Murphy Crowe welcomed home to Tipperary town

Tipperary Olympian Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe returned home to a heroes reception in Tipperary Town on Saturday.

By Martin Quinn

Murphy Crowe, who began playing rugby aged fifteen at her local club, Clanwilliam RFC, came back to her home grounds to be welcomed by club members, and members of the local community in Tipperary town.

The flying winger scored three tries in Ireland’s six games in the Rugby 7’s where they finished eighth of the twelve teams in the competition in Ireland’s first time competing at the Oympics.

A piper played her into the grounds where she was met by an array of flags, bunting and lots of colourful banners, to recognise her achievements on the world stage.

Club officers were there to greet her along with her 94-year-old athletics coach Breeda Christie, who was looking every bit as young as she was when she was coaching Amee-Leigh at eight years of age over twenty years ago.

Also present was Clanwilliam Club President Liam Downey, who presented her with a bouquet of flowers, and her former club coach, Padraig Culbert, who outlined some of the international achievements of Amee-Leigh, the flying Irish winger who scored three tries in Ireland's opening two games at the Olympics.

Speaking at the reception, Amee-Leigh thanked Breeda Christie for her coaching expertise and described her as "Tipp town's national treasure".

"I can't thank you enough for helping me make my way to rugby and to Paris 2024," she said.

"For me in January when we won in Perth (first World Series win), there is no other feeling than being the best in the world and that has been the highlight of my career to date.

“To be able to say at that moment that you were the best team in the series, was just something so special. To be able to do it against Australia, where they were at home with a home crowd, was just a wonderful moment.”