Nolan predicting medals return from Irish paralympians

IRISH paralympic team manager James Nolan is predicting a return of at least two medals from the IPC world championships, which take place in Christchurch from January 21-30.

Although injury has ruled out Ireland’s most prolific Paralympic athlete Jason Smyth, the Derry man who made history by becoming the first Paralympian to compete in a European athletics championships and went on to reach the semi-final of the 100m in Barcelona last year, the team still possesses two strong favourites in 800m world record holder Michael McKillop from Newtonabbey and Cork’s discus champion, Orla Barry.

The eight-strong team is en route to New Zealand today to acclimatise for the championships and two-time Olympian Nolan, who is Head of Paralympic athletics in Ireland, is very upbeat.