Connect with us

Sports

Askeaton Swimming Club welcomes Ireland’s leading international swimmers to Askeaton Pool

Published

2 weeks ago

on

Askeaton Swimming Club welcomes Ireland’s leading international swimmers to Askeaton Pool

Olympic swimming stars make a splash as Askeaton Swimming Club welcomed three of Ireland’s leading international swimmers to Askeaton Pool

Askeaton Swimming Club welcomes Ireland’s leading international swimmers to Askeaton Pool
The event gave the participating swimmers a rare opportunity to learn directly from athletes who have represented Ireland at the highest level.

Askeaton Swimming Club welcomed three of Ireland’s leading international swimmers to Askeaton Pool on Friday evening, 21 August, for a special swimming clinic that brought Olympic and European success to the heart of the local community.

Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry, Olympic finalist Ellen Walshe and two-time Olympian and European Champion Danielle Hill travelled to Askeaton to run a clinic for swimmers from Askeaton and other swimming clubs, while the evening also had a particularly strong local connection with Askeaton Swimming Club’s Robert Sheahan, a triple gold medallist at the 2026 European Transplant Games, joining the visiting stars.

The event gave the participating swimmers a rare opportunity to learn directly from athletes who have represented Ireland at the highest level.


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement

The young swimmers took to the pool under the direction of Mona, Ellen and Danielle, who guided them through the clinic, sharing their knowledge, experience and advice throughout the session. They also spoke about the training, commitment and perseverance behind their achievements.

Olympic swimming stars make a splash as Askeaton Swimming Club welcomed three of Ireland’s leading international swimmers to Askeaton Pool
The occasion carried added significance for Askeaton Swimming Club following its long-awaited return to its home pool after almost three years away.

Sligo native Mona McSharry is a two-time Olympian who made history at Paris 2024 when she won bronze in the 100m breaststroke, becoming Ireland’s first Olympic swimming medallist in 28 years.

Mona arrived in Askeaton fresh from further international success at the 2026 European Aquatics Championships in Paris, where she added three European medals to her impressive collection.

Ellen Walshe, also a two-time Olympian, reached the final of the 400m Individual Medley at the Paris Olympics and has represented Ireland with distinction at World and European level. Ellen’s visit came just days after an outstanding European Championships, where she was crowned double European Champion, winning gold in both the 200m and 400m Individual Medley.

Completing the Olympian trio was Danielle Hill, one of Ireland’s leading backstroke and freestyle swimmers. Danielle became the first Irish woman to break the one-minute barrier for the 100m backstroke and was crowned European Champion in the 50m backstroke in 2024. She has represented Ireland at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games.

Alongside the Olympians was local swimmer Robert Sheahan, whose own journey in swimming is every bit as inspirational.

Alongside the Olympians was local swimmer Robert Sheahan, whose own journey in swimming is every bit as inspirational. Following a life-saving double lung and liver transplant in 2019, Robert went on to represent Ireland at the 2026 European Transplant Games in the Netherlands.

Representing Ireland and his home club of Askeaton, Robert returned with an extraordinary three European gold medals, winning the 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle.

For Robert, however, his achievements in the pool are about much more than medals. He is passionate about using his story and his involvement in sport to highlight the life-changing importance of organ donation and to honour the donor and donor family who gave him a second chance at life. Robert hopes his journey can encourage people to have the conversation about organ donation with their families and show just what can be possible following transplantation.

Bringing Robert together with Mona, Ellen and Danielle gave the young swimmers four very different examples of what can be achieved through determination, resilience and commitment to sport.

Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry, Olympic finalist Ellen Walshe and two-time Olympian and European Champion Danielle Hill travelled to Askeaton to run a clinic for swimmers

The occasion carried added significance for Askeaton Swimming Club following its long-awaited return to its home pool after almost three years away. Welcoming athletes of this calibre to Askeaton marked another important moment in the club’s return, while giving swimmers from Askeaton and visiting clubs an experience few young swimmers get to enjoy.

Askeaton Swimming Club expressed its gratitude to Mona McSharry, Ellen Walshe and Danielle Hill for giving their time so generously and for the encouragement and advice they shared with the swimmers throughout the clinic.

For the club, welcoming three of Ireland’s Olympians alongside one of Askeaton’s own European gold medallists was a fitting celebration of Irish swimming at both international and local level — and an evening the participating swimmers will remember for years to come.

The young swimmers took to the pool under the direction of Mona, Ellen and Danielle, who guided them through the clinic, sharing their knowledge, experience and advice throughout the session.
Related Topics:

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.