Winter Olympian Anabelle (17) has strong family roots in South Westmeath
Westmeath's relatively flat terrain is not known for producing Olympic skiers, but one 17-year-old with strong family ties to Rosemount and Moate will be taking to the slopes at the Winter Olympics in Italy this month!
Anabelle Zurbay is representing Ireland at the games in Milano Cortina, and will be the country's sole female competitor at the event.
Her mother is a first cousin of Annette Dalton (née Galvin), proprietor of the long-established bakery and deli The Pantry in Moate.
Anabelle's grandmother, Rosaleen (née McCarthy), is a native of Rosemount and a daughter of Ned McCarthy, who was a hairdresser in Moate for many years.
Rosaleen emigrated to the US when she was 20 years of age and settled with her husband, Michael Miskella, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she still lives today.
Both of Anabelle's parents, Sarah and Dale, are experienced skiing coaches and after previously being based in Minnesota the family moved to the renowned ski town of Vail, Colorado, in 2019.
Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this afternoon (Wednesday), Annette Dalton said Anabelle was no stranger to the Moate area and has visited on a couple of occasions over the years.
The last time she visited the area was just under 18 months ago, and at that stage she had her sights set not on the 2026 games but on Olympics in future years.
"She was meeting with the Olympic Council at the time and I said to her, 'Anabelle, will we be cheering you on at the next Olympics?' She said, 'Oh no, in four years' time maybe, but my aim is for eight years'.
"So we were shocked when she got the times to qualify this year, and she's only just turned 17. We couldn't believe it. It's a brilliant achievement," Annette said.
The Moate businesswoman described Anabelle - her first cousin once removed - as someone hugely dedicated to her chosen sport.
"Her mother and father were both ski instructors, so they live, eat and sleep skiing. And by all accounts Anabelle is a fantastic gymnast as well. She told me she does gymnastics for three hours after school every day."
Annette said she's really looking forward to watching Anabelle compete at the Olympics, and will be getting a poster printed for display in The Pantry to show her support for her relative.
"We are so proud of her, and we're all so excited," she said.
In addition to being Team Ireland's sole female representative at these games, Anabelle will become the youngest alpine skier to represent Ireland at a Winter Olympics.
She has been chosen, along with Thomas Maloney Westgard, to be one of the flagbearers for Ireland at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games opening ceremony this Friday.
Anabelle will make her Olympic debut on Sunday week, February 15, in the giant slalom, and will also compete in the slalom on February 18.
Annette said Anabelle's grandfather and grandmother - Rosemount native Rosaleen - are planning to fly to Ireland to greet her at Dublin airport for the homecoming after the games.