McGillivary and Sheridan set for Paralympic Games
By Echo Reporter
MINISTER of State for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’ Donovan TD was on hand at Dublin Hall to announce the Irish paralympic team for the Rio 2016 Paralympics games which will take place from September 7.
The team of 44 athletes include locals Brian McGillivary from Firhouse, who is taking part in the Cerebral Palsy seven-a side, hopes to achieve success as a goalkeeper in the Rio games.
The keeper was unsuccessful in making it to the London paralympics after slipping up against the United States in a World Championship Match.
The team now consists of another local, Dillon Sheridan from Ballyfermot. Sheridan was triumphant scoring two goals against Australia and helping secure a 4-1 win.
Paralympic Performance Director David Malone from Ballinteer, spoke about the Irish Paralympic Team’s performance goals for Rio 2016:“Irish athletes will go to Rio this September and compete for glory against approximately 4,350 athletes from all parts of the world over the course of 11 days.
“The team is ready to achieve great personal and collective success at the Games, and their performances throughout the qualification process for Rio indicates that a medal target of eight for the team is achievable.
“We also anticipate a large number of finals from the team, and we are seeking career-best performances from as many of the team as possible on the biggest stage of all.”
Staff includes Niamh Buffini, co-founder of South Dublin Taekwondo with Robert Taaffe in 2008, and attendee of IT Tallaght.
Niamh began Taekwondo in 1999 and is a very successful in ITF (Irish Taekwondo-Do) and WTF (World Taekwondo Federation). She represented Ireland at the Junior World Championship, Kyorugi.
