Swim Ireland has announced a seven-strong squad to compete at the Dutch National championships in Eindhoven this week which take place from Thursday to Sunday, writes RTÉ Sport's John Kenny.
The squad comprises of Aishling Cooney, Melanie Nocher, Barry Murphy, Fiona Doyle, Karl Burdis, Lorna Cummings and Brian Harrison and will be led by national coach Keith Bewley.
The Olympic Council of Ireland has set a date of the 9 July for final nominations for the Beijing Games and the meet in the Netherlands represents one of the final opportunities to make the qualifying standard demanded by the OCI.
The OCI has, however, relaxed the demand for FINA A qualification times and could consider those close to the qualification times if they are potential London 2012 competitors.
Cooney is the closest to the standard demanded, as the 18-year-old Dublin schoolgirl recorded a time just .52 second outside the standard in the women’s 100 metres backstroke at the Irish national championships last month.
Cooney and Nocher will compete in the 50m 100m and 200m backstroke events in Eindhoven.
Barry Murphy is looking to bounce back from an indifferent European championships as he competes in the 50m and 100m freestyle as well as the 100m breastroke.
The Tennessee University-based Dubliner was hopeful of making the Olympics at the Europeans - also held in Eindhoven - but underperformed at the event. An intensive training regime back in the US is expected to yield better results.
Karl Burdis, who is the top Irish backstroker which numerous National records to his name, will swim the 50m,100m and 200m back in Holland, with Brian Harrison competing in the 100m,200m and 400m freestyle events.
Fiona Doyle will take part in the 50m freestyle, as well as the 100m and 200m breaststroke, while Lorna Cummings will compete in the 50m,100m and 200m butterfly along with the 200m and 400m medley.
