Gala Report: Connacht/Leinster Long Course Age Group Championships 2025

Date: Fri 23, Sat 24, Sun 25 May 2025 Location: University of Limerick

The 2025 Connacht Championship took place was hosted by Swim Connacht as a combined age group gala over three days. Connacht swimmers were racing for superfinal places, as well as individual Connacht and Leinster finals.

Highlights of the Event

• 11 Shark Swimmers represented club squads from White to Silver, competing in 42 events over the weekend

Swimmers' Performance – the 2025 Connacht Age Group Champions Listing

Shark performance over the three days was excellent with 7 Connacht GOLD medals and Connacht Champion titles claimed in the following events:

Our 12yr old white squad swimmer Alise Fabriciusa raced brilliantly through heats and finals, always with a smile, picking up an impressive 3 Connacht titles over the weekend. Alise won Gold in 200m Backstroke, 200m IM, and 200m Freestyle. She went on to take Silver in 100m Freestyle, and 100m Backstroke, and Bronze in 50m Free.  Six heats, six finals, six medals, well done Alise!

Silver squad Malachy Glynn had 3 swims, 3 PB’s and 3 medals, 2 of those Gold. Malachy touched the wall in 1.06sec for 100m Butterfly to take Gold, and in 1.01sec for 100m Freestyle Gold. His 50m Free time of 27.59 secured silver, missing first place by just the tiniest margin.

Well done Ronan Henihan (Blue squad) taking home Bronze in 100m Butterfly, and sister Aisling (White squad) who had a super first Connacht final, and a Silver medal in 100m Breaststroke. Mason Cunningham Flaherty impressed taking Bronze in the 13-14yr 100m Breaststroke, and some great racing all weekend. Blue hat Rory Banks had an impressive 4 PB’s out of 5 races this weekend, and Tadgh Kennedy (White squad) secured three PB’s from 3 races.

Special mention to James Coll, Blue squad, who really had a Friday evening of champions, swimming 800 Free followed by 400IM and taking home silver in both events. James was back again Saturday and Sunday, to take first place in 200IM and bronze in 200 Free, with an impressive 6 PB’s over the weekend. Sam Devitt, White squad, also listed 6 PB’s with some incredible swimming at his first Connacht championship. Sam took home Gold and the Connacht title for 200m Breaststroke, silver for 200IM, another silver for 200m Freestyle, and bronze in both 50m Free, and 100m Butterfly!

A format of heats and finals is a test of endurance & determination, and this was a first for some of our younger swimmers who showed impressive energy all day.

Congrats to our new Connacht Champions, and to all who made the weekend so much fun.

Coaches/Captains' Remarks

Huge thanks to Ross and Michael for their super coaching and encouragement all weekend.

Next Up

This officially concludes the Connacht senior racing calendar for 2025 until July, when we will power through Irish Summer Nationals. Our qualified swimmers are back in the pool and working hard to ensure optimum performance in July. We’ll circulate photos and more information closer to the time. Go Shark!