Paralympics Ireland Announce Team Ireland for European Para Swimming and Athletics Championships

Swords Castle was the venue today as Paralympics Ireland announced the Irish Teams that will represent Ireland at the European Para Athletics and Para Swimming Championships this August.

This August, for the first time ever, Ireland will host a major International Para sporting event when the World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships take place at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre from August 13th-19th. Ireland have named an 8 person squad for Dublin 2018 including Rio Paralympics Bronze medal winner, Ellen Keane. Keane is joined on the team by Patrick Flanagan, Ailbhe Kelly, Barry McClements, Jonathan McGrath, Sean O’Riordan, James Scully and Nicole Turner.

August 20th will mark the first day of competition in the European Para Athletics Championships which will see a 10 person Irish team compete for podium places in Berlin. Niamh McCarthy, Orla Barry and Noelle Lenihan will all compete in the discus. Greta Streimikyte and David Leavy will race in the 1500m with Jordon Lee making his European Championships debut in the High Jump. Patrick Monahan will compete in the 1500m and Paul Keoghan will hope to produce his best in the 200m.

Team Ireland’s swim team will now leave for a training camp in Portugal as they fine tune their preparations for Dublin 2018 which will begin in only 48 days.

Speaking about the announcement of Team Ireland for the European Para Swimming and Athletics Championships, Paralympics Ireland President, John Fulham, said ‘We are delighted to announce the squads for the European Para Swimming and Athletics Championships. We believe that the two squads are ready to compete very well for European glory. These are two important events for our athletes as they all look to Tokyo 2020 which is coming around very quickly.’

‘Hosting the World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships in Dublin is a great boost to para sports in Ireland. This is an opportunity to put para sports on a pedestal and to give young, budding Paralympians the opportunity to come and see their role models compete in person. I believe our squad of swimmers are a great combination of experience and potential that will give our country something to be really proud of this Summer.’

Tickets for the World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships are on sale now on www.paralympics.ie/dublin-2018-tickets