Sport

Paralympics Ireland announces 44-strong Irish Team for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Ireland's Michael McKillop, from Glengormley, Co. Antrim, celebrates after winning the Men's 1500m T37 final with a time of 4:16.19 at the IPC Athletics World Championships. Doha, Qatar
Ireland's Michael McKillop, from Glengormley, Co. Antrim, celebrates after winning the Men's 1500m T37 final with a time of 4:16.19 at the IPC Athletics World Championships. Doha, Qatar Ireland's Michael McKillop, from Glengormley, Co. Antrim, celebrates after winning the Men's 1500m T37 final with a time of 4:16.19 at the IPC Athletics World Championships. Doha, Qatar

IRELAND'S team of 44 athletes, who will compete across nine different sports at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, (from September 7 to 18) includes three reigning world champions (athletics and cycling) and two defending Paralympic champions, Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop, who will be aiming to defend their titles in the 100m (T13) and 1,500m (T37) respectively.

Also featuring for athletics is London 2012 bronze medallist and World Championship silver medallist Orla Barry, who will be joined by World Championship silver medallist and world record holder, Noelle Lenihan along with European record holder Niamh McCarthy - both of whom will feature at a Paralympic Games for the first time.

Meanwhile in swimming, Dubliner Ellen Keane will be attending her third Paralympic Games at the age of 21, while James Scully will be returning for his second Games.

For the first time ever, Ireland will compete in canoeing at the Paralympic Games and it is also hoped that there will be Irish athletes representing their country in para-triathlon, with the qualification window for this sport scheduled to close later in July.

Speaking at the team announcement at Dublin’s City Hall, Irish Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, PatrickO’Donovan said: “I would like to congratulate all of the athletes on their selection for the 2016 Paralympic Games. It is a tremendous honour for each of the 44 athletes who have been selected to represent Ireland at the Rio Games and they can all be very proud of that achievement.

“I have no doubt that they will be wonderful ambassadors for Ireland and for their respective sports. I would like to wish all of the athletes well in their final preparations for Rio.”

Chef de Mission for the Irish Team, Denis Toomey, commented: “Team announcement day is a major milestone on Paralympic Ireland’s road to Rio. Qualifications and selections are complete and today we have announced those athletes who will represent Ireland at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

“As Chef de Mission, it has been both an honour and a privilege to be tasked with telling the nation who the lucky athletes are and I certainly look forward to leading them all to Rio for the Games.”

Paralympic Performance Director, Dave Malone, spoke about the Irish Paralympic Team’s performance goals for Rio 2016: “Irish athletes will go to Rio this September and compete for glory against approximately 4,350 athletes from all parts of the world over the course of 11 days.

“The team is ready to achieve great personal and collective success at the Games, and their performances throughout the qualification process for Rio indicates that a medal target of eight for the team is achievable. We also anticipate a large number of finals from the team, and we are seeking career best performances from as many of the team as possible on the biggest stage of all.

“We have ring fenced all available supports around the athletes in order to ensure that they can produce their optimum performance on the international stage.”

The first wave of athletes will depart on August 23rd, and will use the Irish Holding Camp in Uberlandia, Brazil to prepare for the Games, which has been set up with the generous support of Sport Ireland.

Coverage of the Rio 2016 Paralympics Games will be available on RTÉ with thanks to Allianz throughout the duration of the Games, on TV, radio and online.

Team Ireland for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Note: *denotes first time Paralympian

ATHLETICS:


Orla Barry


Ladysbridge, Cork


F57 Discus


Orla Comerford*


Howth, Co. Dublin


T13 100m


Paul Keogan*


Skyrne, Co. Meath


T37 400m


Noelle Lenihan*


Charleville, Co. Cork


F38 Discus


Niamh McCarthy*


Carrigaline, Co. Cork


F41 Discus


Michael McKillop


Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim


T37 1500m


Patrick Monahan*


Naas, Co. Kildare


T53 800m and Marathon


Deirdre Mongan


Milltown, Co. Galway


F53 Shot Put


Jason Smyth


Eglinton, Co. Derry


T13 100m


Greta Streimikyte*


Swords, Co. Dublin


T13 1500m

CYCLING:


Eoghan Clifford*


Galway, Co. Galway


Track:


Men’s individual pursuit C3


Road


Men’s C3 Time Trial


Men’s C1-3 Road Race


Katie-George Dunleavy


Crawley, UK


With pilot


Eve McCrystal*


Jenkinstown, Co. Louth


Track:


Women’s Individual B Kilo


Women’s individual pursuit B


Road:


Women’s B Time Trial


Women’s B Road Race


Colin Lynch


Macclesfield, UK


Track


Men’s individual pursuit C2


Road:


Men’s C2 Time Trial


Men’s C1-3 Road Race


Ciara Staunton*


Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow


Road:


