Ireland's best European Championship medal hopes and three events you can't afford to miss

Cathal Dennehy outlines the magic moments on the horizon across a packed week of European Championship action in Birmingham

ON A ROLL: Kate O'Connor after clearing 1.82m during the Women's Heptathlon High Jump at the Scotstoun Stadium during the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Ireland’s top medal chances 

Sarah Healy, women’s 5000m/1500m: 7.25pm, Tuesday/9.13pm, Sunday: 

The Dubliner is best known for her exploits at 1500m but will run her first championship 5000m in Tuesday’s straight final. She goes in ranked third and while she’s also set to contest the 1500m, her strongest medal chance is likely in the longer race. Given the absence of pacemakers at championships, Healy’s closing speed – which has at times been a vulnerability at 1500m – will become her biggest weapon against the long-distance specialists. 

Ireland’s Sarah Healy celebrates winning the gold medal ahead of Great Britain’s Melissa Courtney-Bryant last year. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Italy’s Nadia Battocletti should prove a class apart over 5000m but Healy, despite her inexperience, has the tools to get on the podium. She could also contend for a medal over 1500m, where Irish teammate Sophie O’Sullivan could also be dangerous.

Mark English/Cian McPhillips, men’s 800m final: 9.28pm, Thursday: 

Given the difficulty of reaching a major 800m final, it’s possible that English or McPhillips might not even get there, but if they do then both look capable of just about anything. English goes to Birmingham ranked first with the 1:42.97 he ran last month, with McPhillips ranked 11th based off his 1:43.97.

McPhillips missed lots of time earlier in the year but he’s been getting better with each race and he was ultra-impressive when dispatching 1:45 man in Cillian Kirwan with ease at the nationals. English has the class, form and experience to claim a sixth European medal, while McPhillips could win his first at senior level, having finished a superb fourth in last year’s world final in 1:42.15.

Kate O’Connor, heptathlon: Friday/Saturday: 

She’s been the best Irish athlete in any discipline through 2025 and 2026, winning six medals at six consecutive championships, and O’Connor will look to make it a magnificent seven in Birmingham. 

She coasted to heptathlon gold at the Commonwealth Games last week, scoring 6569 points amid dire conditions, and the Dundalk native looks capable of bettering her Irish record of 6714 in Birmingham. To win gold she’ll probably have to, with Switzerland’s Annik Kalin setting a recent lifetime best of 6819, while Dutch duo Emma Oosterwegel (6705) and Sofie Dokter (6627) will also be in the medal hunt.