Who are the 10 Ireland boxers going for Olympic gold?

Siblings Aidan and Michaela Walsh are embarking on their second Olympics together

Boxing is Ireland's most successful sport in the history of the Olympic Games.

With 18 medals, three of which have been gold, it's no wonder that the boxing team heading to Paris are being tipped to add to that haul.

From defending champions, returning fighters and stars of the future, there is a great blend in the Irish team.

The draw has taken place on the eve of the opening ceremony in Paris, so who are the 10 Irish boxers going for gold?

Kellie Harrington

Kellie Harrington is the reigning Olympic champion

Age: 34 Division: Women's Lightweight Hometown: Dublin Draw: L32: Bye L16: Alessia Mesiano (ITA)/Gizem Ozer (Tur)

Kellie Harrington made history at the delayed 2020 Games in Tokyo when she joined Michael Carruth and Katie Taylor as the only Irish boxers to win gold at the Olympics.

Now, she looks to go one step further and become the first Irish athlete to defend their Olympic title.

In the three years since her Olympic success, the 34-year-old has claimed a gold medal at the European Championships in 2022 and the European Games last year.

She's also been awarded the freedom of Dublin for her achievements, a reflection of the impact her success has had on her home city.

Aidan Walsh

Aidan Walsh earned bronze in Tokyo

Age: 27 Division: Men's Welterweight Hometown: Belfast Draw: L32: Mankan Traore (FRA)

After Harrington won gold, Aidan Walsh was the only other Irish boxer to come away with medal success at the Tokyo Olympics.

After securing a bronze, Walsh celebrated so hard in the ring he ended up injuring his ankle and he couldn't fight in his semi-final.

It's been a difficult few years since for Walsh, who has bounced back from well documented mental health battles which led him to taking 14 months away from the sport.

When he returned for Olympic qualifying, he secured his place at the Games through the backdoor route and hopes to add to his medal collection.

Michaela Walsh

Michaela Walsh is preparing for her second Olympic Games

Age: 31 Division: Women's Featherweight Hometown: Belfast Draw: L32: Bye L16: Svetlana Staneva (BUL)

Michaela Walsh is entering her second Olympics, and does so with a renewed sense of energy and perspective.

After a disappointing exit in Tokyo three years ago, Walsh won a gold medal for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

She will join her brother Aidan, who also won Commonwealth gold before his break from the sport, in Paris, and while medals are the aim the 31-year-old accepts they are not the be all and end all of her legacy.

Jude Gallagher

Jude Gallagher received a last-32 bye at his first Olympics

Age: 22 Division: Men's Featherweight Hometown: Newtownstewart Draw: L32: Bye L16: Carlo Paalam (PHI)

Jude Gallagher is a young boxer tipped for a big future, having gone from watching his heroes in school to mirroring them on the Olympic stage.

He bounced back from a mixed 2023 to claim the Irish Elite title in December and secured Olympic qualification in March.

Gallagher is also the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion and is aiming for medals is Paris.

Aoife O'Rourke

O'Rourke won at the European Championships earlier this year

Age: 26 Division: Women's Middleweight Hometown: Castlerea Draw: L16: Elzbieta Wojcik (POL)

Aoife O'Rourke started her sporting journey playing gaelic games (GAA) but once she switched to boxing she never looked back as she won her first National title in 2017.

O'Rourke is a three-time gold medallist at the European Championships, the last of which came at the 2024 edition in Belgrade. She also won gold at the European Games in 2023.

The 26-year-old will be a big medal hope in Paris and is a strong contender for gold.

Grainne Walsh

Grainne Walsh beat World, Commonwealth and European champion Amy Broadhurst last year

Age: 28 Division: Women's Welterweight Hometown: Tullamore Draw: L32: Anna Hamori (HUN)

Like O'Rourke, Grainne Walsh is a talented multi-sport athlete and played football for Shamrock Rovers.

She elected to stick with boxing, and it paid off as she won a bronze medal at the European Games in 2019.

Arguably her biggest win came against World, Commonwealth and European champion Amy Broadhurst in the National Elite Final in January 2023.

That put her in pole position to qualify for Ireland, while Broadhurst's switch to Team GB in a bid to make the Games was unsuccessful.

Jack Marley

Jack Marley will become the first Irish heavyweight at an Olympics in 28 years

Age: 21 Division: Men's Heavyweight Hometown: Dublin Draw: L16: Mateusz Bereznicki (POL)

Jack Marley was one of the boxers to book their spot at the Paris Olympics a year in advance in June 2023 in Krakow.

The 21-year-old became the first Irish heavyweight boxer to qualify for the Olympics since Cathal O’Grady in 1996.

Marley is a Under-22 European gold medallist and won European Games silver as he secured Olympic qualification in Poland.

Dean Clancy

Lightweight Dean Clancy will face Obada Alkasbeh in the last-32

Age: 22 Division: Men's Lightweight Hometown: Sligo Draw: L32: Obada Alkasbeh (JOR)

Dean Clancy is another up-and-coming Irish boxer who is looking to leave their mark on Paris.

He secured a bronze medal in the European Games in Krakow led to him securing Olympic qualification.

He had put his studies on hold and had been working part-time as a barista in his native Sligo.

Jennifer Lehane

Jenny Lehane will have to wait until Wednesday to fight having been given a bye into the 54kg last-16 alongside China’s Yuan Chang.

Age: 25 Division: Women's Bantamweight Hometown: Ashbourne Draw: L32: Bye L16: Yuan Chang (CHI)

Jennifer Lehane was another one of the Irish contingent who secured their place in Paris in the final qualifying tournament in Bangkok.

The 25-year-old started her sporting career in martial arts but switched to boxing and is the leading women's bantamweight in Ireland.

Lehane took leave from her job as a primary school teacher to achieve her Olympic dream. Now it's about to become a reality.

Daina Moorehouse

Daina Moorehouse made it to Paris through the final qualifier in Bangkok

Age: 22 Division: Women's Flyweight Hometown: Bray Draw: L32: Bye L16: Wassila Lkhadiri (FRA)

From the same town as Katie Taylor, Daina Moorehouse initially had no interest in boxing but soon fell in love with the sport.

Moorehouse is a former European junior youth medallist and she secured her place at the Olympics through the final qualifying tournament in Bangkok.

A medal may be too big an ask for the 22-year-old, who won a "now or never" bout to reach the Games in Paris after previous disappointments.