The draw for the six strong Irish boxing team were made on Friday. The team found out who they would be facing in the opening rounds with Katie Taylor set to face either Natasha Jones (GB) or Quantitta Underwood (USA).

Paddy Barnes received a bye in the first round. The 2008 bronze medalist will face either Thomas Essomba of Cameroon or Abedelaili Darra of Morocco in the last sixteen.

Michael Conlan of Belfast also received a bye and will face Duje Micah from Ghana or Jason LAvigilante from Mauritius while the unseeded but highly regarded Adam Nolan will make his Olympic debut versus Ecador’s Carlos Sanchez on Sunday.

Favorites to bring home the gold for Ireland are Darran O’Neill and John Joe Nevin and they will be first to begin their Olympic journey. O’Neill is the team captain and will face Muideen Akanji of Nigeria. Meanwhile anticipation is rising for team Ireland as Nevin looks set to face Denmark's Dennis Ceylan in the last 32.

Four Time world champion, Katie Taylor will carry Ireland's flag at the opening ceremony today as confirmed by the Olympic Council of Ireland earlier in the week. The 26-year-old star, household name and role model will carry the tricolor for the world to see as women's boxing also becomes visible on the world map having just earned its place in the Olympic world.  Of course, Taylor is Irelands main gold medal prospect, as she aims to finally add Olympic gold to her impressive repertoire.