Five Midlands Strength Gym, Longford athletes and coaches enjoy huge national success

Trevor Quinn
By Trevor Quinn

News Journalist / Multimedia

Published 9th Feb 2026, 18:33 GMT
Kirsty Smyth of Longford, who dominated the Under 82kg women’s category, taking gold in emphatic fashionplaceholder image
Kirsty Smyth of Longford, who dominated the Under 82kg women’s category, taking gold in emphatic fashion

The Midlands based team returned home from the national event with five podium finishes

Five Midlands Strength athletes and their coaches April Dardis and David Harrington enjoyed an outstanding weekend recently as they delivered an exceptional performance at the Irish Natural Federation Nationals.

The Midlands based team brought a quintet of talented athletes to the national stage the weekend before last and returned home with an impressive five podium finishes, underlining the strength and depth of the club.

Leading the charge was Kirsty Smyth of Longford, who dominated the Under 82kg women’s category, taking gold in emphatic fashion.placeholder image
Leading the charge was Kirsty Smyth of Longford, who dominated the Under 82kg women’s category, taking gold in emphatic fashion.
Smyth also secured an outstanding third place overall from a highly competitive field of 25 of the country’s strongest female athletes, marking one of the standout performances of the competition.placeholder image
Smyth also secured an outstanding third place overall from a highly competitive field of 25 of the country’s strongest female athletes, marking one of the standout performances of the competition.
In the Masters women’s category, Teresa Geraghty Kane of Drumlish delivered a strong showing to claim second place, adding another national medal to the Midlands Strength tally.placeholder image
In the Masters women’s category, Teresa Geraghty Kane of Drumlish delivered a strong showing to claim second place, adding another national medal to the Midlands Strength tally.

Coach David Harrington, competing himself, took to the platform in the Under 90kg men’s division, where the Longford man earned a well-deserved third place finish.

Youth talent was also on full display, with Andrew Johnson of Clara placing second in the Junior Men’s category for Midlands Strength.placeholder image
Youth talent was also on full display, with Andrew Johnson of Clara placing second in the Junior Men’s category for Midlands Strength.
Rounding off a hugely successful weekend was Eddie Donlon of Offaly, who dominated the Under 90kg men’s division to take first place, producing a commanding performance to top the podium ranking 7th out of 48 men from all weight categories.placeholder image
Rounding off a hugely successful weekend was Eddie Donlon of Offaly, who dominated the Under 90kg men’s division to take first place, producing a commanding performance to top the podium ranking 7th out of 48 men from all weight categories.

Eddie Donlon of Midlands Strength took first place in the Under 90kg men's division 

All five athletes have now qualified for the UK Natural Strength (UKNS) Championships, which will take place in April in the UK, where they will represent both Midlands Strength and Ireland on the international stage.

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