Offaly mixed martial artist is double gold European champion

THERE is some wonderful local news this week with about SBG's (martial arts) Tullamore’s Marie Kennedy who won double gold at the European JIU-JITSU IBJJF Championships in Rome last week.

Hailing from Daingean, Marie Kennedy has been working, coaching and training in SBG Tullamore since 2013.

Marie, a brown belt under Head coach Kieran Davern, travelled to Rome last Wednesday to compete in the prestigious IBJJF European Championships. 

Marie competed against other ladies in her division over 60kg, and became the first ever woman and first ever person in Offaly to win Gold in not one but two categories. 

Marie is the coach of SBG Tullamore’s children martial arts programme which caters for children from 4-15 teaching them not only martial arts but how to be a good team mate, confidence and social skills. Marie also runs a ladies only Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self defence class which offers self defence training to local women. 

“We are so proud of Marie and everything she has achieved.  Marie is an exceptional coach, training partner, mother to Calvin, work colleague and friend. She spends the majority of her time in the gym, training and coaching. Her future is very bright and we cannot wait to see what it holds for her,” said Jamie Davern of SBG Tullamore.