Cavan’s Paul Brady is aiming for an unprecedented fifth consecutive world handball title at next month's World Championships in Calgary, Canada while Antrim's Aisling Reilly is going for two in a row.
Brady and Reilly are part of a 15-strong Irish squad that will travel to Canada to compete in the championships from 11 to 21 August .
All eyes will be on the Cavan man in Calgary as he bids for an incredible fifth consecutive Men’s Open World title, a feat that has never been achieved before and is unlikely to ever be matched again.
“I’ve put my life on hold for the past few months to prepare for this event, and the closer it gets, the more excited I become,” said Brady. “It’s hard to put into words how I feel about going for a fifth title.
“Obviously, I’m very proud of my achievements to date, but to get another world title would really cement the dream.”
Over 1,000 handballers from 20 countries will travel to Alberta’s largest city, to compete in this year’s World Championships.
Over 100 of those handballers hail from the Emerald Isle, with the15 Irish squad members having come through gruelling qualification trials earlier this year. Reilly defeated arch-rival Cork’s Catríona Casey to secure her Irish team spot and was delighted to be afforded the opportunity to represent her country again.
“Representing Ireland is a massive achievement in any code, and having captained the Irish team in 2012, I relish the honour that comes with it,” said Reilly, from the St. Paul’s GAA Club in Belfast.
“I’m really looking forward to having that honour again in Calgary and, hopefully, retaining my title.”
The Irish Team will depart on 9 August, with representatives in the U-15, U-17, U-19 and Senior grades across both the male and female one-wall and four-wall codes.
