In this instalment of The Next Generation, we head to South Galway AC, a club quietly building one of the most exciting stables of young talent in the country. Among its brightest prospects is hurdler Amy Rose Kelly, a driven and dedicated athlete already making a name for herself on the national stage.
We spoke to members of South Galway AC, as well as her father Sean Kelly, to learn more about the journey of this emerging star and what lies ahead in her promising career.
Amy Rose’s breakthrough year came in 2022, a season where she seemed to collect medals for fun. She kicked off the year with a National Indoor Silver in the 60m Hurdles, before heading outdoors to win Silver in the 80m Hurdles and top it off with a spectacular Gold in the 250m Hurdles at the National Championships.
Her success didn’t end there. Representing her school, Amy Rose stormed to victory in the Intermediate 300m Hurdles at the Tailteann Games, a result that earned her the honour of wearing the Irish vest at the Schools International Athletics Board (SIAB) meet, an experience most young athletes can only dream of.
Looking back on the past year, her father Sean described 2023 as “a year of transition”, one where Amy Rose made the bold decision to move away from sprint hurdles and step up to the longer distances and the demanding 400m hurdles. Under the careful guidance of coaches Jim Phelan and Declan Derrane, she took on this new challenge with characteristic determination.
“Last year, Amy Rose won silver in the Connacht indoor hurdles and set a Championship Best Performance in the Connacht outdoor U17 400m with a time of 58.85,” Sean proudly told us.
The medals continued to stack up. Amy Rose took Gold in the Connacht Schools Intermediate Long Jump, proving her versatility, before adding Bronze medals in both the 300m Hurdles and 400m at the National Championships, where she set a new PB of 58.18 seconds.
But for Amy Rose, it’s not just about collecting medals; it’s about continuous improvement and chasing long-term goals. “She’s a dedicated athlete who enjoys training hard and taking on new challenges,” Sean explained. “Her goals for the year ahead are to keep improving her technique and her times, with the hope of one day representing Ireland again.”
With the likes of Amy Rose Kelly and several other talented athletes emerging from its ranks, South Galway AC is becoming a real production line of elite talent. Massive credit must go to the people behind the scenes, whose tireless work and dedication are laying the foundation for these success stories.
Here at Run Republic, we’re certain that Amy Rose will continue to clear every hurdle placed in front of her, both on and off the track and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this determined young star.