Kilkenny roots reach Olympic heights

Callan celebrated sporting success on a global scale this week, as Niall Comerford and his Irish Rugby 7s teammates secured qualification for the Paris Olympic games in 2024.

Comerford, 23, currently resides in Dublin but has substantial Kilkenny connections.

The Irish Rugby International’s father Phillip, a Callan native, featured heavily in an era of success for John Lockes hurling, winning Minor, Junior and Intermediate titles with the club in the 1980s and 1990s, while his grandmother Nora Comerford is originally a Mayo woman but has made Kilbride her adopted home.

Ireland are now one of only 12 teams that will play Rugby 7s in the Paris Olympics, securing a European gold medal with victory over Team GB in the final last week. 

They join the already qualified France as hosts, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Argentina among others in seeking Olympic gold. 

The former Blackrock College student has an impressive sporting record, ranging from representing Dublin at underage level to winning a Minor A hurling title with Kilmacud Crokes in 2018.

However, rugby has shone through for the Irish international with successful periods at Blackrock and the Leinster Academy leading to an Irish U20’s call-up in 2020.

The news has given locals much pride with his childhood visits back to the Kilkenny town remembered fondly.