Here Are 10 Of The Biggest Irish Sporting Power Couples

While we have no shortage of talented athletes across all codes in Ireland, some of them go beyond their individual brilliance to form some of the biggest Irish sporting power couples around at the moment.

With a mix of Gaelic games, athletics, football, and more, here are some of the most prolific sporting couples in the country at the moment.

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10 Of The Biggest Irish Sporting Power Couples

Sharlene Mawdsley & Michael Breen

The latest entry in this list, Irish 400m sprint star Sharlene Mawdsley recently went public with her relationship with Tipperary hurler Mikey Breen.

2024 was a hugely successful year for the Tipp woman, who helped Ireland to gold in 4x400m mixed relay at the European Championships, as well as silver in the women's equivalent. She would also help Ireland to bronze in the mixed event at the World Athletics Relays earlier that year, before making her Olympic debut in Paris.

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Mikey Breen has been part of the Tipperary panel since 2014, winning two All-Ireland titles to go along with a pair of Munster medals.

Georgie Kelly & Kate O'Connor

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Carlisle United footballer Georgie Kelly has been in a relationship with heptathlon and pentathlon star Kate O'Connor for quite some time, with both excelling in their respective fields in recent years.

Kelly was a prolific goalscorer in the League of Ireland at Bohemians, going on to play for Rotherham United and Carlisle United in the EFL. Meanwhile, O'Connor has earned medals at both European and World level over the last 12 months.

Speaking to the Irish Independent back after the European medal, Kelly explained what makes his better half tick, calling her a 'killer'.

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She’s well versed in dealing with different pressures to me. We are different, Kate is ruthless, a real competitor, win at all costs. Her ability to produce under pressure last weekend, that was unreal, the pressure she was under, seeing girls perform well just before her and knowing she has to hit a certain mark or she’s gone, that’s the bit of my sports psyche that I’d lack. She’s a killer and I admire so much about what she does – I probably don’t tell her enough.

Paul Flynn & Fiona Hudson

A couple with no shortage of All-Ireland titles between them, former Dublin stars Paul Flynn and Fiona Hudson tied the knot in 2017.

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The pair share three children together, welcoming twins Louis and Saibh in 2020, before they were joined by Noah in 2021.

Rachael Blackmore & Brian Hayes

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Rachael Blackmore announced her retirement from racing earlier this month, bringing to an end one of the all-time great careers.

A Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National winner, the Tipperary native boasts an impressive record of 18 Cheltenham Festival victories.

She is in a relationship with Brian Hayes, himself an accomplished jockey.

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Dean Rock & Niamh McEvoy

Another pair of Dublin footballers, Dean Rock and Niamh McEvoy boast no less than 12 All-Ireland titles between them.

Rock was a staple of the all-conquering Dubs side of the 2010s and early 2020s, boasting 12 Leinster crowns and three All-Stars to go along with his All-Ireland medals.

McEvoy won one All-Star of her own, having also spent some time Down Under with Melbourne Football Club in the AFLW.

The couple tied the knot in 2023 and share one daughter together.

Michael Darragh MacAuley & Sarah McCaffrey

Eight-time All-Ireland winner Michael Dara MacAuley has been in a relationship with former Dublin Ladies footballer Sarah McCaffrey since early 2020, who also happens to be the sister of his former teammate Jack McCaffrey.

'MDMA' was one of the key men for Dublin throughout the 2010s, winning Footballer of the Year in 2013, as well as ten Leinster and five NFL titles.

Davy Fitzgerald & Sharon O'Loughlin

One of the most well-known GAA personalities in the country, Davy Fitzgerald is one of a short list of men to win All-Ireland titles as both a player and manager.

He would lift the Liam MacCarthy twice during his playing days with Clare, going on to do so again as manager of the county in 2013.

He tied the knot with former Clare camogie player Sharon O'Loughlin in 2019, with the pair welcoming son Daithi Óg in 2022.

Thomas Barr & Kelly McGrory

A pair of Olympians, both Thomas Barr and Kelly McGrory have played their part in elevating Irish sprinting in recent years.

Barr is a three-time Olympian, finishing fourth in the 400m hurdles final in Rio in 2016. He has also been part of the hugely successful Irish 4x400m mixed relay team, winning gold and bronze at European and World level respectively in 2024.

McGrory made her Olympic debut in 2024 as part of the 4x400m women's relay, helping them qualify for the final.

Derval O'Rourke & Peter O'Leary

Derval O'Rourke is one of the most successful Irish athletes of all-time, winning two European silver medals for the 100m hurdles and a gold in the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in 2006.

She has been married to Peter O'Leary since 2013, who is himself a two-time Olympian having represented Ireland in sailing in the 2008 and 2012 games. The couple share two children, daughter Dafne and son Archie.

Rob & Marian Heffernan

London 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Rob Heffernan is not the only Olympian in his household, with wife Marian also competing at the London games. She was part of the women's 4x4 400m relay team, also achieving plenty of success in the 400m as an individual at national level.

Rob achieved great success as a race walker, having won the World Championships in Moscow in 2013.

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