Big medal haul expected at Paris Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games got underway in Paris yesterday where Cork will be represented by two athletes.

A 35-athlete strong team Ireland has made the trip to the French capital where the games will run until 8 September.

Among them are Cork’s Jessica McKenna and London-born Michael Murphy whose grandfather is from Cork. Both McKenna and Murphy will be competing in para equestrian events.

Jessica McKenna, who has hemiplegic cerebral palsy, started riding at the age of six as a form of physiotherapy.

Her international debut was in Addington 2023. Jessica will make her Paralympic debut in this year’s games.

McKenna’s first event is the Grade III Individual at 8am on 3 September.

The she competes in the Team Equestrian at 8.30am on 6 September. Depending on results in her previous event, McKenna will hope to compete in the Para Grand Prix Freestyle Test at 2.28pm on 7 September.

Michael Murphy first competed for Ireland in the Hartpury three star in 2018, marking his return to the sport following a three year hiatus after the loss of his eldest brother James in a kayaking accident. He represented Ireland at the Tokyo Games, his first Paralympics.

Murphy, a permanent wheelchair user, was born with a rare progressive disorder called Dejerine Sottas, a peripheral neuropathy which lessens reflexes, sensation, muscle tone, and motor control. He had a double spinal fusion when he was 14. His grandmother is from Belfast and his grandfather is from Cork.

Murphy will be in action first on 3 September between 10am and 7pm Irish time when he competes in the Grade I Individual.

He is in action again on 6 September in the Team Equestrian event between 10am and 6pm.

Depending on results, Murphy will hope to compete in the Para Grand Prix Freestyle Test on 7 September between 10am and 6.10pm.

Paralympics Ireland CEO Stephen McNamara said the goal is for between eight and ten medals for Ireland this year.

One of Ireland’s biggest medal prospects could be Ellen Keane in the 100m breaststroke.

This will be the 29 year old Dublin athlete’s fifth and final games.

Her entry time of 1:21.43, which secured her silver at the 2023 Worlds, ranks her fourth of the 15 swimmers in her category.

Limerick’s Roísín Ní Riain is another strong contender for a medal in both the 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly events.

She swam six different events in Tokyo and made the final in five.

Another hotly tipped medal prospect is Galway man Ronan Grimes in the 4,000m individual pursuit C4-5 road race.

A multiple medal winner at both European and World Championship level, Grimes finished agonisingly fourth in the individual pursuit at the 2021 Games.

He also went close in the time trial, finishing sixth.

Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne, wished Team Ireland well ahead of the games.

He said: “I have no doubt that each member of Team Ireland will represent our country with pride and excellence. Most importantly,

“I hope everyone on the team savours this incredible experience.

“The Paralympic Games provide an extraordinary platform for our athletes to display their talents on the global stage.

“To Team Ireland, my message is to go to Paris and give it your all, and to know that your entire nation is cheering you on,” added the minister.