Irish Wheelchair Association-Sport is proud to announce the departure of its largest-ever para powerlifting team to compete in the 2023 World Championships in Dubai.
Pictured are IWA-Sport Para Powerlifting Team who travelled to Dubai to compete in the World Championships on Friday evening.
18 August 2023; Attendees, back row, from left, Aileen Buckley, from Ballydesmond in Cork, Sean Hughes, from Dunboyne in Meath, Tadhg Buckey, from Ballydesmond in Cork, and Denver Arendse, from Mullagh in Cavan, and front row, from left, Casey Fitzgerald, from Mullagh in Cavan, Ruairí Devlin, from Kinsale in Cork, Rory Guerin, from Tralee in Kerry, Angela Long, from Togher in Cork, Nicola Dore, from Kilcornan in Limerick, Britney Arendse, from Mullagh in Cavan, and Niamh Buckley, from Ballydesmond in Cork, pictured at Dublin Airport as Irish Wheelchair Association Sport sends largest Irish Para Powerlifting Team to the 2023 World Championships in Dubai.

Irish Wheelchair Association-Sport is proud to announce the departure of its largest-ever para powerlifting team to compete in the 2023 World Championships in Dubai. The team’s departure from Dublin Airport on Friday evening was met with great excitement and anticipation.

Notably, this team not only represents the largest contingent of Irish athletes to participate in the Games but also boasts the largest female representation to date. The team is composed of Ruairi Devlin, 19, Niamh Buckley, 18, and Angela Long, 48, from Cork, Casey Fitzgerald, 18, and Britney Arendse, 24, from Cavan, Nicola Dore, 35, from Limerick, and Sean Hughes, 25, from Meath. Accompanying them is Head Coach Roy Guerin, hailing from Cork.

The World Championships mark a major milestone for two aspiring Paralympians – Niamh Buckley, the youngest member of the team at just 18 years old, and Britney Arendse, 24, both of whom are vying for a place in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris next year.

“IWA-Sport is immensely proud to be sending our largest-ever team to the Para Powerlifting Games,” shared Head Coach, Roy Guerin. “This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication our athletes have put into preparing for this momentous event. We are incredibly excited and ready to compete.”

Expressing her elation, Niamh Buckley said, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to represent Ireland at the World Championships. I have poured my heart and soul into my training, and I am extremely grateful for the support I have received from my coach and my family. I can’t wait to step onto the stage and give it my all.”

Also speaking from Dublin Airport, Niamh Buckley added, “I know the competition will be intense in Dubai, but I am confident that my training and previous experience competing in Tokyo in 2020 have prepared me well. I will stay focused and give everything I have.”

Irish Wheelchair Association-Sport encourages everyone to follow the team’s journey during the World Championships. Timetables and live results can be accessed at www.paralympic.org/powerlifting/live-results . Additionally, highlights from the event will be shared on IWA-Sport’s social media channels, which can be found at @IWA-Sport.