Paralympics Ireland is the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) for Ireland, recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and is responsible for preparing and managing the Irish team at the Paralympic Games which are held every four years in parallel with the Olympic Games. The membership is comprised of 21 National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of sports on the Paralympic Programme including a combination of disability specific multi-sport NGBs and sport specific NGBs
The Paralympic Council of Ireland was established in 1987 as the National Paralympic Committee for Ireland and is responsible for preparing and managing the Irish team at the Paralympic Games which are held every four years in parallel with the Olympic Games.
Previously, responsibility for sending the Irish Team to the Paralympic Games rested with the three disability specific organisations; Irish Wheelchair Association Sport, Irish Blindsport and Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland. The establishment of the Paralympics Council of Ireland brought the preparation and management of Irish Teams for the Paralympic Games under one umbrella organisation in line with international best practise.
In 2005 the organisation rebranded to become Paralympics Ireland, the modern, world leading sports organisation that we have come to know. Ireland has played an important role in the development and promotion of Paralympic sport. Some of the greatest stars ever to compete at the Paralympic Games have done so in the green of Ireland. In recent years athletes like Jason Smyth, Michael McKillop, Mark Rohan, Ellen Keane, Dave Malone, Catherine Walsh, Katie George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal and Róisín Ní Ríain amongst many others have emerged as global superstars.
An Irish team has represented Ireland at the Paralympic Games at every games since the first in 1960. At those games in 1960 Ireland won two medals, both thanks to Joan Horan. Joan, won gold in two different events, archery and swimming. Those first games took place in Rome where Joan competed as part of a 5 person Irish team including, Oliver Murphy, Fr. Leo Close, Jimmy Levins and Jack Kerrigan. After the games the Irish team were welcomed to an audience with Pope John XIII.
Ireland competed at the 1964 Games in Tokyo and again in Tel Aviv in 1968 but this was to prove to be the only Paralympic Games at which Ireland failed to win any medals. The record of the Irish team since then has been outstanding as the team have won no fewer than 233 medals to date including 70 Gold, 68 Silver and 95 Bronze medals.
The most successful games that Team Ireland have enjoyed to date came in 1984 at Stoke Mandeville and New York. Stoke Mandeville had been the spiritual home of Paralympic Sport up to 1960 having hosted the Stoke Mandeville Games from 1948 making these games a fore runner of the Paralympic Games. The 1984 games saw Ireland claim an incredible haul of 66 medals from the 53 strong Irish team. Ireland won 20 gold, 15 silver and 31 bronze at the jointly hosted games.
There have been many incredible moments throughout the history of Paralympics Ireland that will live long in the memory. However, London 2012 will be viewed as one of the most significant times in the history of Paralympic sport as the London Games exposed the sport to a new level of interest and popularity. The Irish team delivered a series of fantastic performances in London and brought 16 medals back across the Irish Sea including 8 gold medals, 3 silver and 5 bronze. One of the moments of the games in 2012 was as tears streamed down the cheeks of Michael McKillop who was surprised by his mother who presented him with his gold medal.
At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Team Ireland delivered an impressive performance, securing a total of 11 medals: four gold, four silver, and three bronze. Jason Smyth won gold in the Men’s 100m T13 sprint, while Michael McKillop triumphed in the Men’s 1,500m T37. Cyclist Eoghan Clifford claimed gold in the Men’s C3 Time Trial and bronze in the Men’s C1-3 Road Race, while Katie-George Dunlevy, alongside her pilot Eve McCrystal, secured gold in the Women’s B Time Trial and silver in the Women’s B Road Race. Colin Lynch earned silver in the Men’s C2 Time Trial, and discus throwers Niamh McCarthy (F41) and Orla Barry (F57) each won silver. Swimmer Ellen Keane captured bronze in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB8, while Noelle Lenihan also earned bronze in the Women’s Discus F38.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) were a challenging time of uncertainty. However, Team Ireland delivered a commendable performance, securing a total of seven medals: four gold, two silver, and one bronze. Cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy and her pilot Eve McCrystal were standout performers, capturing two gold medals in the Women’s B Time Trial and Road Race, and a silver in the B 3000m Individual Pursuit on the track. Swimmer Ellen Keane earned gold in the SB8 100m Breaststroke, while fellow swimmer Nicole Turner secured silver in the S6 50m Butterfly. Sprinter Jason Smyth continued his dominance by winning gold in the T13 100m, maintaining his unbeaten record at the Paralympics. This also marked his final competitive appearance. He announced his retirement from Para Athletics on March 29, 2023, concluding an illustrious, undefeated career that spanned four Paralympic Games and included six gold medals in the 100m and 200m events.
At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Team Ireland delivered a strong performance, securing six medals: one gold, three silver, and two bronze. Cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy, alongside her pilot Linda Kelly, won gold in the Women’s B Time Trial, marking Dunlevy’s third consecutive victory in this event. Swimmer Róisín Ní Riain announced herself on the world stage, claiming silver in the Women’s S13 100m Backstroke and bronze in the SM13 200m Individual Medley. Sprinter Orla Comerford also made an impact, winning bronze in the T13 100m final with a time of 11.94 seconds, her first Paralympic medal.
