THE UNIVERSITY of Limerick has been bidding farewell to nine Irish Olympic and Paralympic athletes as they head for London.
The nine athletes include both UL students and graduates and those who use the facilities as their training base. UL president Prof Don Barry voiced his support.
“I want to wish every success to all our athletes competing in the London Olympics and Paralympics,” Prof Barry said.
“They are part of the University of Limerick community and the students and staff of the university will be supporting them whole-heartedly.”
Colin Griffin, Gráinne Murphy, Gavin Noble, Jessie Barr and Catriona Jennings will be representing Ireland at the games, while Limerick local Rachel Vanderwal will represent Britain.
Shane Ryan, James McCarthy and Jonathan McGrath will be representing Ireland at the Paralympics.
Other international Olympians who have undertaken preparatory training at UL include Jamaican hurdler Delloreen Ennis, Chilean swimmer Kristal Kobrich, Britain’s Paula Radcliffe and Kenyan distance runner Vivian Cherviyot.
The university has also recently opened Ireland’s first residential altitude-training centre.