BY HARRY WALSH
FINTAN Dewhirst has plenty of incentive to keep pushing himself as an elite athlete, not only because he lives, sleeps, eats and breathes the sport but also because he has a very competitive younger brother, Ethan, pushing him on.
Members of Tir Chonaill AC, Fintan and Ethan are currently ranked first and second respectively in Ireland in the 400 metre hurdles.
Fintan (19), who won silver in the 400m hurdles at the European U18 Championships in Jerusalem, Israel in July 2022, gained his first Irish senior vest in Slovenia during the summer while over the same week Ethan wore the green vest with distinction in Mannheim, Germany, at the European U20 International competition.
With Fintan currently studying Sports and Science on a Level 2 Sports Scholarship at the University of Limerick, it makes for some fun telephone conversations over the course of the season as the two brothers compare each other’s results.
“We’re a very close family and so when either my brother or sister do well, it always feels like a win for me too,” says Fintan.
“Our sister Caitriona is probably the most athletic of us all but sport just really isn’t her thing. She’s very arty and creative and, anyway, she doesn’t need to be another Fintan or Ethan,” he added.
Past pupils of Kilkenny NS, the Dewhirst boys enjoyed all sports growing up with their parents Rosemary and Tim taking them to rugby with Donegal Town, soccer with Fintown Harps and Gaelic Football with Naomh Conaill.
“I enjoyed going up to Tir Chonaill where my mum (Rosemary) was a coach. I tried a lot of events but the 400m hurdles seemed to suit me as you needed a bit of grit and plenty of determination,” he laughed.
Fintan Dewhirst announced himself as the new rising star in Irish athletics three summers ago when he produced a stunning breakthrough in the European final to obliterate the Irish U18 record, clocking 51.65 seconds.
Since then, he’s competed in places like Lima, Peru, Bergen in Norway, Lisbon and Paris. During the summer he gained his first senior vest, helping Ireland to a fifth place finish in the European team championships in Slovenia.
Unfortunately, a quad injury stalled Fintan’s progress somewhat in more recent times but he’s now eagerly looking forward to the 2026 season.
“I’m really hoping to be in Birmingham at the European Championships next August but, to be honest, my main goal in 2026 is to win a first National Senior title. Anything after that would be a bonus,” he said.
To do that would be to follow in the footsteps of Thomas Barr, one of Ireland’s most accomplished athletes. A three-time Olympian and national record holder in the 400m hurdles, Barr finished fourth in the 2016 Rio Olympics. He’s also engaged to another Tir Chonaill athlete, Kelly McGrory.
To win the coveted title, Fintan will also have to beat his younger brother Ethan. So who is the better athlete?
“Ethan is about an inch taller than me and has longer legs so it should be easier for him but only time will tell. Ethan is one of my inspirations. He’s the hardest worker I know. Next year, I’m hoping to be at the top of the podium and I would love Ethan to be standing up there beside me,” he said.
Ethan (18) is a Leaving Certificate student at St Columba’s Comprehensive School in Glenties and like his older brother he enjoyed all team sports. Indeed, he retains aspirations of playing with county champions Naomh Conaill in the not too distant future!
“I love trying different sports but I seem to have settled on athletics for the time being at least. The rivalry between the two of us helps to keep me focused as we both want to be better than each other,” he said.
“Fintan has been a massive inspiration and I’ve always thought if he can do it then why can’t I? Athletics has given me some wonderful opportunities to travel and meet people who will remain friends for life. I’m so grateful,” he added.
Ethan competed at the European U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, in August while his last race of the season saw him guest for Ratoath AC at the European U20 Club Championships in Leiria, Portugal.
Training under the expert tuition of coaches Brian McGonagle and Eamon Harvey, Ethan is also looking forward to the new season.
“My 400m flat times have come down this year but I didn’t really have an opportunity to flourish in the 400m hurdles in 2025. Next year, the focus will be on the World U20 Championships in Oregon where I hope to run both the 400m relay and 400m hurdles. That’s the goal. I’m coming into the new year a more experienced athlete and hopefully all goes well,” he said.
“Usually, at the level we’re at, you would be expected to pay coaches but we’re so lucky to have Brian and Eamon involved with Tir Chonaill AC. They’re volunteers and it’s amazing the young talent that they’ve been producing now over many years. None of this would be possible without their commitment to the sport,” Ethan said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Fintan who is now under the tutelage of Hayley and Drew Harrison, who are based at the University of Limerick.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Brian and Eamon. They’re two incredible coaches and I owe them everything,” Fintan said.
Ethan is hoping to go to college next year, also on an Athletics Scholarship, to Belfast to study accountancy or finance.
“Looking into the future is hard because anything can happen in sport but it would be surreal if both Fintan and myself could qualify to represent Ireland at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Fintan is the best 400m hurdler in Ireland since Thomas Barr. He was unlucky with injury this year but he’ll come back stronger next year and I look forward to racing him,” he said.
“It’s funny to see him (Fintan) on top of the podium but I’ll try to give him a run for it next year and will battle until the very end. Ultimately though, it comes down to who has the best race technically and. If the two of us stay fit there could be a few good battles over the next decade or so. The dream would be for the two of us to be away together in international competition.
“There’s a lot of ifs, buts and maybes but it would be great if the two of us could make a European or World final in the 400m hurdles. Now that really would be something special,” he smiled.
*This article first appeared in the 2025 Duchas Annual.
