Team Ireland's Donegal members commended by Minister McConalogue

THE five people from Donegal who were part of Team Ireland in the Olympic Games have been commended for their efforts by Donegal minister Charlie McConalogue.

“The Paris Olympics was a superb sporting showpiece which saw Ireland enjoy its most successful ever Olympics,” the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine commented.

“I’d like to commend everyone connected with Team Ireland, with a special mention to Donegal’s Mark English, Kelly McGrory, Rachel Darragh, Teresa McDaid, Daniel Magee and Sharon Madigan who were part of a wonderful and memorable story in the French capital. Their efforts have inspired our county and the nation, and the future is certainly bright. Roll on Los Angeles 2028,” Minister McConalogue added.

“I have no doubt that the heroics of Mark English and Kelly McGrory on the track, and Rachel Darragh on the badminton court, will inspire the next generation. Teresa McDaid did a superb job as manager of the Irish athletics team, as did Sharon Madigan, Head of Performance Nutrition at Sport Ireland Institute, and Daniel McGee, team leader of the Irish badminton team,” Minister McConalogue commented.

“For Team Ireland to return from the 16-day event with seven medals is a phenomenal achievement and something the entire country can be immensely proud of. Four gold and three bronze medals left Ireland ranked 19^th in the overall standings. And as everyone knows, we came agonisingly close to winning two more bronze medals on the track.

“There is no doubt that the Paris Olympics caught the imagination like no other and the performances of Team Ireland gave the entire country a huge and timely lift. It’s great that the children of Ireland now have new sporting heroes to look up to, and the best of role models to follow,” the Donegal minister added.

“Ireland made massive progress in a variety of disciplines in Paris where the standard of competition was incredibly high. The gold medal winning performances of Daniel Wiffen, Rhys McClenaghan, Kellie Harrington, Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan, and the bronze medal performances of Mona McSharry, Daniel Wiffen, Daire Lynch and Philip Boyle will all live long in the memory.

“It is imperative that our elite sports men and women are given as much help and support as possible to make sure that Ireland keeps producing quality athletes who can beat, and mix it with, the best in the world,” Minister McConalogue said.

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