Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist at the Emirates Arena

Image source, Getty Images

Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan all but secured his passage to the Commonwealth Games pommel horse final as he posted the highest score of 14.500 after a flawless display with his new routine.

All eyes in the Emirates Arena were on McClenaghan and he delivered, even celebrating with a jig after stepping off the apparatus.

The 27-year-old tops the qualifying standings after two subdivisions which all but ensures he will be in Monday's final.

Confirmation of his place in the final will come after the third subdivision of qualifying, which takes place at 17:30 BST, but McClenaghan is already well clear of those closest to him.

McClenaghan, who missed the entirety of 2025 after shoulder surgery, earned an difficult score of 5.500 and an execution score of 9.000, both the highest so far in qualifying.

He is aiming to win his third Commonwealth Games medal after picking up gold in 2018 and silver in 2022.

Image source, Inpho

Team Northern Ireland's Louis Rooney has lost to Lesotho's Mathealira Seholoholo by knockout in the men's bantamweight 55kg last 32.

A superb right-handed shot from Seholoholo ended the contest after just 25 seconds of the second round.

Rooney had been leading 3-2 after a tight first round before the Team Lesotho boxer booked his spot in the last 16 to face Australia's Jye Dixon.

The 20-year-old was the first of the 12-strong boxing team to represent Northern Ireland in Glasgow.

Nicole Clyde is the next Team NI boxer in action when she faces Nancy Bamfo in the women's bantamweight 54kg last 16 on Sunday 26 July.

Image source, Getty Images

Team NI swimmers Lottie Cullen and Grace Davison progressed to the women's 200m backstroke final after coming through their heats on Friday morning.

Cullen finished second in the first heat in two minutes 12.23 seconds behind Australia's Hannah Fredericks, who qualified fastest in 2:09.81.

Davison's time of 2:12.24 was enough for a place in the final after she finished third in heat three behind Scotland's Holly McGill (2:09.88) and Australia's Iona Anderson (2:11.08).

The women's 200m backstroke final takes place at Tollcross Swimming Centre at 19:51 BST on Friday.

Paddy Johnston and Conor Ferguson both qualified for the men's 50m backstroke semi-finals. Johnston and Ferguson finished fourth in their respective heats in 25.38 and 25.48. The semi-finals take place at 19:59 BST on Friday.

The quartet of Danielle Hill, Emily Hughes, Ellie McCartney and Victoria Catterson advanced to the women's 4x100m freestyle relay final (21:11 BST) after finishing third in their heat in 3:44.08 behind England and Scotland.

Barry McClements, a bronze medallist in 2022, qualified for the men's 100m butterfly S10 final (20:49) in 1:01.92.

Alana Burn-Atkin failed to progress in the women's 50m butterfly after finishing fifth in her heat in 27.67, while Adam Bradley was disqualified from the men's 100m breaststroke.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

Gary Kelly was in dominant form as he beat one of his closest rivals for a place in the semi-finals, Shannon McIlroy from New Zealand, 10-1, 7-5 to make it two wins to begin his challenge for gold in the men’s singles.

The two-time Commonwealth medallist took charge of the game from the first bowl, keeping the New Zealander under constant pressure.

McIlroy struggled to find consistency in his draws and even when he did produce a good bowl, Kelly, almost every time bettered him with his next effort.

Kelly has moved to the top of Section B with only the winners moving forward to the semi-finals.

His next game is at 08:30 BST on Saturday morning against Liam Hill from Tonga.

Chloe Wilson and Shauna O'Neill also secured victory on Friday with a comprehensive 9-1, 11-0 win over Niue's Catherine Papani and Christine Ioane in the women's pairs.

Image source, Getty Images

Team Northern Ireland gymnast Chester Enriquez has been ruled out of competing at the Commonwealth Games through injury.

The 18-year-old, who was set to compete in the vault and showcase his floor routine, was injured in training and will miss the his first Games in Glasgow.

Enriquez became Ireland's first-ever medallist in the European Youth Olympics Festival when he claimed bronze in Croatia last year.

