PARALYMPICS Ireland's first Paralympic athlete, Oliver Murphy, is honoured at the Renault Ireland Team 2012 Camp

The Paralympic Council of Ireland celebrated 50 years of Irish Paralympic history as Drogheda man, Oliver Murphy, was honoured at the Renault Ireland Team 2012 camp. The camp, held in the University of Limerick from the 8th - 11th April, was the first squad camp of the London 2012 cycle and saw Irish athletes, coaches and staff rise in a standing ovation to honour Mr Murphy, the last surviving member from the first Irish Paralympic Team that travelled to Rome in 1960.

This special event included contributions from PCI CEO Liam Harbison, Board Member Mairead Farquharson and a reflection of the developments in Paralympic sport from former Secretary General Anne Ebbs. Ireland's four other pioneering Paralympic athletes; Fr. Leo Close, Jack Kerrigan, Joan Horan and Jimmy Levins were also fondly remembered.

The Irish Team took its place alongside 22 other nations at the first ever Games where the team finished 12th on the medals table with two gold medals secured by Joan Horan. Proud of its part in the founding of the Paralympic Games, Ireland has since competed in every Paralympic Summer Games with many outstanding successes recorded.

Addressing Ireland's hopefuls for London 2012, Mr. Murphy shared his experiences from competing in the first Paralympic Games, expressing his admiration for the dedication, preparation and drive of each athlete as they strive to achieve their ambitions. Observing how the games have grown in stature since 1960, Mr Murphy thanked the Paralympic Council for inviting himself and his wife Joan to the camp and his joy at being able to share the Paralympic experience again.

Mr Murphy who first competed in archery, shot putt and subsequently as a weightlifter, went on to compete at a further three Paralympic Games before retiring from active competition in 1972. Following his return to Ireland after the 1960 Games, he along with other team members founded the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA). As active campaigners for the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland, they blazed a trail to change attitudes towards disability, leading to many of the equalities people with disabilities experience today. The IWA has since flourished and now provides services to 20,000 members.

Speaking after the event, CEO of the Paralympic Council of Ireland, Liam Harbison said "As the Paralympic Games have reached the major milestone of the 50th Anniversary in 2010, it is fitting that we marked the event at the first Renault Ireland Team 2012 Camp with over 100 athletes and staff in attendance. The standing ovation in response to Oliver Murphy's address by all in attendance clearly indicates the level of gratitude that today's London 2012 Paralympic hopefuls have for the pioneers that preceded them. We in the PCI are delighted that Oliver Murphy was able to attend and help us to record such an important piece of our Paralympic history"

The camp held in Limerick over three days of sun filled weather, catered for nine sporting disciplines including for the first time in PCI history athletes from the sports of Rowing and Hand Cycling. The camp, the first of six in Limerick between now and the London 2012 Games was an outstanding success with the Irish team's preparations now firmly on track.

For Further Information: Contact Paralympic Council of Ireland Communications Officer John Fulham at email address communications@pcireland.ie, Mobile 087-2709182 or visit the Paralympic Council of Ireland Website at www.pcireland.ie