Róisín Ní Riain and Dearbhaile Brady Claim Double Silver for Ireland at European Para Swimming Championships in Turkey
Limerick's Róisín Ní Riain and Dearbhaile Brady delivered a memorable double silver medal performance for Ireland at the World Para Swimming European Championships in Kocaeli, Turkey on Wednesday evening, with Ní Riain setting a new lifetime best of 1:00.52 in the S13 100m freestyle final to finish just 0.31 seconds behind gold medallist Carlotta Gilli of Italy.
Background
Róisín Ní Riain has established herself as one of the most decorated Irish para-athletes of her generation. The Limerick swimmer, who competes in the S13 classification for athletes with visual impairments, arrived in Kocaeli as the defending European champion in the S13 100m backstroke and SB13 100m breaststroke — titles she won at the previous championships in Madeira. Her performances at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, where she claimed two medals, cemented her status as one of the leading figures in international para swimming.
Dearbhaile Brady has been a consistent performer on the international circuit for several years, bringing experience and technical excellence to the Irish team across multiple classification events. Her silver medal in the 200m individual medley (SM6) on Wednesday represented another significant result in a career that has seen her compete at the highest level of para swimming.
The ten-strong Irish team for Kocaeli was selected to balance experienced international performers with emerging talent. Six athletes — Ellie Lynch, Elodie Bateson, Luke O'Donoghue, Emersyn Scully, Luke Brennan, and Dylan Prenderville — made their senior international championship debuts at the event, gaining invaluable experience against top-tier European competition ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games cycle.
Key Developments
Ní Riain entered the S13 100m freestyle final as the fourth-fastest qualifier after posting a time of 1:01.85 in the morning heats. In the final, she produced a significantly improved performance, touching the wall in 1:00.52 — a new lifetime best — to claim silver behind Italy's Carlotta Gilli, who won gold in 1:00.21. Ní Riain described the race as her "first tapered 100m freestyle at a major international championship," making the lifetime best all the more impressive.
Brady's silver in the 200m individual medley (SM6) came in a closely contested final that showcased the depth of European para swimming talent. Her performance was described by Swim Ireland National Performance Director Andy Reid as "exactly the kind of result that builds the confidence and experience we need heading into the Los Angeles cycle."
Debutant Emersyn Scully also impressed, reaching the European final in the Women's 100m Backstroke (S14) and setting a new personal best of 1:16.72 during the heats. Deaten Registe secured a place in a European final alongside Ní Riain and Scully, while Síomha Nic Brádaigh achieved a fifth-place finish in her event.
Why It Matters
The double silver medal performance is the latest evidence of the depth and quality developing within Irish para swimming. The sport has undergone a significant transformation in Ireland over the past decade, driven by investment from Swim Ireland, the Paralympic Council of Ireland, and Sport Ireland, and the results are now visible at the highest level of international competition.
The presence of six debutants in the Kocaeli squad is particularly significant. Para swimming has historically struggled with athlete retention and development pathways in Ireland, but the current generation of emerging talent suggests that the pipeline is in better health than at any previous point. The experience gained in Turkey will be invaluable as these athletes prepare for the 2027 World Championships and, ultimately, the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
For Ní Riain specifically, the lifetime best in the 100m freestyle — an event outside her primary classification at the Paralympics — demonstrates a breadth of ability that augurs well for her continued development. She remains the central figure in Irish para swimming, but the performances of Brady, Scully, and others suggest she will have strong company at the top of the sport in the years ahead.
Local Impact
In Limerick, Ní Riain's continued success at international level has had a tangible effect on participation in para swimming. The University of Limerick, where she trains, has seen increased interest in its para swimming programme, and local clubs across the Mid-West have reported growing numbers of young swimmers with disabilities seeking to follow in her footsteps. The visibility that comes with European championship medals plays a direct role in inspiring the next generation of para athletes.
Swim Ireland has indicated that the Kocaeli results will inform its selection and development planning for the remainder of the 2026-27 season, with the World Championships and the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games providing the key targets for the squad's most experienced members.
What's Next
The World Para Swimming European Championships in Kocaeli conclude on September 12. Ní Riain is expected to compete in her primary events — the S13 100m backstroke and SB13 100m breaststroke — in the remaining days of competition, where she will be defending her European titles. The Irish team will return home in mid-September before the focus shifts to the 2027 World Championships qualification cycle.
