Irish President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to Team Ireland on their outstanding performance at the London Paralympic Games.

Ireland’s Paralympic team took a break from the medal trail yesterday after six positively greedy days here in London but the pursuit will resume today when Mark Rohan and Jason Smyth attempt to double up on golds claimed earlier this week.

This was the weekend that kept on giving for Team Ireland as our Paralympians lifted the country’s medal haul to a magnificent seven.

President Michael D Higgins has said that Ireland’s medal-winning Paralympians are a symbol of the team’s determination.

President Michael D Higgins is leading the tributes to members of the Irish Paralympic team on their "outstanding" medal-winning performances at the London games.

The Taoiseach has congratulated the swimmer Bethany Firth on becoming the first Irish person to win a gold medal for Ireland at the 2012 London Paralympics.

When Bethany Firth touched the wall after one minute and 8.93 seconds of the 100m backstroke S14 final shortly before 8pm last night she thought she had done enough to win a bronze.

Dusk was falling on day two of the 2012 Paralympic Games in London last night with Team Ireland still striving for their first medal.