"Knowing how hard Chester and his coaches have worked to get to this stage we're heartbroken for them all," said Conal Heatley, Team NI's Chef de Mission.

"Injuries are unfortunately a cruel part of performance sport. We wish Chester a speedy recovery and we'll continue to provide support as appropriate."

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Inpho

The first day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games is upon us and it's a busy enough Friday for various Team Northern Ireland athletes in Glasgow.

It's an early start Gary Kelly who is in action in the men's singles against New Zealand's Shannon McIlroy at 08:30 BST after his win against Niue on Thursday.

Shauna O'Neill and Chloe Wilson will face Niue in the women's pairs at 11:20 after their victory on Thursday against Singapore.

At the Tollcross Swimming Centre, it is a morning full of heats from 10:30.

Victoria Catterson will be in the women's 400m freestyle while Grace Davison and Lottie Cullen will get under way in the women's 200m backstroke.

Conor Ferguson and Paddy Johnston will be in the 50m backstroke with Alana Burns-Aiken in the 50m butterfly and Adam Bradley in the 100m breaststroke.

Barry McClements will go in the men's S10 100m butterfly while Team NI will take part in both the men's and women's 100m freestyle relay heats.

Should the various swimmers progress through their heats, the semi-finals or finals of all those events will take place that evening from 19:00.

At the SEC Centre, one of Team NI's boxing contingent will be in action.

Louis Rooney fights in the men's bantamweight 55kg round of 32 against Mathealira Seholoholo from Lesotho at 11:45.

From 13:00 at the Emirates Arena, Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan alongside Ewan McAteer and Eamon Montgomery are in qualification action.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland netball's vice-captain Caroline O'Hanlon said the younger members of the squad have brought "new energy" ahead of their Commonwealth Games opener against England on Saturday.

Head coach Sheonah Forbes has selected an experienced squad for their fourth consecutive Commonwealth Games, but the trio of Evelyn McCagherty, Lauren Walshe and Orlaith Rogers will be competing at the Games for the first time.

O'Hanlon, who will represent NI for the fourth successive Games, believes the mix of youth and experience can serve the team well.

"The group changes all the time, we have new players coming in, players coming back like Lisa Bowman, who has had a long break, so it is interesting to see how that dynamic works when we get on to court," she told BBC Sport NI.

"There are new combinations while there are still players who have been here for the past four [Commonwealth Games]. There's new energy with that and really exciting to see to see how we go."

Northern Ireland have been handed a tough start in Pool A as they face England, who won gold in the Gold Coast in 2018, in their first game at the Hydro (14:00 BST).

They will also take on Malawi, Tonga, South Africa and Australia and O'Hanlon hopes a few wins from those games can help them progress to the higher classification matches or even the semi-finals if they can finish second in their group.

"England are one of the favourites for the competition, so no one better to see where we are at. We have new combinations we want to test and why not do it against the best," she added.

"We're trying not to look too far ahead. We haven't played the likes of Malawi and Tonga before, so it's a really exciting experience and games we would be targeting.

"If we can get a few wins against those countries it would boost us for the classification games."

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, BBC Sport NI

Six-time Paralympic champion swimmer Bethany Firth and 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist bowler Gary Kelly will be Northern Ireland's flagbearers at Thursday's Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow.

Firth is competing at her fourth Games and won gold in Birmingham four years ago.

Kelly, who won his opening game of the men's singles against Fred Tafatu from Niue Island on Thursday morning, will represent Team NI at his third Games after claiming bronze in 2010.

Kelly will carry the NI flag and Firth the King's batons at the ceremony held at Glasgow's Hydro arena which gets under way at 20:00 BST.

For the first time, all 74 nations and territories will have their own baton specially designed to represent their culture.

"It's an honour and privilege to receive such a prestigious opportunity to carry the Northern Ireland flag on behalf of the athletes, my family and my friends," Kelly told BBC Sport NI.

"It's an incredibly special moment for our sport bowls and we had Mark McHugh and Jeremy Henry previously carrying the flag so to go on that list is a pretty cool feeling to join them, but it's about more than bowls and myself it is about representing our people, our culture and family and friends and that's what it's all about."

