Tag Archives: Irish team

CONNOLLY native Aidan Clarke departs for Russia as only the third Irishman to ever compete in the men’s sabre competition in the World Fencing Championships. The event will take place from Monday next to Sunday, July 19, in the famous Olympic Stadium in Moscow. Twenty-six-year-old Aidan will compete on Monday and Tuesday in what is the largest indoor arena in Europe, seating an impressive 35,000, or more than twice the seating capacity of Thomond Park. The world championship titles will be decided between 912 men and women fencers from 108 countries and also at stake is qualification for the Rio Olympics next year. Aidan is a member of the Irish team consisting of four other athletes. Two of these are also taking part in the men’s sabre section of the competition. The sabre has a total length of 105cm, its blade is 88cm long and a hit can be made with the cutting edge, as well as the point. Qualification …

KILRUSH youngster Brendan Casey had a rather exciting trip to keep his mind off the pressure of sitting the Junior Cert at Kilrush Community School. The 14-year-old’s dart playing exploits have earned him a place on the Irish team selected to compete at an international tournament in Austria on July 16. Ironically, that’s the day before his 16th birthday. Although particularly serious about his darts since he was 11, Brendan has been throwing darts since he was a child. “I got my first set of darts when I was about four. I got them for Christmas,” he explained, adding that he practices for about two hours each evening. “Two hours a day is enough. It’s very hard to do three hours,” he said, noting that concentration and practice are the key components. There are other quality dart playing youngsters in Kilrush, including Eric Copley. While looking forward to the trip to Austria and to Hull in October, Brendan has been …