Get to know Éire

Bio:

"Hi, my name is Éire (Air-uh) which, is Irish Gaelic for Ireland. I currently live in Gloucestershire in the UK but, hold dual nationality with Ireland. My Irish family's hometown is Enniscorthy, County Wexford and high level sport runs in the family. My relative Jem Roche was once the heavy weight boxing champ in Ireland and I would love to carry on the legacy by representing my nation at the highest level!"

Éire's sporting success:

Éire Rowland-Evans' journey into the world of sliding sports began as a teenager when her parents gifted her a taster day at the GB bobsleigh training ground at Bath University. Excelling in the sport, she soon found herself representing Team GB at the OMEGA Youth Series Competition in 2019/2020, marking the beginning of an extraordinary athletic career. Éire continued to represent team GB, as a member of the Women's Development Squad until the end of the 2022/3 season.

In the summer of 2023, Éire was offered the opportunity to represent team Ireland in Skeleton. This was an avenue which Éire had always wished to pursue and one which aligned more seamlessly with her athletic profile and ability. After just a few weeks on ice, Éire raced in four North American Cup (NAC) races, placing 5th (wider podium) in Park City, Utah. Éire finished her first ever Skeleton season with an overall NAC ranking of 10th and a World ranking of 56th, just 1 position away from qualifying for a World Cup spot. Éire is the first female Irish Skeleton athlete since 2010 and if she is successful in representing Ireland at a World Cup or a Winter Olympic Games she will be the first ever female Irish skeleton athlete to do so.

Before sliding sports Éire previously captained the England U18 Tug of War team to a bronze medal at the 2018 World Champs in South Africa. She has also competed in Swimming and Athletics up to National level.

Academics:

Éire attended Ribston Hall High School where she studied 11 GCSEs, before winning a full sports scholarship to the prestigious Cheltenham Ladies' College (CLC) for her Sixth form studies between 2018-2020. At CLC Éire studied English Literature, Government & Politics and History.  

After finishing her A levels Éire was awarded a sports scholarship to Swansea University where, she studied a Batchelor of Arts (Hons.) in Classical Civilisation and Egyptology, graduating top of her class in 2023. 

In the summer of 2023 Éire was selected as 1 of 30 students from an initial 150 applicants to attend an Archaeology summer course with the British School at Athens. 'The Archaeology and Topography of Ancient Greece-summer school' allowed Éire to spent a month abroad discovering 45 different archaeological and historical sites. Éire was awarded a scholarship from the Classical Association in order to cover course fees. 

In February 2024 Éire was awarded a British Education Award in the Wales Degree Category for outstanding academics and extra-curricular.

Éire's future plans:

"The short term dream for the future is to represent Ireland at a Junior European and World Championships, as well as racing in the World Cup. However, the long term goal is to represent my nation at a Winter Olympic Games, whether this be in 2026, 2030, 2034 (or all of them)! 

I also want to inspire other athletes, especially women, to try sliding sports. I hope to see more Irish athletes representing our nation globally. Once I retire (hopefully not soon), I want to help grow winter sports in Ireland and coach new skeleton athletes. 

Ultimately, my post-sporting aspiration is to complete a Masters Degree in either Museology and Curating Practises or Archaeology. With the dream of one day working as a top Curator or Archaeologist abroad."