Nine-year-old Dearbhaile Brady takes home seven medals at Dwarf Sports Association UK games

A family from Feeny are hoping to raise awareness of the Dwarf Sports Association UK games, after nine-year-old Dearbhaile Brady took home seven medals at this year’s games.

Dearbhaile took part in the DSA National Games for the first time when it was held in Birmingham from April 28 to May 1. She was diagnosed at birth with hypochondroplasia, a condition her father also has.

Dearbhaile’s mother Brigid said the family had an “amazing experience” at the games, which she praised as being “very professional.”

As well as winning medals in six different sports, Dearbhaile also got the chance to meet Ellie Simmons, a British athlete with dwarfism, who has five Paralympic gold medals for swimming, two of which she earned when she was just 13.

“Dearbhaile won two gold medals for basketball and swimming, three silver for javelin, discus and shot putt and a bronze for cycling,” Brigid said.

“She would be quite sporty. She does cheerleading and Irish dancing and camogie at home. She loves swimming and at the games she met Ellie Simmons. She thought that she was at the Olympics essentially because Ellie Simmons was there. She was just amazed. ”

“She bought her book and got it autographed and she really wants to do well with her swimming now. Her goal is to go to the Paralympics.”

Dearbhaile was also presented with a medal to celebrate her participation in her first DSA games.

Brigid said that the family did not know about the games until they began meeting up with families that have children with all different types of dwarfism from across the north.

Although there are events for all age groups, Brigid said that just four families from Northern Ireland attended the games.

“There were only four families over, two from Belfast, one family from Portrush and we were the only ones from the north west,” she said.

“We want to let people know that this is available to everybody with all types of dwarfism, of all age groups. My husband also has dwarfism and he can’t wait to get over next year to participate in the games himself.”

The family plan to launch a fundraising campaign next month so that the whole family can attend next year’s games. Dearbhaile’s father John hopes to take part in events including football, basketball and running.