Triumphant return for Dearbhaile Brady and Team Ireland

Team Ireland made a triumphant return to Dublin Airport this morning after a hugely successful World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore.

In what marked the first major championships of the LA Cycle, the five-person squad, including two debutants, lined up in 15 events, producing eight personal bests and an impressive seven medals.

County Derry swimmer Dearbhaile Brady won silver and bronze medals.

Family and friends were out in force at Dublin Airport to welcome the athletes home and celebrate their achievements. Róisín Ní Riain capped a remarkable week with five medals, silvers in the SB13 100m Breaststroke, S13 400m Freestyle and S13 100m Backstroke, along with bronzes in the S13 100m Butterfly and SM13 200m IM.

Teammate Dearbhaile Brady, from Feeney, also shone on the world stage, collecting silver in the S6 50m Butterfly and bronze in the S6 50m Freestyle.

Speaking after their arrival, Para Swimming Head Coach, Hayley Burke said: “It was a brilliant week. We had two debutants in Deaten [Registe] and Síomha [Nic Brádaigh] so to have five athletes who now have such big experience on the world stage so early on in the Cycle is huge. It sets us up in a really strong and positive place. It was commented on by other nations that we are a presence to be known.

“Róisín’s target was five medals out of five and she achieved that. To pick up bronze and silvers is a great place to be, she’s the one coming after the gold, it’s a really nice position to be in.”