Ellen Keane and Michael Murphy lead Team Ireland’s goodbye to Paralympics after Katie-George Dunlevy leads medal rush

THERE was no shortage of broken records for Team Ireland at the Paralympics as the Paris Games concluded with the closing ceremony yesterday. Swimmer Ellen Keane and dressage athlete Michael Murphy carried the flag for their country at the Stade de France. Ireland finished with six medals in the French capital.

These included a gold for cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy with spotter Linda Kelly (road time trial B) — as well as two silvers (road race B and individual pursuit B) with Eve McCrystal as pilot for the latter. In the pool, Róisín Ní Ríain took home a silver (100m backstroke S13) and a bronze (200m individual medley SM13). Orla Comerford also got a bronze on the track (100m T13).



Team Ireland managed five national records, one European record and one season’s best. Over 40 per cent of Ireland’s 35 athletes were first-time Paralympians, which bodes well for LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032. They will be greeted at Dublin Airport this afternoon by Minister for Sport Catherine Martin and the Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne.

Martin said: “These athletes have inspired the next generation. The Government is investing heavily in sport. “We will continue to do so in the coming years, not just in the high performance system but at grassroots level.

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