Breathnach elected Paralympics Ireland Athletes Commission Chairperson

01 Oct 2013


Eimear Breathnach, two-time table-tennis Paralympian was announced as the new Chairperson of the Athletes Commission at the inaugural meeting of the new commission consisting of ten current and former Paralympic athletes who competed at either the Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 or London 2012. Breathnach now becomes a member of the Board of Paralympics Ireland and will serve for a four year term. Her role is to represent the interests of athletes in all decision making at the top level of the organisations.


Breathnach, was elected Chairperson, by the members of the Athletes Commission who come from a cross section of sports, Paralympic experience and disability type. The full commission is made up of the following Paralympians and will meet up to four times per year:

  • Eimear Breathnach (Table Tennis)
  • Colin Lynch (Cycling)
  • Eoin Cleare (Athletics)
  • Gabriel Shelly (Boccia)
  • Luke Evans (Football 7-a-side)
  • Helen Arbuthnot (Rowing)
  • Breda Bernie (Equestrian)
  • Lisa Callaghan (Athletics)
  • James Murrihy (Football 7-a-side)
  • Keith Hayes (Boccia)


Speaking following her appointment, Breathnach said: "I'm delighted to have been elected as chair of the Athletes Commission. Hopefully as a retired Paralympian I will be well placed to lead the commission to be a successful body in representing the views and needs of Irish Paralympic athletes."


Commenting on the formation of the new Athletes Commission, Liam Harbison, CEO of Paralympics Ireland stated: "We've made some very significant changes to the terms of reference to the Athletes Commission to make it more effective and provide a greater voice for athletes in the development of athlete support programmes by Paralympics Ireland. The new commission has greater powers than previously and should give athletes greater input into our planning for Rio 2016. I congratulate Eimear Breathnach on her election and look forward to working with her closely on behalf of the athletes over the next four years".