Great Start For Irish Swimmers At IPC Paralympic Swimming European Championships In Eindhoven

Ireland's Ellen Keane has finished fourth in the S9 50m Freestyle Final on the first day of competition at the Paralympic Swimming European Championships in Einhoven, Holland.

In an exciting final and despite swimming a lifetime best of 30.62, Keane just missed out on a medal with Great Britain's Amy Marren and Russia's Natalia Mamlina sharing Silver in 30 seconds flat. Gold went to Spain's Sarai Gascon in a new Paralympic World Record time of 29.04.

Speaking after the race Keane said "I'm really happy with that start to the championships, it's my first time breaking 31 seconds. The 50m Freestyle is not my main event so I'm glad to get a swim in and I can now start concentrating on my main events."

Competing at her first senior international competition, fifteen year old Ailbhe Kelly gave Ireland the best possible start at the championships with a new personal best in the S8 100m Backstroke to progress to this evening's final ranked fifth. Kelly's time of 1:29.40 took over a second off her previous best of 1:30.44.

2013 World bronze medallist James Scully eased into tonight's 100m Freestyle S5 final with a lifetime best swim of 1:21.66. Scully, who advanced in third place is confident of a faster swim in the final; "It's a great start to the competition, the time is just off my previous best, I think I can definitely go faster in the final, and there is more in the tank for this evening".

Limerick's Jonathan McGrath will join Kelly and Scully in finals action this evening as he competes in the 100m Backstroke S8 Event.

Almost 400 swimmers from 37 countries are competing at these Championships. All heats and finals will be streamed live on www.paralympicsport.tv