Firth said she was "honoured", adding: "I've been representing Northern Ireland my whole life, even when I have been wearing my GB flag and just to go out there and hold that baton, I can't wait and I can't wait to tell Charlotte (her daughter) one day that mummy did it for Northern Ireland."

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland’s Chloe Wilson and Shauna O’Neill dovetailed beautifully together to win their opening game in the women‘s pairs bowls.

They defeated Singapore’s Janice Tan and Ai Lin Cheo in straight sets 8-4, 5-2.

“It was nice to get started and get a win,” O’Neill told BBC Sport NI.

“To be honest it was just nice to get out there together and settle the nerves and get used to the atmosphere.”

It was nervy start as Singapore scored two shots in the opening end but Wilson and O’Neill bounced back to take a 4-2 lead before taking four shots in the fourth end to secure the first set.

An opening three shots in the second set put them on course for victory and despite their opponents pegging them back to a shot the Northern Ireland women sealed a solid win by shutting the door in the final end.

Wilson added, “It’s all about game management. When you score multiple shots it’s about keeping ahead and pushing forward and if you can do that it makes it a little more comfortable but it’s such short format that you never have time to really relax.”

Northern Ireland’s next game is on Friday morning against Niue Island.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

Gary Kelly got off to a winning start in the men's singles.

The silver medallist from four years ago dominated the game against Fred Tafatu from Niue Island, winning by two sets to 0 (13-1, 8-3).

While the 36 year-old from Ballymoney ran away with the first set, the second was nip and tuck before Kelly sealed the win with a full house of four shots in the seventh and final end.

With only the group winner reaching the semi-finals, Kelly's next game against New Zealand's Shannon McIlroy on Friday morning will be crucial.

McIlroy recorded a big win over Tonga's Liam Hill.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

The lawn bowlers are the first athletes from Team Northern Ireland in action at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

They will compete on Thursday morning ahead of the evening's opening ceremony at the Hydro, which starts at 20:00 BST.

Gary Kelly is in men's singles action against Niue at the SEC Centre from 09:30 while Shauna O'Neill and Chloe Wilson go in the women's pairs against Singapore at 10:55 at the same venue.

Image source, Getty Images

Team NI will have four weightlifters at the Games in Glasgow, twice as many as in 2022.

Harrison McGrogan is the youngest of the four and he will compete at his first Commonwealth Games in the 71kg category.

The 18-year-old, who was previously a rugby scrum-half, claimed victory in the British Championships in the 71kg.

Omar Keshta will also compete in his first Games in Glasgow in the 110kg+ weight category.

Hannah Crymble is back for her second Games after finishing sixth in Birmingham. The 30-year-old, who balances weightlifting with her full-time job as a nurse, is a back-to-back British champion in the 63kg.

Kaitlin Saunders is preparing for her first Games after being inspired to take up weightlifting after watching the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

A former gymnast and CrossFit athlete, she lifted the qualifying standard at 77kg.

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland's largest squad heading to the Games comes in swimming with 15 athletes going to Glasgow.

The headline name is Olympic 800m gold medallist Daniel Wiffen. The 24-year-old will compete in his second Commonwealth Games and will look to go one better than Birmingham four years ago when he won silver in the 1500m.

Wiffen, who also won bronze in the 1500m in Paris, will compete in 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle in Glasgow.

He will come up against good friend Jack McMillan in the 400m. The 26-year-old was part of Team GB's relay team that claimed Olympic gold in Paris.

McMillan will compete in 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle and potentially the men's relay team in his second Games after he finished 11th in the 100m in Birmingham.

Danielle Hill returns for her fourth Games after making her Commonwealth debut as a 14-year-old in 2014.

The two-time Olympian was a 2024 European champion in the 50m Backstroke and will take part in the 50m and 100m Backstroke as well as the 50m Freestyle.

Ellie McCartney is preparing for her first Games after winning two gold medals and a bronze at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games.

The 21-year-old will feature in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley.

Conor Ferguson is back at the Games after reaching two finals in 2018. The 26-year-old, who made his Olympic debut in Paris, missed 2022 in Birmingham but returns for the 50m Backstroke in Glasgow.

