Three more Offaly sport stars set for Paris Olympics
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Jordan Conroy of Ireland celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth try during the Men’s Rugby Sevens final match between Ireland and Great Britain during the European Games 2023 in Krakow, Poland. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 2 of 2
Shane Lowry pictured during the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILEOffaly's Paris Olympics contingent grew significantly this week with rugby stars Megan Burns and Jordan Conroy officially selected, and Shane Lowry set to be announced
Shane Lowry and Jordan Conroy will both be competing at their second games, whilst it'a debut for Megan Burns.
Burns, from Tullamore, was named last week in the Ireland Women's Rugby Sevens squad for the games.
The journey to the Olympics was a lengthy one for the women’s team, having narrowly missed qualification for both the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games.
Burns is named in a 12-strong squad, to be captained by Lucy Rock (née Mulhall) and which also included Alanna Fitzpatrick, a Portarlington native.
The full team is Kathy Baker, Megan Burns, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Erin King, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Emily Lane, Ashleigh Orchard, Béibhinn Parsons and Lucy Rock, with travelling reserves Claire Boles and Amy Larn
24-year-old Burns is a member of Tullamore RFC. She was part of the victorious Ireland U18s side that claimed the U18 Home Nations Trophy in 2018 and she also won a bronze medal with the side at the Rugby Europe Vichy Sevens in the same year.
Burns made her senior Sevens debut at the Rugby Europe Grand Prix in Kazan in 2018.
Burns is not the only Tullamore representative set to feature on the Olympic rugby pitches, as Jordan Conroy (30) was also announced in the men's Rugby Sevens squad.
Conroy was also part of the Irish men's sevens squad which competed in the Tokyo Olympics and finished tenth.
Conroy is Ireland's record try scorer and scored two tries against Great Britain in a 26-12 victory, to seal a place at next year's games.
He was named in the men's squad which also features Niall Comerford, Hugo Keenan, Jack Kelly, Terry Kennedy, Hugo Lennox, Harry McNulty, Gavin Mullin, Chay Mullins, Mark Roche, Andrew Smith, Zac Ward and travelling reserves: Bryan Mollen and Sean Cribbin
Meanwhile, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy are set to represent Ireland in this summer's Olympics at former Ryder Cup venue Le Golf National. Golf in the Olympics is an individual event, and both Lowry and McIlroy represented Ireland at the Tokyo Games, with McIlroy finishing fourth and Lowry 22nd.
The qualifying period came to an end at the US Open at Pinehurst on Sunday, after which McIlroy was ranked No 2 in the world, and Lowry, No. 33, with the top two ranked golfers for each nation being pencilled in for selection.
The Olympic Federation of Ireland does not have to submit the golf team until June 27, and should either Lowry or McIlroy not make the plane to Paris, Seamus Power is next highest ranked.
The trio are due to join Gráinne Walsh, who has qualified for the women's 66kg Boxing, and Nicole Turner, who will compete in the Paralympics. The Portarlington swimmer will be competing in her third Paralympics.