On Monday night, Ireland achieved its first medal of the 2024 Olympic Games when Mona McSharry claimed bronze in the women’s 100m breast-stroke final in Paris.
A second medal was achieved last night when Daniel Wiffen set an Olympic Record in the Men’s 800 metre freestyle to take gold.
While celebrations are ongoing in McSharry’s Sligo and Wiffen’s Armagh, the same is occurring in Laois.
On Monday evening, we explained how McSharry is coached by Grace Meade, whose mother Mary (nee Bloomer) was originally from Mountmellick.
But that isn’t the only Laois connection to the 23-year-old, as a sizeable portion of her family actually live in the O’Moore County.
Mona’s aunt Deirdre Bergin (nee McSharry), uncle Michael Bergin, and cousins Micheál, Cathal and Cillian Bergin are all from Shanahoe in Abbeyleix.
Deirdre travelled back to Grange in Sligo on Monday where she watched the race with the rest of the McSharry family and they were featured on RTE News.
Speaking to LaoisToday, Deirdre explained how proud she and all of the family are of Mona.
She said: “From a young age, Mona demonstrated exceptional potential.
“Her determination and focus set her on a path to her Olympian dream of winning a medal and Paris 2024 was her goal.
“Mona’s achievement has placed Ireland back on the global stage of high-performance swimming and stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration for our young swimmers and athletes nationwide.
“We are so proud of Mona’s Olympic medal. Witnessing her accomplish her dream was definitely an emotional day for the family and, I am sure, the whole of Ireland as we watched her touch that wall.
“This is a day Mona’s family will never forget.”
Mona McSharry isn’t finished yet either as she goes in the Women’s 200 metre breaststroke heats at 10am.
Should she qualify, the semi finals are scheduled for 7.45pm this evening.
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