Mayo Young Sports Stars: Great dedication to training at local and national level

Caitlín Malone trains every day, illustrating her great dedication to her chosen sport.

She trains mainstream with her club, White Tigers Martial Arts in Castlebar, but is also a member of the Irish I-Karate team and travels to Dublin with her Sensei, Colm Rochford, every training day.

Caitlín has represented Ireland in the USA and Germany, and has performed in both mainstream and inclusive tournaments throughout Ireland with pride and distinction.

The Irish I-Karate team hadn't trained in weapons before seeing Caitlín in 2019 at the Global Championships, held in Dublin, but now almost every member of the team takes weapons training.

Caitlín, Sensei Colm and Sensei Martin O'Malley, who has been there with her from the very beginning, had a great return to action in 2022 and can look forward to the rest of 2023 with anticipation.

Caitlín starts the year with a 2022 Connaught Telegraph Young Sports Star of the Year Award, which will be accepted at the gala ceremony on Friday in Breaffy House Resort, Castlebar.