Laois rugby star Alanah lines out to realise Olympic dream
Portarlington's Olympian trains with Team Ireland rugby squads
Young Laois Olympian Alanna Fitzpatrick has lined up with her Irish Rugby Sevens teammates at an event in Dublin where she met with fans as the squad prepared for their Olympic debut in Paris.
Alanna, from Portarlington, was among the two Irish Rugby teams who gathered for the Team Ireland Paris 2024 team training for Rugby Sevens at the IRFU outdoor pitch on the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin on July 8.
Alanna can look forward to a great send-off on Wednesday, July 10, at the Portarlington RFC clubhouse where the Olympic flag will be raised in honour of her achievement.
The club say the July 10 event which starts at 7.30pm is an opportunity for us to wish her good luck and acknowledge her achievements.
Alanna Fitzpatrick during the Team Ireland Paris 2024 team announcement for Rugby Sevens at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
The Portarlington RFC member and the rest of the Ireland women get their first Olympics underway on Sunday, July 28 when they play Great Britain at 2:30pm. They then face South Africa at 6pm. Day 2 sees them up against Australia in their final match of the pool stage fixtures.
The Ireland men's team kick off their campaign on July 24 against South Africa at 4:30pm and they’re in action again at 8pm against Japan. Day 2 sees them play New Zealand in the final pool match before the playoff and medal matches begin.
Pictured: Ireland Women's Rugby Sevens squad, back row, from left, Erin King, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowne, Megan Burns, Eve Higgins, Claire Boles, Ashleigh Orchard and Emily Lane, with, front row, from left, Kathy Baker, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Stacey Flood, Lucy Mulhall, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Beibhinn Parsons and Amy Larn during the Team Ireland Paris 2024 team training for Rugby Sevens ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the IRFU Outdoor Pitch on the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
The Ireland Women’s Sevens Squad – Paris 2024:
Kathy Baker (Blackrock College RFC)
Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC)
Alanna Fitzpatrick (Portarlington RFC/Blackrock College RFC)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)
Ashleigh Orchard (Cooke RFC)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)
Lucy Rock (Wicklow RFC)(captain)