Hall of Fame 2024 – Michael McKillop

Michael McKillop was inducted into the Paralympics Ireland Hall of Fame in 2024. McKillop will be remembered as one of the greatest Paralympians of all time having won 10 medals at major championships along with representing Ireland at 4 Paralympic Games winning 4 Paralympic Gold Medals in the process. He competed in the T37/38 class in the 1500m event and had competed in the 800m before it was removed from the Paralympic programme. The Antrim man made his major event debut at the 2006 World Championships where he claimed the Gold medal in the 800m, the first in his glittering career.

He won his first gold medal in the 800m T37 event at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, marking the beginning of his dominance in middle-distance running. At the 2012 London Paralympics, McKillop delivered a sensational performance, winning gold in both the 800m and 1500m T37 events, while also breaking world records. He added another gold medal to his collection at the 2016 Rio Paralympics by triumphing in the 1500m T37 event. In addition to his Paralympic success, McKillop has claimed multiple World Championship titles and European Championship victories, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest athletes in Paralympic history.

Hall of Fame 2022 – Catherine Walsh

Catherine Walsh was inducted into the Paralympics Ireland Hall of Fame in 2022. Catherine is a six time Paralympian (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, London 2012, Rio 2016) and has represented Team Ireland in three different sports (Athletics, Cycling and Triathlon) throughout her international sporting career, which spanned over 24 years.

In that time, Catherine won three Paralympic medals, winning her first at Sydney 2000 in the Women’s P13 Pentathlon event. It was at London 2012 where Catherine was most successful, as the Swords local brought home two medals in Para Cycling, Catherine won silver in the Individual Pursuit B and bronze in the Time Trial B, piloted by Francine Meehan.

Catherine has since gone on to be a great ambassador for Irish Para sport, and currently sits as the Chair of the Paralympics Ireland Athletes Comission.

Hall of Fame 2016 – Mark Rohan

Hall of Fame 2013 – Michael Cunningham, Bridie Lynch, Oliver Murphy

Michael Cunningham

Michael Cunningham competed with great distinction at eight Paralympic Games from 1972 in Heidelberg to the 2000 Games in Sydney. He won gold in the javelin in the 1976 Toronto Games.

Mick was an All-Star and international basketball player, as well as being the only wheelchair athlete to represent Leinster in table tennis. Overall, he was a hugely talented athlete who excelled in track, field, basketball and table tennis and he remains active in basketball as a coach. He attended the London 2012 Games as assistant table tennis coach.

Bridie Lynch

Bridie first represented Ireland at the 1983 European Athletics Championships in Varna, Bulgaria, where she won a bronze medal in discus at just 17 years old. She went on to represent Ireland in four subsequent Paralympic Games—New York 1984, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, and Sydney 2000—highlighted by a gold medal victory in discus at the Barcelona Games. In addition to her gold, Bridie also earned Paralympic silver and bronze medals in shot put and pentathlon, showcasing her versatility and exceptional talent across multiple disciplines.

Oliver Murphy

Oliver Murphy is the last living member of the first Irish Paralympic team in 1960. Oliver was one of a small team of people who, following his accident, quickly realised the importance of sport in the lives of people with a disability. Indeed he was a patient of the father of the Paralympic movement, Sir Ludwig Guttman and was inspired by the power of sport.

Upon returning from the Games in 1960, he was a founding member of the Irish Wheelchair Association and his legacy has been the formation of a 20,000 member organisation that has a network all over Ireland.

Oliver competed at the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Paralympic Games. For his huge vision with his team mates on the first team and their efforts to improve the rights of people with disabilities, he is a deserving inductee.

Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductee 2012 – Dave Malone