Every member of the 49-strong team has made the journey, in addition to a support team consisting of 47 coaches and volunteers.

Around 1,000 members of the Irish public turned out to see the team off in Dublin.

Ireland's biggest medal hope comes in the form of Jason Smyth (pictured below, centre), the reigning double Paralympic sprint champion.

The 24-year-old visually impaired athlete from Derry set two world records when he claimed gold medals in the finals of the T13 100 and 200 metres at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, and only just missed out on qualifying for the 100m at the London 2012 Olympics.

Smyth will be strong favourite to replicate his Beijing triumphs at the London 2012 Paralympics and is one of two reigning Paralympic champions in the Irish team along with T37 800m star Michael McKillop.


The 22-year-old from Ballymena is also a double world champion over the distance and, like Smyth, is strongly tipped to defend his Paralympic title.

McKillop is also one of five reigning world champions in the team alongside F51 discus thrower Catherine O'Neill, H1 time trial and road race cyclist Mark Rohan, 3km female tandem pursuit cyclist Catherine Walsh and C2 road time trial and road time trial cyclist Colin Lynch.

Liam Harbison, the chief executive of Paralympics Ireland and Chef de Mission of the Irish team for the Paralympics said: "The bottom line is the best laid plans all come down to critical moments to determine success and failure.

"Our job as a National Paralympic Committee is to create the correct environment, appoint the most effective support team and implement the optimum service support plan to allow the athletes to perform on their day of delivery.

"Our job is nearly done, as when the gun goes only the athlete can influence their ultimate outcome."

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