Young Charlie shows his class in Ballina

Talented young Navan darts player Charlie O'Connor won the Irish National Darts Organisation Youths singles title in Ballina recently.

In all 76 u-18 players took part. Next up for Charlie is the Irish Open weekend in Killarney on the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th November and then the JDC world championships in Gibraltar between the 16th - 23rd November.

Charlie, who is from Townspark in Navan and attends Beaufort College, comes from a family steeped in the world of darts.

His grandfather Frank 'Bunty' O'Connor has been involved in the sport for many years and came to forge friendships with some of the great names of the science such as Eric Bristow.

His uncle, Damien O'Connor, is a former Irish Masters Youths champion himself and has been involved in the past in bringing some of the big names in darts to play exhibition games in his native Navan and clearly knows the game well.

Charlie's mother, Sandra O'Connor, is one of her son’s biggest fans. “Charlie’s such a kind, big hearted youngster. I go everywhere with him, we are great friends. He just loves darts,” she added.

Charlie won the Irish Masters u-18 title when he was just 14. He was also part of a Silver Tankard team that won the Kells Darts League in 2023 with young Charlie winning games against adults, even though he was only 13 at the time.