Kellie Harrington is Ireland’s latest World Champion and her community in Inner City Dublin could not be happier.
She made a triumphant return to her roots, and where she still lives, works and boxes, on Monday evening for a special homecoming event hosted by Dublin City Council and Lord Mayor Nial Ring.
She added a World Championship Gold to the Silver she won two years ago in India last weekend and is now a serious medal hope for Ireland at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Harrington is sparky and an absolute pleasure to be around. She is proud of where she comes from and is a regular at events hosted within the Sean McDermott street area. That included the launch of the National Sports Policy back in July of this year when she was one of the guest speakers and did so with eloquence and spirit.
While she was out in India this month she was inducted into the Hall of Fame from the Garda Youth Awards and took the time to post this message on social media.
“Absolutely delighted to have got this amazing award. I love my community and all our people. We all stand together in the toughest of times and the happiest of times.”
She is a special talent in the ring and every bit as much of one outside as well.
When we were involved last year with TG4 on producing a Facebook Live show on Women in Sport in advance of the All Ireland Final she was one of the four stars alongside Rachael Blackmore, Valerie Mulcahy and Lyndsey Peat to talk about their lives, their stories and their views.
She never held back, she had the live audience in the palm of her hand, and she was a complete natural the whole way through.
Harrington has faced challenges to get this far in her sport.
“There’s been ups, downs, highs, lows, a change of boxing clubs,” she told RTÉ Sport at the homecoming. “It’s been a bumpy road. Many times I wanted to quit and stop but people pushed me on.”
Now she can relax and enjoy the success. There are platy more sessions ahead, and the prospect of Tokyo to keep those fires burning.
“I’m aiming for Tokyo but I’m not even thinking about it now. I like taking small steps and before I know it I’m actually there. And then I’m like, how did I even get here?’.
“That’s the way I take it; I let it flow. That’s the type of person I am.”
Image Credit: AIBA
