Ballyshannon woman is Irish swimming coach at EYOF

Swimming coach Sinead Donagher from Ballyshannon is in Slovenia with the Ireland team at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) this week.

A team of six Irish swimmers are in Maribor as part of a 42-strong Ireland team.

The swimming squad is led by Michael McCarthy while Sinead - who is the swim co-ordinator at the Finn Valley Leisure Centre - is a coach to the team.

Sinead has been at several international events with Irish squads, but this is her first time at the EYOF.

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The Irish team includes Portmarnock’s Ava Jones, Niamh Connery of Shark SC in Galway, Bangor Swim Club’s Brydan Byrne and Gene Smyth, Denis O’Brien who swims out of the National Centre in Limerick and Glenalbyn’s Sean Donnellan.

The swimming takes place at the Pristan Swimming Centre and will see Sinead add to her considerable experience that also includes the World School Games, the Geneva International and Scottish Internationals.

Her daughter Cora Rooney competed at the recent European Junior Championships in Belgrade and son Eoin Rooney is set to take part in the European Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in September in Italy.

The EYOF is a prestigious event that plays an important role in the overall development of athletes, as it mimics the Olympic Games model, preparing athletes for the nuances of performing in a multi-sport environment.

This year’s event sees 48 countries across Europe participate in the event, with approximately 3,600 athletes competing.