Commonwealth Games

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Team NI will have four experienced lawn bowlers in Glasgow.

Gary Kelly will compete in the singles and pairs at the Games. The 37-year-old won bronze at the 2010 games in the singles and followed that up with silver in 2022.

Adam McKeown will compete in pairs with Kelly after winning gold in Birmingham four years ago as part of NI's men's fours.

Shauna O'Neill competed in singles and pairs in 2022 and four years later will take part in both events again.

She will be in the pairs with Chloe Wilson, who was involved in women's triples and fours in 2022 and competed at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

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Maddy Connelly has withdrawn from the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to injury.

Connelly was one of seven weightlifters included in Team Wales for the showpiece event in Glasgow.

But the 2025 British champion - who was due to compete in the women's 53kg category - has confirmed she sustained an injury in training, forcing her to pull out of the Games.

"To say I'm disappointed is an understatement," she wrote on Instagram.

"Representing Team Wales on the Commonwealth stage has been a huge dream of mine and it's heart-breaking not to be lining up with my team-mates in Glasgow and fighting for that place on the podium.

"Right now, my focus is on recovery. I'll take the time to heal, work hard and come back even stronger."

She added: "Although I won't be competing, I'll be supporting every member of Team Wales throughout the games and cheering them on every step of the way.

"Diolch (thanks) to everyone who has supported me on this journey. It means more than you know.

"Pob lwc Tim Cymru (good luck Team Wales)."

Gethin Jones, Team Wales Chef de Mission, said: "Everyone at Team Wales is devastated for Maddy.

"We know how much representing Wales at a Commonwealth Games means to her and the dedication, commitment and hard work she put in to earn her place on the team.

"We know this setback won't define her. Maddy is a talented athlete with a bright future ahead, and we have every confidence she'll come back stronger."

The Games in Scotland begin on Thursday, 23 July.

Nikole Roberts is the first Team Wales weightlifter in action at the Games. She will compete in the women's 48kg category on Sunday, 26 July.

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Five cyclists will make their Commonwealth Games debuts for Team NI in Glasgow this summer.

Erin Creighton was a reserve at the 2024 Olympics after helping Team Ireland's women qualify for the team pursuit event for the first time.

The 22-year-old claimed the 2022 Irish junior road race title and finished fourth in that year's Junior World Championships elimination race and is set to compete in the scratch, points and elimination races.

Emma Jeffers began in BMX racing before making the switch to road racing, with the 21-year-old since claiming two sprint victories at the Gracia in the Czech Republic, while also enjoying a victory at the National Circuit Championships.

Esther Wong currently rides for Team Farto – Kiroot and has raced on road, track and cyclo-cross circuits.

The versatile 20-year-old has enjoyed success at junior and U23 level, with top-15 finishes at the National Championships Ireland WE road race and the Région Pays de la Loire Tour - Féminin.

Matthew Dobbins has competed internationally for Ireland in a range of road cycling competitions and the 25-year-old enjoyed a sixth-place stage two finish at last year's Tour of Kosovo.

Chris Burns is a C2 para-cyclist and has enjoyed recent national and international success including a triple podium finish at the German Open Paracycling Track Championships.

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Team NI has a 12-strong boxing squad for the Games across a number of male and female weight divisions.

Caitlin Fryers will go to her first Games as she is rewarded for her bronze medal finish at the recent Strandja Tournament with flyweight selection.

Nicole Clyde is moving up to 54kg for her second appearance at the Games. She exited at the quarter-final stage against India's Nitu Ghanghas four years ago in Birmingham.

At 55kg, 20-year-old Louis Rooney will make his bow at the Games. He won a bronze medal at the European U-23 Championships.

The most experienced member of the boxing squad, Michaela Walsh is back for her fourth Games. She is trying to defend the featherweight title she won in Birmingham in 2022.

A two-time Olympian, the 33-year-old also won silver in 2014 in Glasgow and in 2018 at the Gold Coast.

Jude Gallagher is another who goes into these games hoping to win a second successive gold medal after triumphing in 2022. The 24-year-old from Tyrone is stepping up to lightweight after featherweight success.

Kaci Rock, daughter of former professional Jim, has been selected for her first Games. Born in Belfast but raised in Wicklow, she will compete at welterweight and claimed Ulster Elite honours in December.

John Paul Hale, Rooney's older cousin is back for his second Games at 65kg. He will hope to improve after he suffered a first-round exit at the hands of Uganda's Joshua Tukamuhebwa four years ago.

Janssen Hill will compete will make her first appearance at the Games in Glasgow. The former equestrian won Ulster honours and will fight at welterweight.

Another debutant is Belfast man Jon McConnell. The 24-year-old light-middleweight fighter broke through at the 2024 Irish elites.

At light-heavyweight is fellow Games newcomer Eoghan Quinn, who won a 2025 Ulster title.

Garyn McAllister and Willie John McCartan, who will compete at heavyweight and super-heavyweight, also claimed Ulster honours last year and are both getting set for their first Games.

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The big name in the athletics team is world outdoor silver medallist Kate O'Connor.

Heptathlete O'Connor will head to her third Commonwealth Games off the back of a stellar 2025 in which she won four medals including a gold at the World University Games and bronze at the European Indoor Championships.

In taking silver at the World Championships in Tokyo, the Newry born athlete set a new Irish record of 6714 points and five personal bests.

The 25-year-old, who featured in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, won silver at the last Games in Birmingham four years ago.

She will be joined in the heptathlon by Anna McCauley, who finished sixth in 2022 and more recently second in the UK Athletics Championship.

Nick Griggs, who won the Irish senior title in March, has been selected for his first Commonwealth Games and will compete in the 5000m or mile.

His training partner and fellow debutant Callum Morgan will also be in the 5000m. He broke the Northern Irish 10k record earlier this year.

James Gormley, who is also going to his first Games, will compete in the mile race after setting a new NI record for the mile indoor this season.

Para-athlete Eve Walsh Dann will go to her second Games and will compete in the 100 metres and long jump.

When Jacob Whittle blows off steam as a swimmer preparing for the Commonwealth Games, he does so in a literal sense.

While the 21-year-old has collected a hoard of medals during his young career in the pool - which includes gold at the World Championships and Birmingham Commonwealth Games in recent years - he has also been busy accumulating a fleet of steam engines.

Small-scale versions of traction engines sit pride of place in his collection of motors, alongside vintage motorbikes and a treasured tractor.

All are vehicles he maintains and drives, with each being a distraction from the pressures of competition.

In the lead up to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the swimmer from Alfreton in Derbyshire sat down with BBC East Midlands Today sports editor Natalie Jackson to discuss how his hobby has helped him in the pool.

"It is sort of an addiction and not a hobby," Whittle said with a laugh.

"You can't stop thinking about it and looking at new things - I love it and it's a good switch-off for when I leave the pool."

Whittle's coach Jamie Main, who is based at Repton School, also talks about Whittle's dual passion for elite swimming and "rural life".