Leevale’s Derval O’Rourke, who is returning to form, is selected to run in the 60m Hurdles after she ran a season’s best 8.12 seconds at the Woodie’s DIY National Indoor Championships last weekend in Belfast.

Marian Andrews of Togher A.C and Brona Furlong of Slaney Olympic will compete the 400m in Italy. Both athletes showed impressive form at the weekend when setting personal bests for the 400m in Belfast.

Andrews and Furlong will be joined by Gemma Hynes (Galway City Harriers A.C.), Claire Bergin (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.) and Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim A.C.) for the 4 X 400m Relay.

Deirdre Byrne also secured her place on the team as the Sli Chulainn athlete took over seven seconds off her personal best in the 3000m as she won in Belfast with a time of 9.04.74. Byrne will be joined in Italy by club mate Roisin McGettigan who set a new Irish Mile indoor record in Boston last weekend and she will race in the 1500m.

North Sligo AC’s Mary Cullen, who is included in the squad, showed her potential in Boston too as she came within a second of Sonia O’Sullivan’s Irish 5000m record. Cullen, who is in excellent form after her fourth place finish at the European Cross Country before Christmas, will race in the 3000m.

In the field events, Kelly Proper, (Ferrybank A.C) has been rewarded with a place on the team following her brilliant weekend performance when she equalled her women’s long jump Irish record of 6.32 meters.

Deirdre Ryan (DSD) hopes to continue her good form in Turin, building on the personal best she set when breaking the women’s Irish high jump record, clearing 1.93m in Germany last month.

"This Irish team is a combination of experienced and emerging athletes," said Athletics Ireland CEO, Mary Coghlan.

"For many athletes on the team this will be their first time to compete at a major senior championships and this will act as an important development experience for them. In the past we have been very successful at these championships and we can expect to again have some exciting performances and the possibility of bringing home medals."

European Indoor Championships – Turin March 6-8

Irish Team

60m – Paul Hession (Athenry AC)

400m – Marian Andrews (Togher AC)

400m – Bronagh Furlong (Slaney Olympic AC)

1500m – Roisin McGettigan (Sli Chulainn AC)

3000m – Deirdre Byrne (Sli Chulainn AC)

3000m – Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC)

60m H – Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC)

High Jump – Deirdre Ryan (UCD AC)

Long Jump – Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC)

4x400m Relay – Marian Andrews (Togher AC)

Bronagh Furlong (Slaney Olympic AC)

Gemma Hynes (Galway City Harriers AC)

Claire Bergin (Dundrum South Dublin AC)

Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim AC)