Women’s H1-3 Time Trial


Women’s H1-4 Road Race


Declan Slevin*


Moate, Co. Westmeath


Road:


Men’s H3 Time Trial


Men’s H3 Road Race


Damien Vereker*


Co. Kilkenny now based in Waterford, Co. Waterford


With pilot


Sean Hahessy*


Carrick on Suir, Co. Tipperary


Track


Men’s Individual Pursuit B


Men’s individual kilo B finals


Road:


Men’s B Time Trial


Men’s B Road Race

EQUESTRIAN:


Helen Kearney


Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow


Grade 1A Championship


Grade 1A Freestyle

FOOTBALL:


Luke Evans (C)


Artane, Co. Dublin


Fixtures:


The Irish CP Football team will face Brazil, Ukraine and Great Britain in the group stages.


They will play these group games on:


September 8th, 10th and 12th.


The semi-finals of the competition will take place on September 14th with the final on September 16th.


Venue: Deodoro Stadium


Tomiwa Badun*


Dundalk, Co. Louth


Cormac Birt*


Toomebridge, Co. Antrim


Joseph Markey


Clontibret, Monaghan


Brian McGillivary


Firhouse, Co. Dublin


Carl McKee*


Swords, Co. Dublin


Gary Messett


Bray, Co. Wicklow


Ryan Nolan*


Bray, Co. Wicklow


Eric O’Flaherty*


Mervue, Co. Galway


Dillon Sheridan *


Ballyfermot, Co. Dublin


Aaron Tier*


Limerick, Co. Limerick


Conor Tuite*


Drogheda, Co. Louth


Jordan Walker*


Belfast, Co. Antrim


Ryan Walker*


Glenanne, Co. Armagh

SAILING:


John Twomey


Ballinahassig, Cork


3 Person Keelboat (Sonar)


Austin O’Carroll*


Phibsoboro, Co. Dublin


3 Person Keelboat (Sonar)


Ian Costelloe


Killorglin, Co. Kerry


3 Person Keelboat (Sonar)

SHOOTING:


Sean Baldwin


Newbridge, Co. Kildare


R1 10m Air Rifle Standing


R3 10m Air Rifle Prone


R6 50m Free Rifle Prone


R7 50m Free Rifle 3x40


Phillip Eaglesham*


Dungannon, Co. Tyrone


R5 10m Air Rifle Prone

SWIMMING:


Ellen Keane


Clontarf, Co. Dublin


SB8 100m Breaststroke


S9 100m Butterfly


S9 100m Backstroke


SM9 200m Individual Medley


Ailbhe Kelly*


Castleknock, Co. Dublin


S8 100m Backstroke


S8 100m Freestyle


S8 400m Freestyle


James Scully


Ratoath, Co. Meath


S5 50m Freestyle


S5 100m Freestyle


S5 200m Freestyle


Nicole Turner*


Portarlington, Co. Laois


S6 50m Butterfly


S6 50m Freestyle


S6 100m Freestyle


SB6 100m Breaststroke


SM6 200m Individual Medley


S6 400m Freestyle

TABLE TENNIS:


Rena McCarron Rooney


Buncrana, Co. Donegal


TT2 Single

Paralympics Ireland Support Staff

Paralympics Ireland HQ team: D. Toomey, D. Malone, N. Buffini

SPORTS SCIENCE & MEDICAL TEAM: J Conway, S McIvor, A Swanton, J Faulkner, J. O’Donovan, J. Loughrey, T. Divilly

CAMP SUPPORT TEAM (UBERLANDIA): A. Rossiter, N. Murphy, G. Byas, A. Gardiner

ATHLETICS: J. Nolan, D. Sweeney, M. Bergin, E. O’Brien

CANOEING: N. Fleming

CYCLING: T. McGowan, N. Delahaye, G. Beggs, E. Murphy, P. Lynch

EQUESTRIAN: D. Redmond, L. Bagge

FOOTBALL: B. Ferguson, JJ Glynn, B. Moore, G. McCormack

SAILING: B. Lynch

SHOOTING: R. Kane, R. Morris

SWIMMING: H. Burke, J Laverty, C. Sinnott O’Connor

TABLE TENNIS: R. Rooney

PARALYMPIC STATS


Irish world champions and world record holders


Reigning Irish Paralympic Champions:


Jason Smyth: T13 100m & 200m


Michael McKillop : T37 800m & 1500m

Current Irish World Champions :


Michael McKillop: T37 800m & 1500m


Jason Smyth: T13 100m & 200m


Eoghan Clifford: C3 Road Time Trial

Current Irish World Record holders:


Michael McKillop: T37 800m & 1500m


Jason Smyth: T13 100m & 200m


Noelle Lenihan: F38 Discus