Kate O’Connor and Eve McCrystal were formally honoured by Louth County Council at a Civic Reception held on Thursday, 10th April at County Hall, Dundalk.
The event, attended by nearly 150 guests, celebrated the extraordinary achievements of two of County Louth’s most decorated athletes. Both women have proudly represented Louth and Ireland on the world stage, inspiring countless others with their talent, determination, and resilience.
A trailblazer in Irish athletics, Kate O’Connor made history in 2024 when she became Ireland’s first Olympic heptathlete and Louth’s first female Track and Field Olympian at the Paris Games.
Having developed her talent at Dundalk St Gerard’s AC, Kate continued her remarkable rise with a bronze medal at the 2025 European Indoor Championships, followed just 12 days later by a silver at the World Indoor Championships in China.
Eve McCrystal’s achievements in para-cycling are equally exceptional. The community Garda enjoyed over a decade of success alongside her tandem partner Katie-George Dunlevy, winning five Paralympic medals across Rio, Tokyo, and Paris, in addition to multiple World Championship titles. In September 2024, Eve was inducted into the Cycling Ireland Hall of Fame.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Louth County Council Director of Services, Joe McGuinness, who invited Niall Clarke, Bernard Maguire and Dita Durse from Louth County Council Fire & Rescue Service to display the National Flag and the flags of County Louth and Dundalk Municipal District.
Kate and Eve were then presented with a Civic Honour Scroll by Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Kevin Callan, and Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District, Cllr Seán Kelly.
They also received specially commissioned pieces of jewellery, designed by Garrett Mallon Design House, Carlingford, before signing the County Roll of Honour and joining the ranks of previous signatories, including President Michael D Higgins, Irish Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason, and the late Seamus Mallon.
The event also featured a live Q&A session with Louth County Council Communications Officer, Gavin McLaughlin, and concluded with a performance of the national anthem by local tenor David Martin, accompanied by Simply Strings.
Speaking at the event, Cllr Kevin Callan said: “Civic honours like these are set down in Irish law. With over 140,000 citizens in County Louth, selecting two individuals reflects the sheer scale of Kate and Eve’s achievements. This is not just a gesture; it’s an official and meaningful recognition of their excellence. As an elected council, we are bestowing an honour upon Kate and Eve, but they are doing us an honour in accepting it.”
Cllr Seán Kelly added: “It is not often that you can say you are in the presence of greatness, but that is certainly the case here. Both Kate’s and Eve’s achievements have been nothing short of inspirational. What they have done to promote their sport, not only within Louth but nationally, means that little girls and boys across Ireland can dream a little bigger. If that isn’t a legacy worth celebrating, I don’t know what is.”
Chief Executive of Louth County Council, David Conway, said afterwards: “Kate and Eve have brought immense pride to Louth. Their journeys speak to resilience, perseverance, and excellence. This Civic Reception is our way of saying thank you for everything they’ve achieved, and for the inspiration they continue to provide.”
