Roscommon’s Aoife O’Rourke, the reigning 2025 World Boxing champion and double Olympian, is set to defend her dominance at the 2026 National Elite Championships, kicking off on January 9th at Dublin’s iconic National Stadium. The Castlerea BC middleweight (75kg) star, who claimed gold at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool last year alongside multiple European titles, represents one of just two entries from County Roscommon among 75 competitors from 17 counties. O’Rourke’s inclusion adds immense prestige to an already glittering field, as she aims to add another Elite crown to her illustrious resume in Ireland’s premier amateur boxing tournament.
The championships feature a host of Olympic talent, including double gold medalist Kellie Harrington, Paris 2024 representatives like Daina Moorehouse, Grainne Walsh, and Jack Marley, plus 2025 World bronze medalists Grainne Walsh and Patsy Joyce. With entry lists, draws, and provisional programmes now available, fans can anticipate thrilling bouts across weights, including opening-night action featuring Olympians Jude Gallagher and Shannon Sweeney. Held since 1922 and permanently at the National Stadium since 1939, the event remains a cornerstone of Irish boxing, where legends like record title-holder Michaela Walsh (13 Elite wins) have shone.
