NAC Swim Club is looking forward to a bright 2019 

NAC Swim Club enjoyed an eventful few months leading up the end of their Short Course Season 2018. NAC is a competitive swimming club based out of the High Performance National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown, competing at local, national and international level. 

The club has been nurturing a love of swimming and a keen team spirit over the season. It hosted Breakfast Events as a ‘meet and greet’ process for swimmers, coaches, and parents of the Junior and Senior squads after swimming on a number of consecutive Saturday mornings. 

This involved fundraising for Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland, raising €615.32. The cheque was presented poolside by the 
Junior squads to the Charity RMHC, Ireland. 

NAC Swim Club hosted the first Short Course Gala of the season at the National Aquatic Centre. 

This gala is run annually with the help of officials, parents and the National Aquatic Centre management and staff, who always provide help in abundance and all voluntarily. 

The event was fun and relaxed for all members and for the 23 teams from other clubs around the country. There was plenty Personal Bests (PB) and medals on the day.

The Swim Ireland Awards 2018 proved a great success for the club. David Malone, Head Coach at NAC Swim Club, was presented with the Performance Coach of the Year award. 

The former Paralympic gold medallist won the award after guiding the swimming team to their greatest performance at the World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships. 

Clontarf native Ellen Keane, a member of the NAC Swim Club, was selected as Paraswimmer of the Year after her double medal winning performance for Team Ireland, including her gold medal on the final day of the championships. 

The Irish Para Swimming Squad that performed fantastically at the World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships 2018 was awarded a Recognition Award. 

The squad included four NAC Swim Club members – Ailbhe Kelly, Nicole Turner, James Scully and Ellen Keane.

To end a wonderful year for the Para Swimmers, Ellen Keane was nominated on the shortlist for RTE Sports Sportsperson of the Year 2018 and Nicole Turner was nominated on shortlist for RTE Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year Award 2018. 

The NAC Swim Club has been extremely proud of its Paraswimming connections and club members.     

The Short Course Swimming season culminated in the Irish National Short Course Championships in Lisburn in early December. 

There was plenty of fabulous swimming, great teamwork and support, and PBs over the four days. 

Jessica Burke took home a gold medal for 100IM, and Bronze for 400Free. Matthew Gardiner won silver in the 50Back. The weekend was a huge success for the club.

The use of the National Aquatic Centre facilities is a benefit that the NAC Swim Club does not underestimate. 

It is ever grateful and appreciative to the National Sports Campus Development Authority, and NSCDA, for pool space rental, and the support and assistance of National Aquatic Centre management and staff, of which the club have a great relationship. 

The success of the swim teams at National and International Meets, and the success of the Paralympic Swimmers at international level  is certainly assisted by their abilities to train in such amazing facilities.