The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Month Award for July 2021 gas been awarded to Aifric Keogh, Eimear Lambe, Fiona Murtagh and Emily Hegarty, bronze medallists in the Women’s Four rowing at Tokyo 2020.

As Eimear Lambe, from Cabra in Dublin, put it after, “We had a bit of a rocky start, so we definitely didn’t make it easy for ourselves – but we just didn’t give up.

“It’s a bit surreal, to be honest, It’s something for the future, and hopefully this will be the first of many, and hopefully it gives the young girls coming up now a bit of hope that this is completely possible. If we can do it, anyone can.”

Aifric Keogh, a native of Na Forbacha, Galway, is the most experienced of the crew and began rowing in 2006. The 28-year-old has been a member of the High-Performance team for several years. In 2020, Aifric won Bronze at the European Rowing Championships in Poznan, competing in the Women’s Four and went on to win Silver at the 2021 European Rowing Championships in Varese. 

Eimear Lambe is a member of Old Collegians Boat Club and began rowing in 2012. Alongside her W4- teammates, Eimear won a silver medal in the 2019 World U23 Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Florida while she also won Bronze at the 2020 European Rowing Championships in the W4- and went on to win Silver at the 2021 European Rowing Championships in Varese.

NUIG Rowing Club’s Fiona Murtagh won Bronze at the 2020 European Rowing Championships in the Women’s Four and went on to win Silver at the 2021 European Rowing Championships in Varese.

Emily Hegarty, another from the prolific Skibbereen school, has been rowing for 12 years and won Bronze in the 2020 European U23 Championships in Duisburg in the Women’s Pair. The 23-year-old’s other rowing highlights include winning a silver medal at the 2019 World U23 Rowing Championships in Sarasota and winning the Irish Rowing Championships.

Congratulations to Aifric, Eimear, Fiona and Emily, worthy winners of The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Month award for July 2021.

Photo: Morgan Treacy INPHO