An exciting Irish athletics team has begun to arrive in Birmingham ahead of the 2026 European Athletics Championships, which take place from August 10–16.

More than 1,600 athletes from over 50 nations will compete across seven days of action at Alexander Stadium, with Ireland strongly represented across the programme.

World outdoor silver medallist Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerard’s AC) will make her senior European outdoor championship debut in the heptathlon following her recent Commonwealth Games gold. The Dundalk athlete begins her campaign with the 100m hurdles on Friday morning (14^th).

European medallists Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) and Mark English (Finn Valley AC) return to championship action in the 200m and 800m respectively, with Cian McPhillips (UCD AC) joining English in the first round of the men’s 800m on Monday.

European indoor 3000m champion Sarah Healy (UCD AC) is entered in both the 1500m and 5000m, with the Dubliner’s first appearance of the week set to come in Tuesday evening’s 5000m final.

Olympians Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) and Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) will spearhead Ireland’s challenge in the men’s 1500m, while Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) will look to make her mark in the women’s hammer with first round qualifying taking place on Monday evening.

Ireland will also have a strong presence in the men’s 5000m, with Darragh McElhinney (Bantry AC), Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) and Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) all set to line up in Monday evening’s final.

Bori Akinola (UCD AC) arrives in Birmingham in impressive form, having lowered his 100m personal best to 10.19 seconds this season. He will make his individual European Championships debut, having represented Ireland as part of the relay squad two years ago.

Back-to-back national senior 100m champion Ciara Neville (Emerald AC) will lead the Irish challenge in the women’s 100m, while five-time Olympian Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole AC) is set to add another major championship appearance to her remarkable career when she takes her place in Saturday’s marathon.

The 2026 European Athletics Championships run from August 10–16 at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, with all seven days of action available live across RTÉ television, RTÉ Player and Eurovision Sport.

Full Irish athlete schedule listed below.

USEFUL LINKS 

• Where to Watch HERE
• Birmingham 2026 website is HERE
• Birmingham 2026 timetable is HERE
• ‘Road to Birmingham’ is HERE

DAY 1 (MON 10^th): ENGLISH AND MCPHILLIPS TO LEAD THE WAY

Ireland will have a busy opening day in Birmingham, with Cian McPhillips and Mark English getting proceedings underway in the heats of the men’s 800m from 10.45am.

Ciara Neville and Lauren Roy take to the track for the opening round of the women’s 100m, while Jack Raftery begins his men’s 400m campaign and Eric Favors competes in shot put qualification.

The evening session will see Nicola Tuthill open her women’s hammer campaign, with Sarah Lavin in the first round of the 100m hurdles, while Abbie Sheridan will make her European debut in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.

One of the highlights from an Irish perspective will come in the men’s 5000m final at 8.40pm, where Darragh McElhinney, Nick Griggs and Brian Fay are set to line up.

Irish Athlete Schedule:

Irish in Action – European Athletics Championships

Day One – Morning Session – Monday August 10^th 

• Cian McPhillips – Men’s 800m – Round One – 10:45

• Mark English – Men’s 800m – Round One – 10:45

• Ciara Neville – Women’s 100m – Round One – 11:25

• Lauren Roy – Women’s 100m – Round One – 11:25

• Jack Raftery – Men’s 400m – Round One – 11:55

• Eric Favors – Men’s Shot Put – Qualification Group A & Group B – 12:40

Day One – Evening Session – Monday August 10^th 

• Nicola Tuthill – Women’s Hammer Throw – Qualification Group A – 19:10

OR

• Nicola Tuthill – Women’s Hammer Throw – Qualification Group B – 20:38

• Sarah Lavin – 100m Hurdles – Round One – 19:35

• Ciara Neville – Women’s 100m – SF – 20:10 *

• Lauren Roy – Women’s 100m – SF – 20:10 *

• Eric Favors – Men’s Shot Put – Final – 20:33 *

• Darragh McElhinney – Men’s 5000m – Final – 20:40

• Nick Griggs – Men’s 5000m – Final – 20:40

• Brian Fay – Men’s 5000m – Final – 20:40

• Abbie Sheridan – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase – Round One – 21:00

