PICS: Hopes high as Irish Paralympians set off for Rio

Team Ireland won eight gold medals at the 2012 Games in London – its best return in 24 years.

The bulk of Ireland’s Paralympic athletes have left for Rio today with more due to join them before the end of the month.

25 August 2016; Pictured at the Official Farewell event for members of the Irish Paralympic Team are footballers, from left to right, Ryan Walker, Brian McGillivary, Peter Cotter and Arron Tier, at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin Airport, Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile