MARCH 2025 has vaulted Kate O’Connor into the wider public consciousness as Ireland’s latest athletics star ripping it up on the global stage.
Over the course of just 12 days she claimed bronze at the European Indoor Championships before going one better at the World equivalent.
For those unaware, her multi event sport of the pentathlon consist of 100m hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump and the 800m.
The Dundalk woman has admitted in interviews that the training for such a wide array of events is gruelling but still loves it all the same.
Her training has been aided since childhood by her dad Michael, who is her primary coach.
Here, SunSport delves into the 24-year-old’s life both on and off the track:
Ex-League of Ireland star boyfriend:
Irish football fans will be well acquainted with her boyfriend Georgie Kelly as he starred for several seasons in the League of Ireland before moving across to bigger and better things in English football.
Having come through the ranks at Derry City it was with UCD that he really emerged as a breakout talent.
His 37 goals in 68 appearances earned him a switch to Dundalk in 2018 before he earned cult hero status in his sole season with Bohemians in 2021.
These stints were sandwiched in between a loan spell at St Patrick’s Athletic.
He currently plies his trade for League Two outfit Carlisle United after initially moving across the Irish Sea to join Rotherham United.
College degree:
O’Connor boasts a pair of degrees to her name.
She first completed a Bachelor of Science in Sports Communication at Sheffield Hallam University between 2019-2022.
She then attained a Master’s in Communication and Public Relations at Ulster University after a further three years of studying while also balancing her athletics career.
While she herself is a proud Louth native, she has strong ties to the north as she was born in Newry with her dad hailing from there.
