A special Mayoral Reception was held at City Hall on Friday, 20th March, to celebrate the outstanding achievements of five members of Tramore Taekwon‑Do Club who represented Ireland at the ITF Union World Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mayor of Waterford City & County, Cllr. Séamus Ryan, paid tribute to the athletes, their families and club representatives, acknowledging their remarkable performances on the world stage. Councillors Lola O’Sullivan and Blaize Hannigan were also in attendance, showing strong local support for the club’s accomplishments. The reception highlighted the dedication and success of Stephen McGrath, Paula O’Gorman, Keith Furnell, Robyn McGrath and Lia McGrath, who competed from the 9th to the 12th of October 2025 under the guidance of Master Ambrose Murphy, 8th Degree. Their participation followed an impressive showing at the ITFU European Open Championships in Hertfordshire in 2024, where the team secured seven medals for Ireland. In Buenos Aires, the Tramore athletes excelled across Patterns, Sparring and Power Breaking, returning home with a combined total of ten medals.

• Stephen McGrath: Gold (Patterns), Bronze (Sparring), Bronze (Power Breaking)
• Paula O’Gorman: Gold (Patterns), Silver (Sparring), Bronze (Power Breaking)
• Keith Furnell: Silver (Patterns), Bronze (Sparring)
• Robyn McGrath: Bronze (Sparring)
• Lia McGrath: Gold (Sparring)

Their achievements contributed to Ireland finishing sixth overall in the ITFU World Championship medal table, with Tramore Taekwon‑Do placing 25th out of 108 competing clubs worldwide—an extraordinary result for a community‑based club. Speaking at the reception, the Mayor praised the athletes for their commitment, discipline and representation of both Tramore and Ireland on the world stage. The event also recognised the long‑standing contribution of Tramore Taekwon‑Do to the local community. For over 35 years, the club, led by Master Murphy, has supported children and adults in developing confidence, resilience and sporting excellence. The club has now returned to training as preparations begin for upcoming competitions, including the ITF Dublin Open International and the ITFU European Open Championships in Italy in September 2026.                                           Sports News on WLR is with thanks to Rapid Cabs - call 85 85 85 or download the app today. For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.