Lotte Cullen is gearing up for a first Commonwealth Games where she will compete in the 100m and 200m Backstroke.

The 21-year-old who was born to an Irish father and a Malaysian mother, grew up in Ipoh, Malaysia, before moving to Northern Ireland at the age of 10.

Grace Davison has been selected for her second Games and will take part in the 100m and 200m Freestyle as well as the 100m and 200m Backstroke.

The 18-year-old won a gold and bronze medal at 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games and made her Olympic debut in 2024.

Northern Ireland will also be represented in four relays. The women's 4x100m freestyle, the men's and women's 4x100m medley relays and the mixed 4x100m medley relay.

Adam Bradley, Matthew Hamilton, Paddy Johnston, Alana Burns Atkin, Victoria Catterson and Emily Hughes will be in line for selection and they will also compete in various individual events as well.

In para-swimming, six-time Paralympic gold medallist Bethany Firth is back at the Games aiming to defend her S14 200m Freestyle title that she won in Birmingham.

Barry McClements returns to the Games and will compete in the S9 100m Backstroke and S10 100m Fly.

The Newtonards man became the first swimmer to win a medal in the pool for Team NI in 2022 when he won bronze in the S9 100m Backstroke.

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland's netball squad are preparing for their fourth consecutive Commonwealth Games. Their highest ever finish of seventh came 12 years ago in Glasgow.

Head coach Sheonah Forbes has selected an experienced squad, with only Evelyn McCagherty, Lauren Walshe and Orlaith Rogers competing at the Games for the first time.

They will be captained by versatile defender Michelle Magee, who spent the season in the Netball Super League with Birmingham Panthers.

Caroline O'Hanlon is the vice-captain and the Armagh GAA veteran will head to her fourth Games alongside Niamh Cooper and another centurion in Fionnula Toner.

Attacker Emma Magee, Michelle's older sister, is preparing for her third Games as is Lisa Bowman.

Frances Keenan, Georgie McGrath and Maria McCann were all part of the 2022 squad that finished 10th.

Image source, Getty Images

Team NI will have three athletes competing in different judo weight categories in Glasgow.

Rachael Hawkes will be taking part in her second Games in the 70kg after a fifth-place finish in Birmingham four years ago.

Joshua Green is back for his second Games after also achieving a fifth-place finish in 2022 and he will compete in the 73 kg.

Completing the squad is the experienced and decorated Adam Hall, who will make his Commonwealth Games bow in the 100+kg.

He has won the Scottish and Welsh Opens and recently secured a bronze medal at the European Cup in Riga after an eight-year absence from

Image source, Getty Images

Olympic gold medallist in the pommel horse Rhys McClenaghan headlines a four-strong artistic gymnastics team for Northern Ireland.

The 26-year-old is the only gymnast to become Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion on a single apparatus.

McClenaghan was unable to compete at all in 2025 due to a shoulder injury that required surgery, but returned to action earlier this year and won gold in a World Cup event in Antalya in March.

He won a gold medal on the Gold Coast in 2018 and the silver in Birmingham in 2022.

Eamon Montgomery finished fifth with his floor routine in Birmingham in 2022 and won a silver medal at the World Cup in Antalya in March.

Ewan McAteer is back for a third Games after finishing sixth in the vault final four years ago.

Chester Enriquez will make his Commonwealth Games bow in Glasgow in the vault. The 18-year-old became Ireland's first-ever medallist in the European Youth Olympics Festival as he claimed bronze in Croatia last year.

Image source, Getty Images

Team NI will have four experienced lawn bowlers in Glasgow.

Gary Kelly will compete in the singles and pairs at the Games. The 37-year-old won bronze at the 2010 games in the singles and followed that up with silver in 2022.

Adam McKeown will compete in pairs with Kelly after winning gold in Birmingham four years ago as part of NI's men's fours.

Shauna O'Neill competed in singles and pairs in 2022 and four years later will take part in both events again.

She will be in the pairs with Chloe Wilson, who was involved in women's triples and fours in 2022 and competed at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Image source, Getty Images

Five cyclists will make their Commonwealth Games debuts for Team NI in Glasgow this summer.

