Ireland at the 2008 Summer Paralympics

Infobox Paralympics Ireland
games=2008 Summer
competitors= 45
sports= 9
flagbearer= Patrice Dockery
officials=
gold=3
silver=1
bronze=1
rank=36

Ireland competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. Ireland sent 45 athletes, competing in 9 sports. [ [http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/pressandpub-news-latest-article.aspx?article=a2c929fe-dfa3-47f2-b384-05ce3860af3b "IRISH PARALYMPIC TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR 2008 BEIJING GAMES"] , Irish Sports Council, July 2, 2008] The country's flagbearer at the Games' opening ceremony was Patrice Dockery. [ [http://www.pcireland.ie/latest.news.php#20080809flag "Patrice Dockery announced as Irish team flag bearer for 2008 Paralympic Games"] , Paralympic Council of Ireland, August 9, 2008]

Medallists

Archery

Sean Heary was Ireland's sole representative in this sport.

Athletics

Ireland sent ten representatives in athletics, including John McCarthy, Michael McKillop, Jason Smyth and Patrice Dockery.

Boccia

Ireland sent four representatives in boccia, including Gabriel Shelly.

Cycling

Ireland sent four representatives in cycling: Cathal Miller, Enda Smyth, Michael Delaney and Catherine Walsh. The team was managed by Denis Toomey who competed in the tandem event in Athens and made great strides in cycling in Ireland for disabled athletes

Equestrian

Eilish Byrne was Ireland's one representative, competing in dressage with horse Youri.

Football

Ireland was represented in football.

ailing

Five Irish athletes competed in the following events in sailing [ [http://www.sailing.org/24411.php "National Line Up For 2008 Paralympic Sailing Competition"] , International Association for Disabled Sailing, July 16, 2008] :
* Two-Person Keelboat - SKUD18
* Three-Person Keelboat - Sonar

wimming

Ireland sent six representatives in swimming, including Dave Malone, Ellen Keane and Darragh McDonald.

Table tennis

Ireland sent two representatives in table tennis, including Kathleen Reynolds.

ee also

*2008 Summer Paralympics
*Ireland at the Paralympics
*Ireland at the 2008 Summer Olympics

External links

* [http://en.beijing2008.com/83/66/column211716683.shtml Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Official Site]
* [http://www.paralympic.org International Paralympic Committee]
* [http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/publications/release.asp?ID=100110 "Speech by Mr Martin Cullen T.D. Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism at the announcement of the Irish Team for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games"] , Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, Irish government website
* [http://www.herald.ie/sport/other-sports/paralympics-gold-fever-1468547.html "Paralympics: Gold fever"] , "Herald", September 3, 2008

References