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Paris is calling once more for Team Ireland as the hotly anticipated 2024 Paralympic Games gets underway in the City of Lights, with the Irish Para swim team ready to make their mark on the biggest stage of them all.

While the world watches the grand opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games, taking place in Place de la Concorde this evening, the Irish Para swim team will be putting the final touches on their preparation ahead of an electric opening day of swimming on Thursday in the La Défense Arena, with three Irish in action aiming to advance through the heats.

First out is S6 duo Nicole Turner (NAC) and Dearbhaile Brady (Limavady) in the 50m Freestyle, both swimming in heat two. Turner will look to get her third Paralympic Games off to a strong start ahead of her main event (S6 50m Butterfly) on Tuesday, 3^rd September, the same event where she won silver at Tokyo 2020.

Brady will make her Paralympic Games debut on the opening day of competition, racing alongside Turner. The Derry girl, who only made her international debut in 2023, will return to the pool on Tuesday, 3^rd September for the S6 50m Butterfly, an event where the 17-year-old won bronze at the 2024 European Para Swimming Championships, her first time on the international podium.

Also in action on the opening morning in Pairs is National Centre (Limerick) star Róisín Ní Riain, who is set to become a two-time Paralympian when she competes in the S13 100m Butterfly. Ní Riain will head into these Games full of confidence having won silver in the same event at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester.

The 19-year-old has a busy schedule featuring in four events (S13 100m Butterfly, S13 100m Backstroke, SM13 200 IM, SB 100m Breaststroke) including the S13m 100m Backstroke, an event she won gold in at the aforementioned championships last year.

Ellen Keane (NAC) will become a five-time Paralympian when she steps onto the Paralympic stage at her last Games, to defend her Paralympic title in the SB8 100m Breaststroke. The Dubliner will return to the stage for one final time on Tuesday, 3^rd September for the S9 100m Backstroke.

Lisburn’s Deaten Registe is the newest member of the Para swim team, having just made his international debut at the recent European Para Swimming Championships in Madeira in May. Registe will make his Paralympic Games debut in the SB14 100m Breaststroke on Monday, 2^nd September.

National Centre (Ulster) swimmer Barry McClements will have the longest wait to race, featuring on Day 6 (3^rd September) in the S9 100m Backstroke. The Ards local will then return to the blocks on Day 9 (6^th September) to compete in the S9 100m Butterfly. McClements will be another swimmer filled with confidence having recently won a European bronze in the 100m Butterfly (S9).

Schedule

Heats: 8:30-12:30       Finals: 16:30-20:30

Watch Live on RTÉ Two and Paralympics YouTube.

Day 1 – August 29th                   

• Dearbhaile Brady           S6 50m Freestyle
• Nicole Turner                 S6 50m Freestyle
• Róisín Ní Riain                S13 100m Butterfly

Day 2 – August 30th                   

• Róisín Ní Riain                S13 100m Backstroke
• Ellen Keane                    SB8 100m Breaststroke
• Róisín Ní Riain                S13 100m Backstroke
• Ellen Keane                     SB8 100m Breaststroke

Day 5 – September 2nd                          

• Deaten Registe                SB14 100m Breaststroke

Day 6 – September 3rd                           

• Barry McClements           S9 100m Backstroke
• Ellen Keane                     S9 100m Backstroke
• Dearbhaile Brady            S6 50m Butterfly
• Nicole Turner                  S6 50m Butterfly
• Róisín Ní Riain                SM13 200m IM

Day 8 – September 5th                           

• Róisín Ní Riain                SB13 100m Breaststroke
• Róisín Ní Riain                SB13 100m Breaststroke

Day 9 – September 6th                           

• Barry McClements          S9 100m Butterfly