Galway’s record Olympic contingent are going for gold!

Covid may have delayed the start of the 2020 Olympic Games for twelve months – but Galway can look forward to Tokyo with record levels of sporting expectation, with the city and county represented by an unprecedented five athletes bidding for sporting glory.

Rowers Fiona Murtagh from Moycullen and Aifric Keogh from Furbo are first into action when the heats for the Women’s Fours take place during the early hours of Saturday morning, between 12.30am and 4.30am Irish time.

Ireland’s top-ranked Eventer, Loughrea’s Cathal Daniels will be on board Rioghan Rua shortly after midnight on Friday week. And the Mixed 4x400m Relay Final – with Galway City Harriers’ Cillin Greene and Robert McDonnell – takes place on Saturday week.

Unfortunately for friends and families, Covid means they have to watch progress from home – but that didn’t dilute their delight or pride this week, as their home patches hung out the bunting and the good wishes.

Fiona Murtagh’s sister, Lorraine, was overwhelmed at the public support. “It looks like the Olympic village here! The road from Galway out down past our house has bunting and Olympic flags everywhere. Mom is nonstop getting letters and cards and phone calls and texts,” she said this week.

See full coverage over six pages in news and sport in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now – or you can download the digital edition by going to www.connachttribune.ie