Taylor honoured to be flag bearer for Ireland

Olympic champion Katie Taylor has described her selection as flag-bearer for Team Ireland at the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan as a great honour.

The five-time AIBA World Elite champion, an ambassador at the inaugural Games, will lead out Team Ireland in tonight’s opening ceremony in the Azeri capital.

The entire Irish boxing squad will take part in the ceremony. Ireland have 62 competitors at 14 sports at the Games.

In total, 6,000 athletes, representing 50 countries in 20 sports,will compete at Baku 2015.

History will be made at the Olympic Stadium on Friday evening, with an unforgettable show

Tickets for this evening’s opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium have sold out, but viewers in Baku and across the world will be able to enjoy the Opening Ceremony live on Baku2015.com and YouTube at 9pm (Baku time).

Taylor is eagerly looking forward to the occasion.

“To be representing Team Ireland is a great honour and being selected as the flag-bearer for both the European Games and Team Ireland will be a truly unforgettable experience,” said the Bray orthodox, who was Team Ireland flag-bearer at London 2012.

Irish boxing squad 1st European Games Baku, Azerbaijan

Female

51kg – flyweight – Ceire Smith (Cavan)

54kg – bantamweight – Michaela Walsh (Holy Family)

60kg – lightweight – Katie Taylor (Bray)

Male

49kg – light-flyweight – Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s Antrim)

52kg – flyweight – Myles Casey (St Francis)

56kg – bantamweight – Kurt Walker (Canal)

60kg – lightweight – Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)

64kg -light-welterweight – Dean Walsh (St Josephs/St Ibars)

69kg – welterweight – Adam Nolan (Bray)

75kg – middleweight – Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise)

91kg – heavyweight – Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)

91kg+ – super-heavyweight – Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)

Team manager: Joe Hennigan

Coaches: Billy Walsh, Zuare Antia, Pete Taylor, Gerry Storey

Physio: Jullianne Ryan

Strength & Conditioning: John Cleary

Sports Psychologist: Gerry Hussey