Ethan Leonard from Titans has been named on the Irish team for the 7th European Para Youth Games which will be held from July 21–28, 2025, at the Cebeci Sports Complex in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Ethan will be playing on the Wheelchair Basketball team that will consist of eight players from across the country. The squad includes Conor Coughlan, Darragh O’Regan, Jack Quinn, Rory Motherway, and Oisín O’Connor from Cork, along with Conor Dufficy from Westmeath and Oran Spain from Kildare.
The EPYG is Europe’s premier multi-sport event for young para-athletes aged 12 to 23. This year’s edition will be the largest in history, featuring a record nine sports and welcoming nearly 1,500 athletes, coaches, and officials from over 35 European nations.
Team Ireland will send a delegation of 18 athletes to compete in four of the core sports at EPYG: Para Athletics, Para Swimming, Para Table Tennis, and Wheelchair Basketball. The team includes three athletes in Para Athletics, two in Para Swimming, five in Para Table Tennis, and eight in Wheelchair Basketball.
Para Athletics
Three athletes will represent Ireland in Para Athletics. Aryell Sheedy and Daire Macken, both from Castleknock, Dublin, have been selected alongside Damien Moyles from Ballinlabaun, County Mayo. All three will compete across a range of track and field events.
Para Swimming
Para Swimming will see two athletes competing for Ireland. Luke Brennan from Mount Oval, Cork, and Luke O’Donoghue from Tralee, Kerry, are both members of the Paralympics Ireland Aspire Programme, proudly sponsored by Deloitte. They recently completed their second immersive weekend with the programme and have already gained valuable international experience as part of the Irish Para Swimming team, most recently at IDM Berlin Open.
Para Table Tennis
Five athletes have been selected to compete in Para Table Tennis. Aaron Mellows and Sean Geoghegan, both from Skerries, Dublin, are joined by Jude Sheldon from Kilmore, Armagh; Kevin O’Callaghan from Mallow, Cork; and Sam Brennan from Drumcondra, Dublin.
Wheelchair Basketball
Ireland’s Wheelchair Basketball team will consist of eight players from across the country. The squad includes Conor Coughlan, Darragh O’Regan, Jack Quinn, Rory Motherway, and Oisín O’Connor from Cork, along with Conor Dufficy (Westmeath), Oran Spain (Kildare), and Ethan Leonard (Galway).
Commenting on the announcement, Paralympics Ireland President Lisa Clancy said: "This is a historic day as we announce our first ever Paralympics Ireland team to compete in at the European Para Youth Games in July in Istanbul. We wish every Irish Para athlete the very best of luck and will be supporting them all the way. The EPYG aims to be a platform for growth, education and development for young Para athletes and Paralympics Ireland are delighted to be supporting young Irish para-athletes on this journey."
Neasa Russell, Chief Operating Officer of Paralympics Ireland, said: “Sport and physical activity play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of our society, and everyone deserves the opportunity to take part. While we’ve made meaningful progress, a significant participation gap still exists between people with disabilities and those without. Events like the European Para Youth Games are more than just a competition they offer support, education, and a sense of belonging. They are essential stepping stones for young athletes. We’re incredibly proud of this team as they represent Ireland with pride, ambition, and a commitment to personal growth on the international stage.”
About the European Para Youth Games
The European Para Youth Games (EPYG) are held every two years under the governance of the European Paralympic Committee. This edition will see nine sports contested: Para Athletics, Para Swimming, Para Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia, Goalball, Para Archery, Para Judo, and Para Taekwondo. The inclusion of new sports like Para Archery and Para Taekwondo marks a significant expansion in the scale and ambition of the Games.
In addition to elite-level sport, the EPYG incorporates a Discovery Programme, designed to offer education, life skills training, and community engagement opportunities. Topics include athlete classification, mental wellbeing, anti-doping, and leadership development. The Games not only provide an international platform for competition but also play a critical role in preparing young athletes for future success on the world stage.
Team Ireland Athletes:
Para Athletics
Aryell Sheedy (Castleknock/Dublin)
Daire Macken (Castleknock, Dublin)
Damien Moyles (Ballinlabaun/Co. Mayo)
Aryell Sheedy (Castleknock/Dublin)
Daire Macken (Castleknock, Dublin)
Damien Moyles (Ballinlabaun/Co. Mayo)
Para Swimming
Luke Brennan (Mount Oval/Cork)
Luke O’Donoghue (Tralee/Kerry)
Luke Brennan (Mount Oval/Cork)
Luke O’Donoghue (Tralee/Kerry)
Para Table Tennis
Aaron Mellows (Skerries/Dublin)
Jude Sheldon (Kilmore/Armagh)
Kevin O’Callaghan (Mallow/Cork)
Sam Brennan (Drumcondra/Dublin)
Sean Geoghegan (Skerries/Dublin)
Aaron Mellows (Skerries/Dublin)
Jude Sheldon (Kilmore/Armagh)
Kevin O’Callaghan (Mallow/Cork)
Sam Brennan (Drumcondra/Dublin)
Sean Geoghegan (Skerries/Dublin)
Wheelchair Basketball
Conor Coughlan (Ballinhassig/Cork)
Conor Dufficy (Moate/Westmeath)
Darragh O’Regan (Mallow/Cork)
Ethan Leonard (Salthill/Galway)
Jack Quinn (Kilkully/Cork)
Oisin O’Connor (Bantry/Cork)
Oran Spain (Leixlip/Kildare)
Rory Motherway (Youghal/Cork)
Conor Coughlan (Ballinhassig/Cork)
Conor Dufficy (Moate/Westmeath)
Darragh O’Regan (Mallow/Cork)
Ethan Leonard (Salthill/Galway)
Jack Quinn (Kilkully/Cork)
Oisin O’Connor (Bantry/Cork)
Oran Spain (Leixlip/Kildare)
Rory Motherway (Youghal/Cork)
