Teenage Paralympian's mum 'so proud' after Paris debut

Dearbhaile mum Brigid, sister Sarah and grandfather Brian were in Paris for her games debut

The mum of teenage Paralympic swimmer Dearbhaile Brady has said her family is “still in a bit of a buzz” after her daughter's personal best swim in Tuesday's final.

Dearbhaile, who made her Paralympic debut in Paris at just 17 years old, finished fifth in the final of the S6 women’s 50m butterfly final.

The swimmer from Feeney, County Londonderry, has Hypochondroplasia - a form of dwarfism- and was just 0.16 seconds off a bronze, while Ireland team mate Nicole Turner was sixth.

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme, Brigid Brady said her daughter performed incredibly well and their whole family could not be prouder of her performance.

Brother Matthew is also in Paris supporting his older sister

"She has done us all really proud as a family, and she has done herself really proud,” Brigid said.

“She came out to get into the final – she achieved that and has come out with a personal best as well," she said.

“I don’t think people have actually realised the level she is performing at, she is a high performance athlete, a European medallist.

"We talk about it, but seeing it on TV is different… seeing it, hearing it, believing it.”

Brigid added that she has really enjoyed the games in Paris and she is excited for the future and "for what’s to come".

The family, Brigid said, snatched a “quick five minutes” together after the final.

Dearbhaile, a pupil at St Patrick’s College in Dungiven, made her first major appearance for Ireland at the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester, and earlier this year won a bronze medal at the Para Swimming European Championships in Madeira.

Her brother and sister, Matthew and Sarah, as well as her mum and grandad Brian McWilliams, were poolside for Tuesday’s final.

“Matthew and Sarah got to see her as well, there were lots of hugs,” Brigid said.

'Just amazing'

Making her Paralympics debut, Brigid said, was the latest step on her swimming journey that began at primary school.

“That’s how she started, because of her height it wasn’t a sport I was pushing her into, it came naturally because the schools were doing it, it progressed then to swimming lessons in Roe Valley, and that was it.

“We are still in a bit of a buzz over all his achievements at the Paralympics, it is just amazing,” Brigid said.

The teenager has had a team chaperone in Paris because she is under 18 and her mum said that was "reassuring for me".

"She has that security and is being well taken care of , well looked after," Brigid added.

Dearbhaile will return to school in the coming weeks, her mum said, but will have one eye on next year’s world championships in Singapore.

“She tends to take things in her stride,” Brigid said.

“It’s all down to the team behind the team, the psychologists, the coaches, the support she has within Paralympic Ireland – its great as an athlete but there is a team behind the team.”