12 more named in Ireland's Paralympic squad for Paris

Legendary cycling pair Katie George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal are among the 12 athletes added to Team Ireland's squad for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

The dozen confirmed today brings the team number to 24, with the remaining members to be announced next week.

Growing from the success of the Tokyo Games, the 2024 cycling contingent consists of 10 athletes, including four pilots.

Dunlevy and her pilot McCrystal have been dominant in tandem para cycling with their greatest success coming at the Tokyo Games where they enjoyed double gold and silver medal performances. This will mark their fourth Paralympic Games.

Tullamore’s Josephine Healion will be competing in her first Games, while Martin Gordon, fifth in the 1km time trial in Tokyo is set for his second Paralympics.

Galway native Ronan Grimes has been in superb form since Tokyo – he was nominated for the 2022 RTÉ Sports Person of the Year – while Rachael Timothy, an accomplished footballer with Roscommon and underage international soccer player with Ireland has been part of the cycling squad since 2018.

One of the most experienced members of the squad, Damien Vereker is poised for his third Games.

As well as McCrystal, there are three other pilots heading for Paris; Donegal’s Mitchell McLaughlin, who joined the squad in 2023, former track cyclist Eoin Mullin from the Aran Islands and Wexford native Linda Kelly.

Tokyo 2020 debutantes Britney Arendse (para powerlifting) and Kerrie Leonard (para archery) will also be competing in Paris.