Rome 1960 was the first ever Paralympic Games. The historic Games grew from the famous Stoke Mandeville games and marked the next evolution of what the games would become in subsequent years.

The first Irish team to compete at the games comprised of 5 athletes; Oliver Murphy, Fr. Leo Close, Jimmy Levins and Jack Kerrigan. The fifth member of the team was Joan Horan. Joan holds the honour of being the first Irish athlete to win a medal at the Paralympic Games. Not only did Joan win Ireland’s first medal, she also won our second and to make it even better, both medals were golds.

Joan’s gold medals came in Archery and Swimming.

Shortly after the event the team were greeted by Pope John XIII.