The three-time Olympian won a silver medal for Ireland in sailing at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro and is a panellist for RTÉ's coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
How agreeable are you?
I am fairly easy-going – there’s no point in worrying about something where you have no control over the outcome. I try to live my life remembering that.
What’s your middle name and what do you think of it?
Elizabeth, after my granny Betty, who is celebrating her 95th birthday on August 17th.
Where is your favourite place in Ireland?
On the water? Probably west Cork. The entire coastline in the southwest of Ireland is amazing and I love sailing down there. On land? Ticknock. I cycle up for sunrise sometimes. it’s so peaceful up there even though you are so close to the city.
Describe yourself in three words.
Happy, competitive and friendly.
When did you last get angry?
Probably at the weekend in a bike race – I think racing bikes and boats brings out the worst in me.
What have you lost that you would like to have back?
I haven’t lost many things. I think you generally forget about something you have lost quite quickly, so maybe it wasn’t as important as you thought it was.
What’s your strongest childhood memory?
Going to sailing events around the country and camping in fields at them. I remember at one event in Wexford: the rain was so heavy I thought I was starting to float on my airbed.
Where do you come in your family’s birth order, and has this defined you?
I am the middle child. I have an older sister and a younger brother. When I was younger I was able to look up to my sister and see how well she was doing and wanted the same.
What do you expect to happen when you die?
I haven’t really thought about it. I do think it’s important to enjoy life and not worry too much about what anyone else thinks. Take opportunities when you can as you don’t know when they might next happen.
When were you happiest?
I am happy a lot of the time, particularly when outdoors. There are two days in my life when I couldn’t stop smiling: winning the silver medal in Rio and then when I was proposed to last year.
Which actor would play you in a biopic about your life?
I don’t think it would be a very exciting movie, but if I were to pick someone, maybe Caitríona Balfe – she’s a fantastic Irish actor.
What’s your biggest career/personal regret?
I will always look back at the Tokyo Olympics and be disappointed in my performance there; it still feels like I wasted such a great opportunity. I would also say you can’t change the past and you have to take lessons from disappointment. You don’t always get what you want if life but you learn a lot on the journey.
Have you any psychological quirks?
I don’t think so, but I do love to exercise a good bit, which I know some people think is mad. My idea of a great day out is spending five hours cycling around Wicklow.
