1989
Nelvin Appiah High Jump Longford 29/10/2001
Niamh Whelan 100m Limerick 26/07/1990
Paul Byrne Reserve Laois 18/04/1990
Paul White Pursuit Limerick 27/11/1995
Rolus Olusa Reserve Dublin 08/08/1996
Sarah Lavin 100m H Limerick 28/05/1994
Sinead Denny Mixed 4 x 400m Dublin 05/03/1991
Sophie Meredith Long Jump Limerick 12/04/2001
Stephen Gaffney 100m Dublin 07/10/1993
Victoria Harris Pursuit Race Westmeath 21/01/1996
Badminton Rachael Darragh Women’s Singles Donegal
  Chloe Magee Mixed Doubles Donegal
  Joshua Magee Men’s Doubles Donegal
  Sam Magee Mixed Doubles Donegal
  Nhat Nguyen Men’s Singles Dublin
  Paul Reynolds Men’s Doubles Dublin
Boxing Tony Browne Men’s Heavy -91kg Dublin
  Regan Buckley Men’s Light Fly -49kg Wicklow
  Dean Gardiner Men’s Super Heavy +91kg Clonmel
  Kellie Harrington Dublin
  James McGivern Men’s Light Welter -64kg Antrim
  Kieran Molloy Men’s Welter -69kg Galway
  Michael Nevin Men’s Middle -75kg Mullingar
  Aoife O’Rourke Women’s Middle -75kg Roscommon
  Kurt Walker Men’s Bantam -56kg Antrim
  Grainne Walsh Women’s Welter -69kg Offaly
  Michaela Walsh Women’s Feather -57kg Antrim
Canoe Sprint Jenny Egan Women’s K1 200, 500, 5000 Dublin
  Ronan Foley Men’s K1 200, 500, 5000 Dublin
Cycling Road Mark Downey Men’s RR Banbridge
  Robert Jon McCarthy Men’s RR Cork
  Ryan Mullen Men’s RR, TT Wales
  Michael O’Loughlin Men’s RR, TT Waterford
  Alice Sharpe Women’s RR Germany/UK
  Matthew Teggart Men’s RR Banbridge
Cycling Track Mark Downey Banbridge
  Felix English Bristol
  JB Murphy Kildare
  Marc Potts Omagh
  Fintan Ryan Wicklow
  Lydia Boylan Dublin
  Mia Griffin Waterford
  Lydia Gurley Galway
  Shannon McCurley Australia
  Robyn Stewart Belfast
  Orla Walsh Dublin
Gymnastics Emma Slevin Women’s All-Around Galway
  Adam Steele Men’s All-Around
Judo Nathon Burns Men’s Half-light weight -66kg UK
  Megan Fletcher Women’s Middle weight -70kg Bath
Shooting Aoife Gormally Women’s Shotgun Trap Dublin
  Derek Burnett Men’s Shotgun Trap

 

 

SCHEDULE FOR 21 JUNE (Irish Time)

 

Sport Athlete Event Time Round
Archery Maeve Reidy Women’s Recurve Individual 11:15:00 Preliminary Rounds

 

SCHEDULE FOR 22 JUNE (Irish Time)

 

Shooting – Shotgun Aoife Gormally Women’s Trap 07:00:00 Qualifications
Shooting – Shotgun Derek Burnett Men’s Trap 07:00:00 Qualifications
Cycling Road Alice Sharpe Women’s Road Race 10:30:00 Finals
Judo Nathon Burns Men’s Half-light Weight – 66kg 10:36:00 Elimination Rounds
Boxing Kieran Molloy Men’s Welter -69kg 13:00:00 1/8 Finals
Boxing Michael Nevin Men’s Middle -75kg 14:00:00 Preliminary Round
Judo Nathon Burns Men’s Half-light Weight – 66kg 14:00:00 Final Rounds

 

In Minsk (GMT +3:00):

 

Real Time Updates 

The Olympic Federation of Ireland will be sharing real-time updates, results and content from Minsk, Belarus across its social channels.

Twitter: @TeamIreland

Instagram: @team_ireland_olympic

Facebook: @teamirelandolympic

YouTube: OlympicIRL

Soundcloud: Team Ireland

 

Notes to Editor

 

*Reserve list required by Minsk for Athletics

 

Daily Updates

The OFI will issue a daily press release each morning including results, quotes from the athletes and backroom team, audio interview clips, and general updates from the European Games.

Please contact Heather Boyle on heather@olympicsport.ie  to be included on the distribution list.

 

Broadcast Coverage

Eir Sport will be providing full coverage of the European Games, with live footage as well as highlight packages.

 

Photography

Sportsfile and Inpho Sports Photography will be travelling to the European Games and will be issuing photography.

 

Interviews

Interviews with Team Ireland athletes, coaches and support staff may be facilitated where possible on request.

Please contact Heather Boyle on heather@olympicsport.ie for specific requests.

 

Notes to Editor

 

*Reserve list required by Minsk for Athletics

 

Summary Team Ireland Schedule

Opening Ceremony 21 June 2019
Archery 21 – 27 June 2019
Athletics 23 – 28 June 2019
Badminton 24 – 30 June 2019
Boxing 21 – 30 June 2019
Canoe Sprint 25 – 27 June 2019
Cycling Road 22 – 25 June 2019
Cycling Track 27 – 30 June 2019
Gymnastics 22 – 30 June 2019
Judo 22 – 25 June 2019
Shooting 22 – 28 June 2019
Closing Ceremony 30 June 2019