News

The Irish Para swimming team are ready to take to the pool in Madeira, Portugal where they will compete at the biggest Para swimming event of the year before the Paralympic Games in this August.

The Madeira 2024 European Open Championships will be held from 21 to 27 April at the Funchal Olympic Pools Complex for the third time since the competition’s inaugural edition 15 years ago.

This year’s Europeans will serve as an important test for Paralympic and World Championships ahead of the Games in August. As an Open event, it will allow athletes from outside of Europe to compete and fine-tune their Paralympic preparations.

The team is made up of four Paralympians and two new Irish para swimmers. Ellen Keane, Nicole Turner, Roisin Ni Riain and Barry McClements are joined by newcomers Dearbhaile Brady and Deaten Registe to make up the six strong squad.

Brady competed at the World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester last summer, but this will be her first European Championships. Registe will also be making his European debut when he races in on Day 3.

Ni Riain has the busiest schedule by far, racing in six events over the course of the week. She will be looking to impress in the pool after winning gold in the 100m backstroke at the World Championships in 2023.

Nicole Turner will contest four events, three of those being direct finals. Teammate Barry McClements will look to reach finals in two events.

Keane has been marked as one of eight “Stars to Watch” by World Para Swimming at what will be her final European Championships with her impending retirement after the Paralympic Games in Paris this summer. She will contest the 100m freestyle and the 100m breaststroke on Days 4 and 7 respectively.

Athlete Schedule:

Róisín Ní Riain

• Day 1 (April 21): 100m Butterfly Heat – Event 6
• Day 2 (April 22): 100m Breaststroke Final – Event 44
• Day 4 (April 24): 100m Backstroke Heat – Event 76
• Day 5 (April 25): 50m Freestyle Heat – Event 107
• Day 6 (April 26): 400m Freestyle Heat – Event 110
• Day 7 (April 27): 200m IM Heat – Event 138

Nicole Turner

• Day 3 (April 23): 200m IM Heat – Event 59
• Day 5 (April 25): 50m Freestyle Final – Event 104
• Day 6 (April 26): 100m Breaststroke Final – Event 125
• Day 7 (April 27): 50m Butterfly Final – Event 143

Barry McClements

• Day 3 (April 23): 100m Butterfly Heat – Event 60
• Day 6 (April 26): 100m Backstroke Heat – Event 124

Ellen Keane

• Day 4 (April 24): 100m Freestyle Heat – Event 86
• Day 7 (April 27): 100m Breaststroke Heat – Event 129

Dearbhaile Brady

• Day 1 (April 21): 100m Backstroke Final – Event 12
• Day 3 (April 23): 200m IM Heat – Event 59
• Day 5 (April 25): 50m Freestyle Final – Event 104
• Day 7 (April 27): 50m Butterfly Final – Event 143

Deaten Registe

• Day 3 (April 23): 100m Breaststroke Final – Event 52