The IASA are planning to send full teams to compete at two separate World Cup events in Glasgow and Paris in February even though there is no sign of a date being fixed for the restoration of Government funding.
The issue of Government funding is expected to come sharply into focus after next month's a.g.m. of the association. "We are looking along the big nasty road and assuming that it will come to an end after the a.g.m.," said national coach Ger Doyle.
Team 2000 competitors have been notified about the World Cup events before the beginning of the long-course season and the European Championships in Istanbul next July.
Exams permitting, the IASA hope to send much larger teams to both Glasgow and Paris than was named for the recent European short-course tests at Sheffield. If needs be, the IASA is prepared to go back to the Olympic Council of Ireland for funding. The OCI's grant enabled teams to travel to the last two overseas events in Vienna and Sheffield.
Irish performances were poor in Sheffield but Doyle refused to criticise the team. He said: "I am relatively pleased with our performances in Sheffield. I don't believe in winding people up and giving swimmers false notions by saying that I think this swimmer or that swimmer will make a final when I don't believe it. You've got to be practical."
Meanwhile, it is encouraging to note Niamh Cawley's progress. The talented Claremorris swimmer has benefited from her training at the University of Bath and last weekend she smashed Irish records and lifted a string of silver and bronze medals at the British championships in Glasgow.
