It's the week before the Irish Open Championship and Mona McSharry is back on home soil in the village of Grange.
The 2024 Olympic bronze medallist in the 100m breaststroke will be amongst the many competitors heading to Bangor where reaching the standard for this summer's European Championships will be the aim.
"I think I'm pre-qualified but I have to swim the standards again," said McSharry, in a somewhat carefree tone, as she spoke to the media in advance of the five-day meet.
The Sligo swimmer, you would have to say, seems content with her lot. A new chapter in her career, post that joyous occasion where she claimed a bronze in the French capital two summers ago, is now in train.
In many respects the road to that night had been planned out.
"I had made a commitment to myself at the age of 12, 13, that I was going to try and podium at Paris 2024," McSharry revealed.
Of course, there were highs and lows along the way and in 2022 there was that descent into a trough.
A feeling of unhappiness took hold, the tears flowed, and she came to the conclusion that she hated swimming. Seeking help from those closest to her helped her out the other side.
At the age of 25 and with an Olympic medal to her name, McSharry is now a seasoned campaigner. She is enjoying this new chapter, a period that began with a road trip across the west coast of America in a camper van.
"Making it through the planned portion of my career and coming out the other side is now very liberating," she added.
"In 2022 I came to the realisation that I did not love swimming as much as I used to, that it was not the be-all and end-all of my life.
"I thought after 2024 I would be ready to move on and do the next thing, didn't think I had another four-year block in me. I still know that swimming is not everything but I also know now that I still love it.
"The daily discipline has become such a routine and it's not mentally as hard as it used to be.
"Holding myself to a high standard has become easier because of the life I live now. That makes it easier, as I have more mental capacity to pour into being really good in training.
"It is a maturing, moving through the sport and gaining so much knowledge, learning from the ups and downs, experiencing the rollercoaster of being in a high place and then in a lower place. That is sport, you are never going to move through it linearly, and experiencing that has given me a lot more wisdom.
"I am as dedicated and committed to swimming fast, always shooting to do better. But there's less stress or pressure. I just feel so light, that’s the only way I can describe it. And I’m trying to channel that as long as I can."
McSharry's time in the University of Tennessee will soon be coming to an end as she completes her master's in leadership and communication, this after gaining a primary degree in kinesiology (study of the mechanics of body movements).
The decision to do an extra year in college further reignited the desire to push on after her Paris exploits.
She said: "The college offered me another year of scholarship to race, so I was definitely going to do that. I loved the training block I did from April 2025 into the summer, really had a lot of fun training before the World Championships. There was no part of me that did not enjoy that period.
"Then I decided to do another year, compete in World Cups and see how that goes. I've been really loving it so far, especially the way I'm feeling now about training."
And as for competing at a third Olympics, well there was nothing definite when McSharry was asked about LA 2028, though loving all those training blocks was more than a hint that she may attempt to medal on the biggest stage yet again.
"I've come to the decision this year that 2028 might be on the books," the noteworthy response to what her intentions might be.
"Loving the training aspect, you need that leading up to the Olympics.
"I'm still leaving it open in that if I turn around tomorrow and want it to be done, than I will let myself do that. I don't want to push through if I'm not enjoying it - but I do see myself racing in 2028, especially going the way I feel right now about training."
For now, "the plan is to be around my best," McSharry remarked, when setting a target for those upcoming races in Bangor.
Preparation has gone well, this after competing at several World Cup meetings from September to December, all with the aim of securing another medal as she returns to Paris for the Europeans in August.
"I have been swimming really fast in training and so we've got a really good block under out belt from January till now. After the Olympics, the goal was to make finals at the Worlds and now you want to make finals at Europeans, with potentially getting a place on the podium. I think that is a possibility for me.
"There are a lot of fast racers in Europe so it will be a tight race, but the goal is to get through each round and make a final, get into that top eight and then see who can get their hands on the wall first.
"I'm pushing for those podium positions and I have the potential to do that."
Another date of interest in the McSharry diary is 14 April, a day that will see her conferred with the Freedom of County Sligo.
"A lot of people will be in attendance and I'm really looking forward to it," says the recipient.
"It's a great opportunity to catch up with people that I may not see when I normally come home. It will be nice to catch up in a group setting like that."
