First Athletes Announced For Team Ireland Ahead Of The European Games In Baku 2015

The first group of Irish athletes that have been selected to represent the Emerald Isle in the first ever European Games in Baku this summer have been announced today. The Games, which will be held from the 12^th to the 28^th of June this year, will see participation in 16 Olympic Sports and four non-Olympic sports. “We are very pleased to announce the first group of athletes selected to represent Ireland in Baku 2015,” said Chef de Mission Dermot Henihan. “We have been working very closely with each sport to ensure athletes have the best possible support and preparation for Baku." “The final team will have in the region of 63 athletes from 13 sports,” he continued. “It is great to see such a large number of sports achieving qualification. “We must now hope that all will achieve their best performances in Baku and who knows – we may have a few athletes on the podium.” The athletes selected today were: Team Ireland (inital selection): Basketball 3x3: Niamh Dwyer, Gráinne Dwyer, Suzanne Maguire and Orla O’Reilly. Archery: Sinead Cuthbert, Darren Wallace. Aquatics: Rory McEvoy, Mona McSharry, Rachel Bethel, Danielle Hill, Emma Reid, Andrew Moore, James Brown, Benjamin Doyle, Alan Corby, Niamh Kilgallen, Kate Baguley, Iseult Hayes, Natasha McManus. Badminton: Chloe Magee, Josh Magee, Rachel Darragh, Sarah Boyle, Scott Evans, Sam Magee. Women’s Boxing: Katie Taylor, Michaela Walsh, Ceire Smith. Judo: Eoin Fleming. Karate: Karen Dolphin. Shooting: Derek Burnett. Triathlon: Aileen Reid, Russell White, Aaron O’Brien. Wrestling: Alex Dolly, Soslan Tuaev. There will be more announcements for boxing, canoeing, cycling and gymnastics.