Silver for Stafford at World Championships

Donna Stafford is a decorated Taekwon-Do athlete with strong Carlow connections who is delivering success on the international stage.

Although her family live in Balrath, Co Meath, Donna is grandchild to well-known Carlow couple, Bella and the late TV Stafford, who owned an electrical shop in town.

TV was heavily involved in a lot of different sports before passing away, most notably swimming, rowing and hockey.

Donna shares her grandfather's competitive mindset and the same determination to win.

The 18-year-old has steadily built an impressive international profile, earning podium finishes at the European Championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024 and has also played a key role in Team Ireland’s junior successes.

Last month, Donna reached a major milestone in her journey by winning a silver medal in the -57kg junior female sparring at the ITF World Championships in Poreč, Croatia.

This achievement was made all the more inspiring by her comeback from a serious injury.

Just a year earlier, in November 2024, Dinna underwent ACL reconstruction surgery at Santry Sports Clinic following an injury picked up while playing senior football for her club, Seneschalstown.

Having trained in Taekwon-Do since the age of six, Donna has been supported every step of the way by her parents, Maria and Leo, (LV) and her sister Kellie, who plays U20 inter-county football for Meath.