Ireland’s Boxing Champion Katie Taylor Wins Ambassador Award from Holyoke St. Patrick’s Committee

Holyoke, Mass. – January 22, 2026 – The St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke today announced that celebrated Irish professional boxer and Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor has been selected as the 33rd Ambassador Award recipient. This prestigious honor is presented annually to an individual or group that has worked to strengthen the relationship between the people of Ireland and the people of the United States.

Born and raised in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, Taylor is widely regarded as one of the greatest female athletes of her generation. As an amateur boxer, she made history by winning multiple world and European championships and capturing Olympic gold at the London 2012 Games, the first year women’s boxing was included in the Olympics.

Her professional career has further cemented her legacy, with Taylor becoming an undisputed world champion across multiple weight divisions and earning worldwide acclaim for her skill, resilience and sportsmanship. Her achievements have propelled women’s boxing to new levels of global recognition and inspired countless athletes around the world.

The Ambassador Award — unique among St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the United States — was established in collaboration with Ireland’s Ambassador to the U.S. and is presented during the annual parade festivities. The award recognizes individuals whose life and work promote goodwill, cultural exchange, and mutual respect between Ireland and America.

“We are profoundly proud to honor Katie Taylor as our 2026 Ambassador Award recipient,” said Parade President Jim Wildman. “Katie’s remarkable journey — from a young girl in Bray pursuing her dream to a global sporting icon — epitomizes the resilience, dedication and spirit that define the Irish and Irish-American experience. Her achievements have elevated women’s sport and strengthened the bonds of friendship and cultural pride between Ireland and the United States. Her legacy will inspire generations to come.”

“It is a tremendous honor to receive the 2026 Ambassador Award from the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke,” said Katie Taylor. “The connection between Ireland and the Irish-American community is something I’ve always felt deeply, and I’m grateful that my journey in sport has played even a small role in celebrating that shared pride. I look forward to joining the festivities in Holyoke and celebrating the spirit, resilience, and heart that define our Irish story.”

“Winning a gold medal for Ireland at the 2012 London Olympics, Katie Taylor became the undisputed and undefeated lightweight world champion in 2019 and is considered by many to be the greatest female boxer of all time,” said Consul General of Ireland in Boston Síghle FitzGerald. “Sport provides the world with a window into Ireland and the Irish people, while also giving Irish people at home and abroad a powerful means of expressing our identity on the international stage.”

Consul General FitzGerald added, “Katie Taylor is a true exemplar of the modern Irish woman and a superb role model for young women around the globe. She has demonstrated her commitment to her sport, represented her country with distinction internationally, and continues to play a vital role in her own community through the charities she supports. I welcome the decision of the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade Committee to honor Katie with the 2026 Ambassador Award and look forward to supporting the upcoming Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade programming during Irish American Heritage Month.”

Katie Taylor will be honored at the Ambassador Award Breakfast on Sunday, March 22, the morning of the parade, at the Wyckoff Country Club in Holyoke. For details and ticket information, please visit the Parade Committee’s website.

The 73rd Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade steps off on Sunday, March 22, 2026, following the 49th Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race on Saturday, March 21, 2026.