Louth County Council to Honour Sporting Stars O’Connor and McCrystal in Civic Reception
Ardee News and Sport – Louth County Council to Honour Sporting Stars O’Connor and McCrystal in Civic Reception
Louth County Council announce civic reception
A civic reception will be held next week to celebrate the remarkable sporting achievements of Dundalk athletes Kate O’Connor and Eve McCrystal. The invitation-only event will take place at County Hall, Dundalk, next Thursday evening, recognizing their contributions to Irish sport on both national and international stages
O’Connor’s Historic Achievements in Pentathlon
Kate O’Connor has firmly cemented her place in Irish sporting history, becoming the first Irish athlete in 19 years to secure a medal at the World Indoor Championships. The 24-year-old pentathlete delivered a stunning performance in Nanjing, China, last month, setting three personal bests across the five-discipline event to claim a silver medal.
Her success in China came just 12 days after another groundbreaking moment in her career when she secured a bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn. This achievement marked the first senior medal ever won by an Irish athlete in a multi-event competition at the European level, further solidifying her reputation as a rising star in Irish athletics.
McCrystal’s Legacy in Para-Cycling
Eve McCrystal, a legendary figure in Irish para-cycling, will also be honoured at the civic reception. The 46-year-old from Dundalk has achieved extraordinary success as a tandem pilot for para-cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy, forming one of the most decorated partnerships in Irish sporting history.
McCrystal and Dunlevy concluded a decade-long era of dominance in September with a silver medal in the Women’s B 3000m Individual Pursuit at the Paralympic Games in Paris. Over their career together, they amassed an incredible haul of three gold and three silver Paralympic medals, five World Championship road titles, and numerous other accolades, including a bronze at the UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023.
A Night of Recognition and Celebration
The upcoming civic reception will provide an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication, talent, and perseverance of both athletes, who have not only brought immense pride to Dundalk and County Louth but also to Ireland as a whole. Their achievements have inspired a new generation of Irish athletes and highlighted the nation’s strength on the global sporting stage.
Local officials, sporting representatives, and invited guests will be in attendance to honour O’Connor and McCrystal for their outstanding contributions to Irish sport. With their legacies firmly established, the civic reception will serve as a fitting tribute to their remarkable journeys and accomplishments.
