Eight Swilly Seals ASC swimmers travelled to the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin to compete in the final Swim Ireland competition of the 2022-2023 season for the country’s youth and senior swimmers.
The Irish National Youth & Senior Championships caters for competitors aged 15 and over and the five day event took place from the 26th to the 30th July.
Qualification times for this event were achieved in regional competitions prior to 12th June this year and participating at the highest level of national competition is an achievement in itself.
Isabel Du Plessis and Orlagh Faul
Swilly Seals swimmers Molly Nulty, Isabel Du Plessis, Cillian Murphy, Oran Mulligan, Aisling Nulty, Orlagh Faul, Michael Moore and Christopher O’ Donnell competed among 1,125 competitors from 118 clubs around the country.
Michael Moore and Christopher O’ Donnell
They competed in a total of 26 heats across thirteen events, achieved 19 PBs, secured places in 10 finals, were awarded six certificates of highest time improvements, two bronze Irish national medals and one gold Irish national medal.
This was also the first time for Aisling, Christopher and Isabel to compete at the Swim Ireland Summer Nationals series of meets.
Cillian Murphy started his five day event competing in the Men 15 and Over 100m Breaststroke event. He qualified for the A Final with a PB of 1:08:54, where he clocked another PB of 1.07.87, dropping 3.78 seconds overall and winning gold to become the 17 year old National Champion in this event.
Cillian Murphy – National Champion 17 year-old 100m Breaststroke and Bronze 200m Breaststroke
He would follow this up with another solid swim to claim a bronze medal in the men’s 17 year old category of the 200m Breaststroke.
The Mens 15 and Over 50m Breaststroke was an open age event with only the top ten swimmers in the country qualifying for the final. Cillian’s PB heat time of 30:23 seconds qualified him for the 50m Breaststroke Open Men’s Final, where he raced against 2012 Irish Olympian Barry Murphy, and finished in 9th place nationally.
Cillian Murphy and coach Paddy Bond
His other events of 200m Backstroke and 200m Individual Medley also yielded success in achieving PB times in the heats and finals of both events, finishing 10th overall in his 200m Backstroke – 5th fastest 17 year old nationally – and placing 9th overall in his 200m Individual Medley – 4th fastest 17 year old in the country.
Molly Nulty opened her Championship winning a bronze medal in the Women’s 18 and Over 50m Freestyle while also posting a solid PB of 26.98 in this event.
Molly Nulty – Bronze, 50m Freestyle
Taking to the pool in the 50m Backstroke open age event, Molly´s time of 30:36 secured her place in the A final, finishing 8th overall nationally. Swimming 1:00:14 in her 100m Freestyle qualified Molly in 8th position for her A Final in which she broke one minute in the 50m Long Course format competition, swimming 0:59:78, placing her 8th nationally. Her final swim in the 100m Backstroke heat afforded her another A Final, placing 8th nationally.
Aisling Nulty took to the pool in three events, and came into her own in the 100m Backstroke, age group 15, where she went out strong in her first 50 metres to secure a PB time of 1:16:93 to book her place in a B Final, finishing in 8th position.
Molly Nulty, Cillian Murphy and Aisling Nulty
Gold highest time improvement certificates were awarded to Cillian Murphy and Molly Nulty for their performances in the 200m Breaststroke and 50m Breaststroke events, and the 100m Freestyle event respectively. Molly and Orlagh Faul earned silver time improvement certificates in their 50m Backstroke events, while Oran Mulligan earned a bronze time improvement for his swim in the 50m Breaststroke.
The results achieved are testament to the dedication, commitment and hard work throughout the season by these swimmers, their coaches and families. This brings the swimming season to a close with a well deserved break and rest before the new 2023-2024 season commences.
Swilly Seals ASC is a growing club and welcomes new members. Keep an eye out on social media platforms and Swilly Seals ASC website page – www.swillyseals.ie for further information for the upcoming 2023-2024 season. Or contact membership@swillyseals.ie with specific queries.
