UL students were among the top performers at the 2026 Irish Open Championships and Commonwealth Games Trials, held in Northern Ireland at the weekend.
Some 20 students from UL took part in Ireland’s leading swimming competition, held at the Bangor Aurora Aquatics & Leisure Centre in Bangor, Northern Ireland.
Amongst the remarkable performers were Ellie McCartney (21), Jack Cassin (22), John Shortt (19), Denis O’Brien (19), and Eoin Corby (24), who achieved standards for the Europeans and Commonwealth Games.
Several Irish senior records and championship records were also broken by UL students Jack Cassin and John Shortt.
Credit: Swim Ireland
UL swimmer, 24-year-old Eimear Doyle, medalled in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke. Doyle is currently enrolled in an MA programme and joined the UL Swim Team following a gap year from swimming competitively.
“I didn’t really know if I would actually ever compete properly again,” she said.
“Now I am really proud to say that in the 50m breaststroke, I came second in Ireland and was third in the 100m, which is something I did not expect to ever say again.
Doyle added, “to drop back down to those times and be on a podium with the world’s best Mona McSharry and Ellie McCartney is an incredible feeling.”
She explained the challenges she has faced since her comeback and hopes to inspire others to follow their goals and passions.
“I’m really proud of myself for coming back in the first place but also getting faster than I ever was before.”
The success of these athletes at the championships reflects an impressive rise in the standard of Irish swimming, which its hoped will encourage others to follow suit.
As Doyle noted, “the atmosphere of the competition was really good, one of the best I’ve seen,” adding that “everyone is really excited to qualify for the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games.’”
The Irish Open Championships is one of the most important events in the Irish swimming calendar, often used for national team selection and is a key reference point for elite performance.