Eilish Byrne’s spirits were high yesterday afternoon after placing seventh of 23 riders on the first day of the London Paralympics.

The Paralympics are underway in London this morning with several Irish athletes involved.

Ireland’s 49-strong Paralympic team will take to London’s packed arenas this week and next with good luck messages from luminaries such as Katie Taylor, Colin Farrell and the Munster Rugby team ringing in their ears.

Riders had to dip into their own pockets after expected funding for the Paralympics did not materialise, according to their chef d’equipe.

Para-equestrian riders had to dip into their own pockets, after expected funding for the Paralympics did not materialise, according to their chef d’equipe.

DENIS LYNCH, Cian O’Connor and Billy Twomey were yesterday named by Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine to be part of his squad for the Alltech World Equestrian Games, which begin next month.

ON A day that will be remembered at the Paralympic Games for the bronze medal- winning performance of Gabriel Shelly in the individual Boccia competition, Ireland’s other paralympians were not to be outdone, setting new Irish records in the velodrome, and the Water Cube.

IRISH cyclists Padraic Moran and Gay Shelly set new national records in their respective events on a day of contrasting emotions in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing yesterday.

IRELAND’S Eilish Byrne placed 11th of 18 competitors in the first of three competitions at the Paralympics in Hong Kong yesterday.