PARALYMPICS Three Paralympic Medallists Lead Irish Team At European Athletics Championships

The Irish Team for the IPC Open European Athletics Championships in Espoo, Finland, this coming August has been announced by the Paralympic Council of

Ireland.

The team comprises of 20 athletes (5 women, 15 men) from three disability groups. The team is a blend of experience and youth with 3 former Paralympic medal winners (Derek Malone, John McCarthy, Catherine Walsh), a world record holder (Lisa Callaghan) and 8 first time "major" participants.

The combined Paralympic European Athletics Championships is a relatively new development, with the first event held in 2003.  At those Games in Essen in 2003 Ireland won 3 gold medals.

The new Athletics Coordination Group, with representatives from all relevant governing bodies, nominated the team to the Paralympic Council of Ireland. The three governing bodies (Irish Wheelchair Association-Sport, Irish Blindsports, and Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland) established the new coordination group to support athletes competing for Ireland at major international events.

The team will be led by Team Manager Noel Brennan from Athlone. He will besupported by a select group of coaches and a medical team of Fintan O'Donnell (Chartered Physiotherapist) and Fionnuala Kirby (Sports Massage Therapist). The team departs for Espoo on August 17th and will return on the 28th.

Issued by the Irish Sports Council on behalf of the Paralympic Council of Ireland

Alternatively contact Paul McDermott, Irish Sports Council, 01-8608802, or

Results and updates on the progress of the team will be provided to the media throughout the Games.

Irish Team as selected by PCI for Espoo 2005:

Notes: T: Track, F: Field, 11-13 visually impaired athletes, 31-38, cerebral palsy athletes, 51-56, wheelchair track athletes.

ATHLETE COUNTY  EVENT   EVENT  
Orla Barry      Cork    F57 Discus             
Lisa Callaghan  Meath   F37 Javelin            
Eoin Cleare     Offaly  F32 Discus      F32 Shot       
Garrett Culliton        Laois   F52 Discus      F52 Shot       
Michael Delaney         Dublin  F12 Long Jump   F 12 High Jump 
Patrice Dockery         Dublin  T54 800 m       T54 1500 m T54 5000 m  
Keith Dolan     Dublin  T37 400 m              
Trevor Dunne    Dublin  F35 Discus      F35 Shot Putt  
John Glynn      Dublin  T54 100 m T54 200 m     T54 400 m T54 800 m    
David Griffith  Dublin  T54 200 m       T54 400 m  T54 800m    
Roy Guerin      Kerry   T53 100 m       T53 200 m      
Garrett Jameson         Wicklow F32 Club        F32 Discus     
Derek Malone    Clare   T38 400 m       T38 800 m T38 1500 m   
John McCarthy   Cork    F51 Discus      F51 Club       
James McCarthy  Limerick        F57 Shot Putt          
Michael McKillop        Antrim  T37 800 m       T37 1500 m     
Jason Smyth     Derry   T13 100m        T13 200 m      
Rosemary Tallon         Louth   F53 Discus      F53 Javelin    
Catherine Walsh Dublin  T13 400 m       F13 Long Jump  
Tony Ward       Dublin  T12 800 m       T12 1500m