The stock of Irish swimming continues to rise thanks to a steady improvement in the number of major medal successes and podium finishes.
In the year just finished there was a first-ever medal in the World Short Course Championships in China when Shane Ryan picked up bronze in the 50m Backstroke.
Niamh Coyne from Tallagh won silver at the women's 100m Backstroke at the Youth Olympics in Bueno Aires while Mona McSharry just missed out on a podium finish while qualifying for the final of three separate events.
This was the first time that two Irish swimmers had both made it to the same major international final.
Conor Ferguson, Darragh Green, Brendan Hyland and Shane Ryan knocked a massive 18 seconds off the men's Irish 4x100m Medley Relay record which had stood since 1991.
Loads of other Irish records were broken as part of an upward trend in performances.
On the water polo front St Vincent's won the women's Irish Senior Cup with Galway side Corrib getting their hands on the Senior Cup for the first time when they beat Brugha in a penalty shoot-out after the teams were level at the end of normal time.
Clonard in the boys and Brugha in the girls competitions were among the medals and the future looks bright for these old clubs.
The year came to a sad conclusion with the passing of two people from different ends of the water polo spectrum.
One of Ireland's finest ever players Shane Moraghan from Half Moon, a holder of multiple Irish Senior Cup winners medals and Ireland international caps, was just 50 years old when he died in early December.
He was also a hugely-talented long-distance swimmer having conquered many of the major challenges, including the English Channel.
Kathleen McCormack who passed away on Christmas Day was the wife of the late Michael, and mother of former internationals Jim and Nick and grandmother of Irish Senior Cup winners James and Patrick Beirne.
She was an international hockey player and took a great interest in the sporting successes of her children and grandchildren.
Deepest sympathy is extended to both families.
