DEAF SPORTS Selection of Irish Deaf Water Polo team confirmed

10 Aug 2009


Water Polo team announcement was made by the Irish Deaf Sports Association (IDSA) on 17th July at Croke Park.


Thirteen players will represent Deaf at the forthcoming Deaflympics, to be held in Taipei, Taiwan from 31st August-17th September. Commenting on the announcement, IDSA President, Laurence Coogan, said 'We wish all our Water Polo players the very best of luck'.


The team, led by team manager, Sean Herlihy and coach, Dave Fitzgerald said 'After the success of 7th European Deaf Waterpolo Championship at Hungary in 2006 where they won the bronze, the team have since developed to a higher level. The team is now a potential contender for the Gold medal at the forthcoming 21st Deaflympics in Taiwan.'


The Deaflympics are Olympic style sports events where elite Deaf/Hard of Hearing athletes take part in. Approximately 3000 athletes, from over 70 countries across twenty sports, will compete at the Taipei Games.


The Irish team comprises of two tracks based participants in Athletics, four Badminton players; a team of twenty one Footballers, two Swimmers & a team of thirteen Waterpolo players (including two swimmers).


The Irish Water Polo team will attend final training session at the National Aquatic Centre, Blanchardstown on 30th August, before departing for their holding camp in Taipei on 1st September.


There will be extensive coverage of the Games; daily results, reports, interviews etc on www.irishdeafsports.net


For more information, please contact the Irish Deaf Water Polo team media officer, Thomas Mulloy at prwaterpolo@gmail.com


Team

  • Colm Keogh (Half Moon Water Polo Club)
  • Alan Turner (North Dublin Water Polo Club)
  • Eoin Nolan (St Vincent's Water Polo Club) Vice Captain
  • Declan Kearney (Clontarf Water Polo Club)
  • Patrick Maher (St Vincent's Water Polo Club)
  • Paul Ryder (St Vincent's Water Polo Club) Captain
  • Wesley Nolan (Clontarf Water Polo Club)
  • Frank Grace (Half Moon Water Polo Club)
  • Roy Keating (Half Moon Water Polo Club)
  • Philip Culhane (St Vincent's Water Polo Club)
  • Vincent McArdle (Half Moon Water Polo Club)
  • Mark Patchell (Clontarf Water Polo Club)
  • Liam Moloney (Half Moon Water Polo Club)

 

Staff

  • Seلn Herlihy (Water Polo Director)
  • Dave Fitzgerald (Coach)
  • Mike Heffernan (Fitness Coach)
  • Lauren Sinclair (Physio)
  • Thomas Mulloy (Team Reporter)