Katie O’Brien is a Paralympian rower from Clarinbridge, Co Galway. Born with spina bifida, she represents Ireland in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls category alongside her partner Tiernan O’Donnell. The pair recently competed in the 2024 Paralympic Games, finishing second in the B Final (8th overall).
“According to my mum, I’ve been coming to Enable Ireland since I was about one, and I always remember it being part of my life. The main reason was for physio, but I never thought of it that way – it was just good crack,” Katie says.
“I met Michele [Marvesley] here this morning, who was my therapist, and it was amazing to see her. It was always just games and fun. I did a lot of summer camps here, and it was my first chance to meet other kids with disabilities. It gave me a great sense of community – though of course, as a child, you don’t see it that way. It’s only in hindsight that I realise how much it did for me and my sense of self as a kid,” she continues.
Katie feels being an ambassador for Enable Ireland is a lovely fit. They did so much for her, and she’s thrilled to give back in return. Enable Ireland supports more than 13,000 children and young people with disabilities across Ireland, and according to Katie, “The organisation does so much – it’s not just physio, they work with families as a whole. It’s an amazing facility.” TK Maxx and Homesense are long-term partners with Enable Ireland. Funds raised by the partnership support specific projects benefiting children and young people with disabilities across Ireland, including purpose-built children’s service centres, transport services, and specialist equipment and assistive technology.
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Today, Katie is a qualified veterinarian. She grew up loving animals and science, and studied at UCD, another place she loved and felt at home. However, she is now fully committed to her rowing career, which began in 2012. That year, after watching the Paralympic Games, Katie decided this was something she wanted to pursue. She tried out for rowing at a talent search day, where her incredible upper body strength – developed from years of using walkers, crutches, and wheelchairs – was immediately recognised. Since then, Katie has taken bronze at the 2019 World Championships, gold at the 2022 World Championships, and set a world record for the indoor 2km distance at the 2023 Indoor Rowing Championships, qualifying for the Paris Paralympics.
Katie began rowing at age 16. As a young girl, she was extremely sporty and happy to be involved in any sport going – from camogie to soccer and rounders. As a teenager, she played wheelchair basketball. Horse riding, however, was her main sport, combining her love of physical activity and animals. She grew up with older siblings who were passionate about horses and was eager to join in by age nine. Although Katie didn’t grow up on a farm, her dad bought his children a horse. ‘My dad was in the pub, and one of the lads mentioned he was bringing his horse to the factory. On hearing this, my dad asked how much the factory was offering him and matched the amount – that’s how it all began, and it took off from there!’
Katie partnered with Tiernan O’Donnell 18 months ago. She had spotted him in a photo taken during a wheelchair basketball game and noted how strong he was as a one legged athlete, deciding immediately that he was potentially the perfect partner. Fortunately, he was looking to try a new sport and enthusiastically responded to her suggestion to try rowing with her. Since then, Tiernan has committed his life to rowing and competed with Katie at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Katie describes how injury left her struggling mentally this past year. Up to eight weeks before the Games, she was unsure if she would be able to compete. However, once there, even knowing she was unlikely to win this year, she was incredibly grateful. ‘Every single member of my family – far and wide, over 100 people – came to Paris to support me in the 2024 Paralympic Games. The amazing thing for me is that, even knowing I wasn’t going to be on the podium, given the year I had, they still wanted to be there for me. I’m so lucky to have so many people in my life who love and support me,’ she says.
TK Maxx and Homesense have a remarkably enduring partnership with Enable Ireland. Partnered for 27 years, the retail chain has raised more than €4.5 million to support over 29,000 children and young people with disabilities in communities across Ireland. TK Maxx and Homesense customers can support the partnership by donating €1 at the till when paying for their purchases in September, and by shopping the limited-edition charity merchandise ranges in store throughout the year.
Support Enable Ireland by donating in-store at TK Maxx and Homesense, or visit tkmaxx.ie and homesense.ie for your local store