Latest news with #EYOF
Irish Independent
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Emma Hickey finishes a fine fifth in punishing Skopje heat
EMMA HICKEY of United Striders AC delivered a stand-out performance for Team Ireland at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), finishing a superb fifth in the 3,000m final in North Macedonia on Monday.
Irish Independent
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Louth pair shine bright at European Youth Olympic Festival in baking Skopje heat
The Argus Today at 21:30 Estella Volkoff and Rian McCrystal did themselves, the country and the Dundalk area proud with their performances in last week's European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje, North Macedonia. Carlingford-based Estella was in the Irish gymnastics team in the Girls' All Around competition, and following the four apparatus events she finished with a total score of 45.300. Her final position overall was yet to be confirmed, but she and fellow Irish gymnast Roisin Hickey combined for 10th place in the team competition. The EYOF has served as a valuable springboard for many of Ireland's top gymnasts, including Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghanand 14-year-old Estella, who competes for DP Gymnastics Club, was pleased with her performance. She scored 10.45 in the uneven bars, 12.1 on the beam, 11.2 in the floor routine and 11.55 in the vault, and afterwards she said: 'I feel like my vault and my bars were very clean. I'm very happy with my floor because I put in a double tap for the first time in an international competition. I'm also very pleased with my beam.' 'I was happiest with the beam. I really love the beam, even though this routine wasn't the best.' Rian McCrystal, nephew of Paralympic champion Eve McCrystal, represented his country in cycling's 10km out-and-back time trial, held in temperatures that reached 40 degrees at one stage, and he performed very strongly to finish 35th in a time of 13:19.696. Team Ireland enjoyed significant success at the Festival, winning six medals, with a number of national records and personal bests also broken.
Irish Independent
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Carlingford and Dundalk athletes Estella and Rían to represent Ireland at European Youth Olympic Festival
The Olympic Federation of Ireland last week named thirty-five athletes who will compete across eight sports in the the EYOF. The EYOF is the largest European multi-sport event for young athletes aged 14-17, typically held every two years. This year it takes place in Skopje, North Macedonia, and will run from July 20–27. The EYOF is a prestigious event that plays an important role in the overall development of athletes, as it mimics the Olympic Games model, preparing athletes for the nuances of performing in a multi-sport environment. This year's event will see forty-eight countries across Europe participate in the event, with over 4,000 athletes competing. Announcing the team, Olympic Federation of Ireland Chef de Mission for the EYOF, Gavin Noble said: 'The EYOF is a key milestone on the Olympic pathway, a chance for athletes to gain invaluable experience in a high-performance, multi-sport environment. This is a competitive and ambitious Team Ireland group, and while many are making their debut, they're ready to step up. We are delighted to include a few new sports to this year's programme, like Basketball 3×3, Table Tennis and Taekwondo, and look forward to supporting the whole team.' The Irish team departs for Skopje on July 18 with competition starting on July 20. Coverage of the Games can be viewed on with daily recaps and results of the Irish action on the Team Ireland channels. Rían will represent Ireland in the Road Race and Time-Trial (M). His auntie, and multi-medal winning Paralympian cycling guide, Eve McCrystal, will also be making the trip as coach to the cycling squad.
Irish Independent
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Double delight for Louth's Ace AC as Lorcan Forde Dunne gets Olympic call and Eimear Cooney wins all-Ireland gold
The 17-year-old will compete in the 1500m, having met the qualifying time standard earlier this season. The EYOF is Europe's largest multi sport event for young athletes and the action gets under way on Monday next. Forde Dunne has been a member of Ace AC for many years and has competed regularly at local, provincial and national level since he was eight years of age. Last weekend he added to his list of achievements with a bronze medal in the All-Ireland U18 1500m in Tullamore. Due to large entry numbers, the event was split into two heats, with medals awarded on time, and Forde Dunne won the first heat in 4:03, which was the third fastest overall. He will now focus on preparations for the EYOF, where he will line up against Europe's top underage athletes. Also competing in the Ace colours last weekend was U19 athlete Eimear Cooney, who closed out her juvenile track career with two major performances. On Saturday evening she won bronze in the U20 Morton Mile at the Morton Games in Santry and less than 24 hours later she travelled to Tullamore and captured gold in the U19 1500m at the All-Ireland Championships. Cooney has medalled in every national final she entered this summer and now progresses to the senior ranks. Meanwhile, fellow Ace runner Daniella Adebola completed her final ever juvenile track race with a strong showing in the U19 200m at the All-Irelands. She ran a personal best of 25.74sec in the heats to qualify for the final, where she placed fifth in the country. Adebola has made steady progress all season, recording personal bests across multiple sprint distances. Overall, it's been yet another extraordinary few weeks for Ace AC, with national medals, personal bests and an Olympic selection, marking one of the club's most successful ever periods.
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Ace AC runner Lorcan Forde Dunne boosts Euro qualification prospects
Competing against a high-quality field, Forde Dunne clocked a personal best time of 3:50.15. This performance marked his second qualification time for the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), which will be held in North Macedonia this July. Not everyone that meets the qualification standards will automatically be selected, but Forde Dunne's recent times put him in a strong position, so his hopes and those of his club will be high. Meanwhile, closer to home in Carlow, Aoife O'Connor competed at the U16 Leinster Combined Events competition, which involved five events - the 80m hurdles, shot put, high jump, long jump and 800m. O'Connor finished fourth, just missing out on a medal, but her consistent performances throughout the day were a strong indication of her ability in multiple events. Ace AC training continues on Tuesdays at 6.30pm in St Oliver's CC, Thursdays at 6pm in Lourdes Stadium and Saturdays at 10am in Oldbridge and later on at noon in Lourdes Stadium for sprinters and younger athletes. New members are always welcome.
