Fiona Murtagh Awarded Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month

Fiona Murtagh has been named the Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month for June following her outstanding performances at the 2025 European Rowing Championships and the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, where she claimed silver medals in the Women’s Single Sculls (W1x).

After competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she finished in the top ten in the Women’s Pair alongside Aifric Keogh, Fiona transitioned to the W1x category. She previously made history as part of the Irish Women’s Four that won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the first ever Olympic medal for an Irish women’s rowing crew.

Fiona began her rowing career at Galway Rowing Club before representing the University of Galway. She later transferred to Fordham University in New York, where she won the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta two years in a row. She has since returned and is now racing once again for the University of Galway.

At the European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in May, Fiona made her international debut in the W1x. She won both her heat and semi-final to qualify for the A Final, where she secured the silver medal.

A month later, she replicated her success in the W1x at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland. She won her heat and semi-final and went on to claim another silver medal in the A Final.

Fiona’s achievements highlight her incredible talent and determination, solidifying her place as one of Ireland’s top athletes on the world stage in 2025.

Michelle Carpenter, CEO of Rowing Ireland, commented on the achievement:

“Congratulations to Fiona Murtagh and all she has achieved this season. Being named the Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month is a well-deserved recognition of her outstanding performances at the European Championships and World Rowing Cup. Fiona’s transition to the Women’s Single Sculls and her back-to-back silver medals reflect not only her exceptional talent but also her unwavering commitment to excellence. She continues to be an inspiration to rowers especially female rowers across the country and a phenomenal ambassador for Rowing Ireland.”

Read Fiona’s Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month article here.