Leitrim woman captains Ireland to double gold triumph at shooting championship

Derville Gilmartin from Rossinver captained the Irish Ladies Clay Target Shooting Team to double gold at the DTL Home International and the DTL British Open, held last weekend at the Glenmoriston Shooting Estate in Inverness, Scotland.

“I'm delighted to be home with two gold cups. I'm looking forward to the season ahead,” says Gilmartin.

The Irish Ladies last won the Home International in 2017, making this victory a landmark achievement. Competing against England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the Irish team brought home multiple prizes and is now setting its sights on the European Championships in France this August, followed by the World Championships in New Zealand in March 2026.

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“England is always the biggest competitor for us, but Northern Ireland had a strong team as well. But we knew going out there that we had a strong team and the capabilities of winning it,” Derville reflected.

On the opening day of the Home International, the team secured a commanding lead, winning by 34 points to carry into the second day of competition. The team then went on to win gold at the British Open as well. “Two events, two competitions, two golds,” said Gilmartin.

The north Leitrim woman has been shooting internationally for Ireland since 2017 and has been shooting since a young age. “I suppose if I go back, there was always shooting in the family … I got my first gun when I was 18, and I continued shooting.”

The Irish Ladies squad includes Anne-Marie Shields from Limerick, Moira Walsh from Dublin, Bernadette Quinn from Tyrone, and Amy O’Sullivan, a 16-year-old talent also from Limerick.

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Rossinver Gun Club is Gilmartin’s home club, but the team travel the country to various shooting competitions each weekend, most often to the national shooting grounds in Banagher, Co. Offaly.

The win was extra special this week as Derville wasn’t the only member of the Gilmartin family representing Ireland. Her father, Eddie Gilmartin, made his debut shooting for Ireland on the Veteran team.

“It was a special one because dad would have always travelled the courses with me over the last number of years, came with me on Sunday shooting, travelled with me to different places, and it was nice for him to get the opportunity to put the Irish jacket on as well.”

Reflecting on her captaincy, Derville said, “I just had a really good year, good season this season, and my points had tattled up where I was first on the team, so it was nice to be captain for the first time, and I have all these other little duties, making sure the girls are all right, and little gifts to give other captains and your team and keeping morale good with everyone. It was a real privilege to be the captain.”

Looking ahead, Derville will captain Ireland for the rest of the season in the European Championships in August and the World Championship in March 2026. However, right now, she is just “enjoying the moment” and the privilege of captaining Ireland.