Erin Creighton was a reserve at the 2024 Olympics after helping Team Ireland's women qualify for the team pursuit event for the first time.

The 22-year-old claimed the 2022 Irish junior road race title and finished fourth in that year's Junior World Championships elimination race and is set to compete in the scratch, points and elimination races.

Emma Jeffers began in BMX racing before making the switch to road racing, with the 21-year-old since claiming two sprint victories at the Gracia in the Czech Republic, while also enjoying a victory at the National Circuit Championships.

Esther Wong currently rides for Team Farto – Kiroot and has raced on road, track and cyclo-cross circuits.

The versatile 20-year-old has enjoyed success at junior and U23 level, with top-15 finishes at the National Championships Ireland WE road race and the Région Pays de la Loire Tour - Féminin.

Matthew Dobbins has competed internationally for Ireland in a range of road cycling competitions and the 25-year-old enjoyed a sixth-place stage two finish at last year's Tour of Kosovo.

Chris Burns is a C2 para-cyclist and has enjoyed recent national and international success including a triple podium finish at the German Open Paracycling Track Championships.

Image source, Getty Images

Team NI has a 12-strong boxing squad for the Games across a number of male and female weight divisions.

Caitlin Fryers will go to her first Games as she is rewarded for her bronze medal finish at the recent Strandja Tournament with flyweight selection.

Nicole Clyde is moving up to 54kg for her second appearance at the Games. She exited at the quarter-final stage against India's Nitu Ghanghas four years ago in Birmingham.

At 55kg, 20-year-old Louis Rooney will make his bow at the Games. He won a bronze medal at the European U-23 Championships.

The most experienced member of the boxing squad, Michaela Walsh is back for her fourth Games. She is trying to defend the featherweight title she won in Birmingham in 2022.

A two-time Olympian, the 33-year-old also won silver in 2014 in Glasgow and in 2018 at the Gold Coast.

Jude Gallagher is another who goes into these games hoping to win a second successive gold medal after triumphing in 2022. The 24-year-old from Tyrone is stepping up to lightweight after featherweight success.

Kaci Rock, daughter of former professional Jim, has been selected for her first Games. Born in Belfast but raised in Wicklow, she will compete at welterweight and claimed Ulster Elite honours in December.

John Paul Hale, Rooney's older cousin is back for his second Games at 65kg. He will hope to improve after he suffered a first-round exit at the hands of Uganda's Joshua Tukamuhebwa four years ago.

Janssen Hill will compete will make her first appearance at the Games in Glasgow. The former equestrian won Ulster honours and will fight at welterweight.

Another debutant is Belfast man Jon McConnell. The 24-year-old light-middleweight fighter broke through at the 2024 Irish elites.

At light-heavyweight is fellow Games newcomer Eoghan Quinn, who won a 2025 Ulster title.

Garyn McAllister and Willie John McCartan, who will compete at heavyweight and super-heavyweight, also claimed Ulster honours last year and are both getting set for their first Games.

Image source, Getty Images

The big name in the athletics team is world outdoor silver medallist Kate O'Connor.

Heptathlete O'Connor will head to her third Commonwealth Games off the back of a stellar 2025 in which she won four medals including a gold at the World University Games and bronze at the European Indoor Championships.

In taking silver at the World Championships in Tokyo, the Newry born athlete set a new Irish record of 6714 points and five personal bests.

The 25-year-old, who featured in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, won silver at the last Games in Birmingham four years ago.

She will be joined in the heptathlon by Anna McCauley, who finished sixth in 2022 and more recently second in the UK Athletics Championship.

Nick Griggs, who won the Irish senior title in March, has been selected for his first Commonwealth Games and will compete in the 5000m or mile.

His training partner and fellow debutant Callum Morgan will also be in the 5000m. He broke the Northern Irish 10k record earlier this year.

James Gormley, who is also going to his first Games, will compete in the mile race after setting a new NI record for the mile indoor this season.

Para-athlete Eve Walsh Dann will go to her second Games and will compete in the 100 metres and long jump.