Irish Swimmers Compete in Finals across Barcelona and Paris
Following last night’s medal success, Ireland were back racing in Barcelona for day two of the Para Swimming World Series, with five Irish Para swimmers on the blocks for this evening’s finals, including three Paris 2024 Paralympians. In Paris, Ellen Walshe, John Shortt and Ellie McCartney all won silver at the Giant Open Meet.
Two-time Paralympic medallist Róisín Ní Riain came through the 100m Breaststroke Final (SB13) in fifth, clocking a time of 1:18.88. The National Centre (Limerick) swimmer will return to action tomorrow for the 400m Freestyle (S13).
Speaking tonight, Ní Riain said: “It was a pretty solid swim. I’ve gotten some good racing done here and I was excited to come. I raced a couple of weeks back home, but this is the real season opener. I think I surprised myself yesterday by getting up and doing a PB in the heat. I couldn’t tell you the last time I did that; I probably haven’t done it since I was an age or summer swimmer, so I’m pretty happy after the first two days.”
Touching on the exciting crop of senior and junior Irish Para swimmers, she added: “It’s really, really exciting. I think we were only talking about it earlier. I was talking with one of the coaches and we were saying how exciting it is to have so many new people here, and I know there’s so much more talent at home. So just to be growing the Para swimming team is something that’s really good and looking good for the future.”
Deaten Registe appeared in the Barcelona pool for the first time this week, competing in the 100m Breaststroke Final (SB14). Registe posted a big season’s best tonight and his third-fastest-ever swim with 1:08.47, dropping nearly two seconds from his heat swim. Earlier in the session, the Lisburn man set a new lifetime best in the 200m Freestyle (S14), clocking 2:12.75, and followed this up with 2:12.94 in tonight’s B Final.
Following her 50m Butterfly silver medal last night, National Centre (Dublin) swimmer Dearbhaile Brady was back in action, competing in the 100m Breaststroke (SB6). Swimming in the event for the first time since the World Championships in Singapore, Brady clocked 1:49.11 to finish fifth overall. Earlier in the heats, Brady went 1:48.54, just shy of her lifetime best (1:48.39).
Both Luke Brennan and Luke O’Donoghue were back in action tonight, this time competing in the 100m Breaststroke Youth Final, both donning the Irish cap in opposing lanes. Blackrock man Brennan went 1:33.16 to finish sixth, setting a new lifetime best and breaking the 1:33.48 he set in Istanbul last year. It was another positive swim for Brennan following his bronze medal last night.
Luke O’Donoghue finished just behind his Irish teammate in seventh after recording lifetime bests on two consecutive occasions today. The Kingdom swimmer entered tonight’s race brimming with confidence after his heat swim, where he clocked 1:34.70, smashing his previous best time of 1:39.81, which was set at the same meet in 2025. In tonight’s final, O’Donoghue went quicker once again, posting a new best of 1:33.12.
Speaking after the final, he said: “I feel very good with the swim. Breaststroke isn’t my main stroke, probably one of my worst, but the last time I swam this was at this competition last year, so I’m very happy to improve. Personal bests let me know that the training is working.”
Earlier today, Maya Hogan clocked 1:52.86 in the 100m Breaststroke (SB10), while Sam Black made his first appearance of the week, swimming in both the 100m Breaststroke SB14 (1:36.17) and 200m Freestyle S14 (2:25.57).
Moving to the Giant Open Meet in Paris, five Irish swimmers appeared in tonight’s finals as they continued to ramp up preparation for the Irish Open in April. Competing in the same venue that will host the 2026 European Championships this summer, Ellen Walshe went 4:39.71 to claim second place on the podium in Paris, while John Shortt posted 25.01 in the 50m Backstroke to also claim a silver medal. Shortt’s National Centre (Limerick) teammate, Ellie McCartney, also bagged a silver medal after posting 1:07.46 in the 100m Breaststroke Final. Eoin Corby finished fifth in the 200m Breaststroke in a time of 2:14.60, while Jack Cassin clocked 1:59.54 in the 200m Butterfly Final to also finish fifth; both are from National Centre Limerick.
Racing continues for both teams in Paris and Barcelona.
Friday 20th March – Results
100m Breaststroke (SB13) Róisín Ní Riain H: 1:19.38 F: 1:18.88 (5)
100m Breaststroke (SB6) Dearbhaile Brady H: 1:48.54 F: 1:49.11(5)
100m Breaststroke (SB14) Deaten Registe H: 1:10.36 F: 1:08.47 (5)
100m Breaststroke (SB8) Luke Brennan H: 1:34.14 F: 1:33.16 (6, PB)
100m Breaststroke (SB9) Luke O’Donoghue H: 1:34.70 (PB) F: 1:33.12 (7, PB)
200m Freestyle (S14) Deaten Registe H: 2:12.75 (PB) F: 2:12.94
100m Breaststroke (SB10) Maya Hogan H: 1:52.86
100m Breaststroke (SB14) Sam Black H: 1:36.17
200m Freestyle (S14) Sam Black H: 2:25.57
Saturday 21st March – Schedule
400m Freestyle
Róisín Ní Riain (S13)
Luke Brennan (S8)
100m Backstroke
Barry McClements (S9)
Ellie Lynch (S9)
Luke O’Donoghue (S9)
Maya Hogan (S10)
Sam Black (S14)
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