The Team Ireland Centenary Olympic Ball in Dublin commemorated 100 years of Ireland’s Olympic participation, honouring athletes’ achievements and community contributions.
The Team Ireland Centenary Olympic Ball was an evening filled with glamour and celebration as hundreds of Olympic athletes gathered to commemorate 100 years of Ireland’s participation in the Olympic Games. The event took place at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road in Dublin, an occasion notable not only for reunions and celebrations but also for the recognition of athletes’ accomplishments on the international stage.
Kellie Harrington, the standout athlete of the night, attended with her wife Mandy Loughlin. The couple, who tied the knot in April 2022, arrived dressed to impress. Kellie, the two-time Olympic boxing champion, donned a glistening gold jumpsuit paired with a Kurt Geiger rainbow handbag. Mandy complemented her with a chic black dress coupled with a leather jacket, her hair styled in elegant loose waves. The couple shared a moment of pride as they posed outside their recently renovated home in Portland Row, Dublin, before making their way to the ball.
Kellie Harrington’s achievements at the Paris 2024 Olympics were honoured as she took the stage to receive multiple awards, including the PTSB Inspiring a Nation Award 2024. This accolade, awarded to all Irish medallists from the Paris Games, was presented by Eamonn Crowley, CEO of Permanent TSB. Kellie nabbed a boxing gold in Paris, marking part of Ireland’s historic achievement of winning the most Olympic medals in its history — a feat achieved by a strong cohort of seven athletes.
Alongside Harrington, other medallists included Rhys McClenaghan who triumphed with a gold in gymnastics, Daniel Wiffen who secured gold and bronze in swimming, and the rowing team comprising Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy who each took home gold, while Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch earned bronze in rowing events. Swimmer Mona McSharry also emerged victorious, securing a bronze medal.
The evening recognised more than just athletic prowess. Kellie Harrington received the Flogas Community Ambassador Award, presented by John Rooney, CEO of Flogas. This honour highlighted Kellie’s community engagement, including her role in the Dare to Believe schools programme and her celebrated visit to a local nursing home following her victorious return from Paris, where she shared her Olympic success with the local residents.
The event, marking a century of Irish Olympic history since the 1924 Paris Games, saw over 700 guests in attendance. Among them were Olympians past and present, such as athletes-turned-presenters for the evening, David Gillick and Greg O’Shea. Government and sporting dignitaries also took to the stage, with Minister Thomas Byrne TD and European Olympic Committees’ President, Spyros Capralos, providing welcoming addresses.
The accolades of the evening recognised a breadth of Irish sporting success and contribution. Paul O’Donovan was awarded the Deloitte Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring his ongoing Olympic success as a two-time champion and a silver medallist. Daniel Wiffen garnered the Sport Ireland Breakthrough Olympian Award for his impactful swimming performances in Paris, establishing him as a formidable presence in the aquatic sports scene.
Notably, the Key Patent Innovations Global Influence Award was given to Canoe Slalom Olympian Mike Corcoran, and six-time Olympian Terry McHugh received the inaugural President’s Award 2024. Furthermore, the Allianz Olympic Legacy Award was presented to legendary athlete and Sydney 2000 silver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan, in recognition of her enduring contribution to Irish athletics.
The Team Ireland Centenary Olympic Ball was an opulent affair, bringing together the country’s finest athletes to celebrate a storied past and a promising future in the Olympic arena. Through various awards and accolades, the event underscored not only the athletic accomplishments of Irish Olympians but also their significant contributions to their communities and sports on a global scale.
Source: Noah Wire Services