Kettlebell sports in Ireland is led by Eddie Sheehan and Mark Stapleton of Kilkenny Kettlebell Club. They set up Kilkenny Kettlebell Club (KKC) in 2009, which now has over 30 members. Kettlebell sports is a new sport in Ireland, and the KKC have been working hard over the last two years to promote it nationwide. As a result the sport is growing in popularity in Ireland. In July 2010 they hosted the first ever Irish Kettlebell Sports Championships in Kilkenny. Over 40 competitors competed in the event which consisted of Biathlon and Strongman. It is hoped that this will be an annual event. In March 2011 they will host a Long Cycle and Snatch Sprint Competition under EGSA. This will be attended by competitors from all over europe.
The first competition in which athletes from Ireland competed was at the UK Kettlebell Open, in London in March 2010. This was the start of the Irish team. Since then members have competed at the Irish Kettlebell Sports Championships in Kilkenny Ireland, the Welsh Kettlebell Open in Cardiff, the Berlin Kettlebell Open in Germany, and the IGSF World championships in Milan, Italy, where for the first time Irish kettlebell athletes competed at an official international event. Eddie Sheehan competed at Professional level in Milan and achieved 65 jerks and 111 snatches.
In 2011 Eddie and Mark will set up the official Irish Team. The formation of this team gives beginners the opportunity to compete at an amateur level and more experienced lifters the opportunity to compete at a professional level. They plan to compete in further events in 2011 and introduce more Irish kettlebell sports enthusiasists to the competitive scene by rallying the kettlebell clubs of Ireland together under the Irish flag.
Eddie and Mark are coached by Gregor Sobocan from Slovenia.
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