WORLD CHAMPS: Rhiannon O'Donoghue from Barraduff and her coach Mike Fleming, both members of Killorglin Rowing Club, ahead of their departure to Japan for the World Rowing Junior Championships.

A Barraduff girl has been selected to represent Ireland in the World Rowing Junior Championships in Tokyo, Japan next week.

Rhiannon O’Donoghue, a member of the Killorglin Rowing Club, has secured a place in the Women’s Double Sculls for the 2019 World Rowing Junior Championships in Tokyo, Japan taking place from August 7-11.

Rhiannon will team up with Molly Curry from Coleraine, another outstanding junior rower – as the only female rowers representing Ireland.

Rhiannonis the daughter of Donal O’Donoghue, Barraduff and Vicky Dando and the granddaughter of the well-known Barraduff shopkeeper the late Tadg O’Donoghue.

A student in the Institute of Technology Tralee, Rhiannon, has been offered full scholarships to several universities in the USA, but has chosen to stay in Kerry so that she can continue to represent Killorglin Rowing Club and Ireland.

Rhiannon has been rowing with Killorglin Rowing Club for over six years and during this time she has represented her club and her country in a number of events including the Home International Regatta and the Coupe de la Jeunesse. She has also won numerous indoor and outdoor rowing events in Ireland.

“Killorglin Rowing Club and especially my coach Mike Fleming have been brilliant to me,” Rhiannon said. “He has put in long hours in all types of weather to get me to the World Championship.”

However, like many female athletes, she is receiving no financial support from Sports Ireland and must self-fund her participation in the World Championship. O’Donoghue’s Barraduff and Mizen Archaeology are her main sponsors while she has also received support from a number of other businesses throughout the county.

“It would be impossible for me to attend the World Championship without the sponsorship, so I am hoping to bring back a medal to make them all proud,” she added.

Barraduff is clearly proud of their local girl with good luck posters throughout the village and a send-off was hosted last Saturday to show their support. Her father, Donal O’Donoghue, will travel to Tokyo to support her.