Swim Ireland athletes will kickstart their long course season this weekend at the McCullagh International at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre, with the action getting under way on Friday.
The three-day meet serves as an opportunity for Irish swimmers to race and prepare for the big domestic meet of the season, the Irish Open Championships, which are scheduled for 8-12 April at the Bangor Aurora in County Down.
That meet will act as a qualification gala for Northern Irish swimmers intending to compete in the Commonwealth Games in July, while the top Swim Ireland competitors will be gearing up for the European Aquatics Championships which will take place in Paris in August.
While Olympic medallists Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry will remain in their respective US training camps this weekend, the duo will be at the Irish Open, which is the meet designated by new Irish performance director Andy Reid as the one that elite swimmers will have to post qualification times for the Europeans in Paris.
The McCullagh International will still have a good crop of Irish and British swimmers on hand, including European short course champions Ellen Walshe and John Shortt.
Olympians Conor Ferguson, Danielle Hill, Tom Fannon, and Grace Davison are also in action over the three days, while Irish Paralympians Róisín Ní Riain, Dearbhaile Brady, Barry McClements, and Deaten Registe will also be racing at the NAC.
"As the final domestic preparation meet before April, this event carries real significance," said Reid.
"With a strong international contingent of athletes joining Ireland’s leading swimmers at the National Aquatic Centre, the level of competition promises to be intense."
"It is a chance for athletes to fine-tune race strategies, build momentum, and test themselves against quality opposition as the countdown to the Irish Open Championships and Commonwealth Games Trials continues."
The meet will also provide Irish swimmers and clubs an opportunity to battle it out for national relay titles, with heats off the blocks at 9am and the finals at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 4.30pm on Sunday.
