The first
athletes have been announced to represent Team Ireland at the Paralympic Games
this summer. Six swimmers athletes will fly to Paris for the Games which take
place from August 28th to September 8th.
Ellen
Keane will be appearing at her fifth and final Paralympic Games. To date Keane
has a Paralympic bronze and gold medal. She recently won European silver in
Madeira and will be hoping to add to her tally in Paris.
Nicole
Turner will also bring great experience to the team, competing in what will be
the third Paralympic Games of her career. The Tokyo silver medallist goes into
the Games with great confidence having won gold, silver and two bronze European
medals this year.
Tokyo
Paralympian, Commonwealth and European medallist Barry McClements will travel
to his second Games in Paris. His path to the Paralympic Games this time around
has not been easy having suffered a fractured femur in September 2023.
Róisín Ní
Riain will be looking to impress at her second Paralympic Games. The Tokyo
Paralympian and double World Champion who is currently studying at the
University of Limerick had an outstanding European Championships winning five
medals including two gold.
Speaking
on the announcement, Paralympics Ireland Chef de Mission Neasa Russell said,
“We are really delighted to be announcing the first of our Team Ireland for the
Paralympic Games. We are incredibly proud of the performances the athletes have
put in to get to this point and we are really looking forward to supporting
them reach their potential at Paris. Tús maith leath na hoibre'”
Speaking
on the announcement, Paralympics Ireland CEO, Stephen McNamara said, “It’s a
very exciting day being able to announce the first of our athletes who will
represent Team Ireland at the Paralympic Games. I want to congratulate the
athletes as well as their coaches and families on this very special occasion.
So much hard work goes into qualifying for the Games and this is a culmination
of their efforts for the past number of years. We look forward to cheering them
on in Paris.”
Speaking
on the announcement, Para Swimming Performance Director, Dave Malone said,
“It’s a tremendous day with six athletes being selected to represent Ireland at
para swimming at the Games. It’s a really exciting team with a lot of world
class experience alongside two new debutants. We have high hopes for our
athletes as they put the final preparations towards the Games. We’ve had a
challenging and rewarding qualification process and a very successful European
Championships in Madeira winning 12 medals, so our team are well prepared and
all of us are looking forward to supporting the athletes in the final few
months before Paris”
Deaten
Registe
Age: 20
Hometown:
Dungannon, Tyrone
Club:
Lisburn City Swimming Club
Classification:
S14
Dearbhaile
Brady
Age: 16
Hometown:
Feeny, Derry
Club:
Limavady Swim Club
Classification:
S6
Ellen
Keane
Age: 29
Hometown:
Clontarf, Dublin
Club: NAC
Swim Club
Classification:
S8/9
Róisín Ní
Riain
Age: 19
Hometown:
Drombanna, Co. Limerick
Club:
Limerick Swim Club
Classification:
S13
Nicole
Turner
Age: 21
Hometown:
Portarlington, Laois
Club: NAC
Swim Club
Class: S6
Barry
McClements
Age: 22
Hometown:
Newtownards, Down
Club:
Ards Swimming Club
Classification:
S9
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