Ireland Announce Team for European Cross Country Championships

HerSport Editor
December 8, 2025

Athletics
123.ie, Athletics Ireland, European Cross Country Championships, European cross country running, Fiona Everard, Ireland women’s cross country team, Irish distance running, Irish female athletes, Irish women’s athletics, Lagoa Portugal, senior women’s athletics, U20 women’s athletics, U23 women’s athletics, women’s sport Ireland

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Athletics Ireland has named a team for the upcoming SPAR European Cross Country Championships which take place in Lagoa, Portugal on Sunday December 14th.

The senior women’s campaign will be led by recent national cross country champion Fiona Everard (Bandon AC). Joining her on the senior women’s team will be Niamh Allen (Leevale AC), Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers), Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC) and Emily Haggard-Kearney (North Belfast Harriers).

Ireland will also be represented by Laura Nicholson (Bandon AC) and Eimear Maher (Dundrum South Dublin AC), who return to the national setup following strong championship performances. Nicholson made her senior major championship debut in the Women’s 1500m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, while Maher enjoyed a standout track season after winning bronze in the Women’s 1500m at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Bergen.

The women’s U23 team sees double European U23 track medallist Anika Thompson (Leevale AC) and Ava O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers) return following a busy NCAA season. They will be joined by national champion Roise Roberts (Candour Track Club), Amy Greene (Finn Valley AC) and Kirsty Maher (Moy Valley AC).

Anna Gardiner (East Down AC) will compete in her third successive Women’s U20 race at the European Cross Country Championships, after impressing in recent editions. She will be joined by national champion Emma Hickey (United Striders AC), Lucy Foster (Willowfield Harriers), Eimear Cooney (Ace AC) and Abby Smith (Shercock AC).

Speaking at the announcement, Athletics Ireland National Endurance Co-Ordinator, Mark Kenneally said: “We are delighted to be travelling to Portugal this year with a number of opportunities for medals and strong finishes, both individually and with teams. It is also heartening to have a mixed relay team for the first time in a few years, with a really strong lineup. Great credit goes to all the athletes who have made this team, and their coaches. Hopefully we can continue to perform as strongly as we have been over the last number of years at the European Cross Country Championships.”