• Ciara Neville – Women’s 100m – Final – 21:50 *

• Lauren Roy – Women’s 100m – SF – 20:10 *

Day Two – Morning Session – Tuesday August 11^th 

• Israel Olatunde – Men’s 100m – Round One – 11:15

• Bori Akinola – Men’s 100m – Round One – 11:15

Day Two – Evening Session – Tuesday August 11^th 

• Sarah Healy – Women’s 5000m – Final – 19:25

• Sarah Lavin – Women’s 100m Hurdles – SF – 19:55 *

• Israel Olatunde – Men’s 100m – SF – 20:32 *

• Bori Akinola – Men’s 100m – SF – 20:32 *

• Jack Raftery – Men’s 400m – SF – 21:00 *

• Sarah Lavin – Women’s 100m Hurdles – Final – 21:30 *

• Israel Olatunde – Men’s 100m – Final – 21:47 *

• Bori Akinola – Men’s 100m – Final – 21:47 *

Day Three – Morning Session – Wednesday August 12^th

• Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m – Round One – 11:05

• Rhasidat Adeleke – Women’s 200m – Round One – 11:40

• Lauren Roy – Women’s 200m – Round One – 11:40

• Cian McPhilips – Men’s 800m – SF – 12:20 *

• Mark English – Men’s 800m – SF – 12:20 *

Day Three – Evening Session – Wednesday August 12^th 

• Nicola Tuthill – Women’s Hammer Throw – Final – 19:45 *

• Rhasidat Adeleke – Women’s 200m – SF – 20:20 *

• Lauren Roy – Women’s 200m – SF – 20:20 *

• Jack Raftery – Men’s 400m – Final – 20:50 *

Day Four – Morning Session – Thursday August 13^th 

• Sean Aigboboh – Men’s 200m – Round One – 11:05

• Marcus Lawler – Men’s 200m – Round One – 11:05

• Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m – SF – 12:45 *

Day Four – Evening Session – Thursday August 13^th 

• Sean Aigboboh – Men’s 200m – SF – 20:05 *

• Marcus Lawlor – Men’s 200m – SF – 20:05 *

• Abbie Sheridan – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase – Final – 20:29 *

• Cian McPhilips – Men’s 800m – Final – 21:28 *

• Mark English – Men’s 800m – Final – 21:28 *

• Rhasidat Adeleke – Women’s 200m – Final – 21:50 *

• Lauren Roy – Women’s 200m – Final – 21:50 *

Day Five – Morning Session – Friday August 14^th 

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – 100m Hurdles – 10:35

• Men’s 4x400m Relay – Round One – 11:05

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – High Jump – Group A & Group B – 11:25

• Women’s 4x400m Relay – Round One – 11:35

• Andrew Coscoran – Round One – 12:05

• Cathal Doyle – Round One – 12:05

Day Five – Evening Session – Friday August 14^th

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – Shot Put – Groups A & Group B – 19:35

• Niamh Allen – Women’s 10,000m – Final – 19:45

• Fiona Everard – Women’s 10,000m – Final – 19:45

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – 200m – 20:55

• Sean Aigboboh – Men’s 200m – Final – 21:25 *

• Marcus Lawlor – Men’s 200m – Final – 21:25 *

Day Six – Morning Session – Saturday August 15^th

• David Kenny – Half Marathon Race Walk – Final – 07:30

• Oisin Lane – Half Marathon Race Walk – Final – 07:30

• Oisin Lane – Marathon Race Walk – Final – 07:30

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – Long Jump – Group A & Group B – 10:25

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – Javelin Throw – Group A & Group B – 11:55

• Sarah Healy – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 12:15

• Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 12:15

• Jodie McCann – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 12:15

• Women’s 4x100m Relay – Round One – 21:33

• Men’s 4x100m Relay – Round One – 21:33

Day Six – Evening Session – Saturday August 15^th

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon – 800m – 19:45

• Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m – Final – 20:10 *

• Jack O’Leary – Men’s 10,000m – Final – 20:25

• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m – Final – 21:07 *

• Cathal Doyle – Men’s 1500m – Final – 21:07 *

• Men’s 4x100m Relay – Final – 21:33 *

• Women’s 4x100m Relay – Final – 21:48 *

Day Seven – Morning Session – Sunday August 16^th

• Fionnuala McCormack – Women’s Marathon – Final – 07:30

• Paul O’Donnell – Men’s Marathon – Final – 08:10

• Ryan Creech – Men’s Marathon – Final – 08:10

• David McGlynn – Men’s Marathon – Final – 08:10

Day Seven – Evening Session – Sunday August 16^th

• Sarah Healy – Women’s 1500m – Final – 21:13 *

• Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m – Final – 21:13 *

• Jodie McCann – Women’s 1500m – Final – 21:13 *

• Women’s 4x400m Relay – Final – 21:33 *

• Men’s 4x400m Relay – Final – 21:48 *

*Subject to advancing