Sligo’s Olympic medalist Mona McSharry to be honoured with freedom of county

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

It was confirmed at this week’s monthly meeting of Sligo County Council that the freedom of Co Sligo is to bestowed upon Grange’s Olympic medalist Mona McSharry at a ceremony scheduled for April 14.

Mona follows another Grange Olympian, Christopher O’Donnell to become the second person to be recognised with such an honour.

Mona’s achievements in the swimming pool have been considerable with her career defining moment arriving in July 2024 when she claimed Olympic bronze for Ireland after a titanic battle in Paris.

Mona has competed in two Olympic Games and five World Aquatic Games, with a 100 breast stroke metre bronze medal to her name from the World Championships in 2021 as well as arguably her finest sporting moment, her bronze medal triumph at the Paris Olympics.

She has also shone stateside, adding plenty more silverware to her collection while competing for her the University of Tennessee.

Mona’s talent first shone on the international stage a decade ago when she competed in returned from the 2016 European Junior Championships with a silver and bronze medal.

Outside of the swimming pool she enjoyed national fame along with her parents Aidan and Viola and brother Mouric when they won the 2019 version of Ireland’s Fittest Family.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.