By Gary Anderson

October 4 - Eight-time Paralympian and 1976 javelin gold medallist Michael Cunningham has been inducted into Paralympics Ireland's Hall of FameParalympics Ireland inducted three of the country's greatest athletes, Bridie Lynch, Michael Cunningham and Oliver Murphy into its Hall of Fame at the official dinner of the 10th European Paralympic Committee (EPC) General Assembly and Conference in Dublin.

Lynch, Cunningham and Murphy were honoured for the achievements in Paralympic sport alongside Jimmy Byrne, Tony Guest and Brenda Green, who were all recognised for their lifetime contributions to Paralympic sport in Ireland by being awarded the Irish Paralympic Order, the highest honour bestowed by the organisation.

Murphy is the last living member of the first Irish team that competed at the first Paralympic Games at Rome in 1960 and was a patient of the founder of Sir Ludwig Guttman, founder of the Paralympic Movement, following an industrial accident in 1959 which left the man from County Louth paralysed from the waist down.

Following his return from Rome, Murphy help to set up the Irish Wheelchair Foundation before going on to appear at three further Paralympic Games at Tokyo 1964, Tel Aviv 1968 and Heidelberg 1972, competing in weightlifting, basketball and archery.

Lynch, from County Donegal, represented Ireland at four Paralympic Games, making her first appearance at New York 1984, going on to win discus gold at Atlanta 1996, where she also claimed shot put bronze, while at Barcelona 1992, she bagged silver medals in the discus and pentathlon events.

Atlanta 1996 gold medallist Bridie Lynch receives her award from EPC President John PeterssonAtlanta 1996 gold medallist Bridie Lynch receives her award from EPC President John Petersson



















Cunningham, who attended the 2012 London Games as Ireland's assistant table tennis coach, has competed at eight Paralympic Games spanning 28 years, from his first appearance at Heidelburg 1972 to Sydney 2000.

The former international wheelchair basketball player competed in athletics and wheelchair table tennis at the Paralympics, managing to secure a gold medal in the javelin at the 1976 Toronto Games.

"In terms of the Hall of Fame, Michael Cunningham is a legend, who could pick up any sport and be good at it," said Paralympics Ireland President, James Gradwell, who was joined at the special dinner in the Guinness Storehouse by EPC President John Petersson and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) chief  Sir Philip Craven.

"He's a natural and he is so good at bringing people on.

"Bridie Lynch will be remembered forever for her gold medal in Atlanta.

"And Oliver Murphy is the sole survivor from our very first team in 1960.

"He's a fellow Drogheda man so that one in particular gives me great pride."

The first of the recipients of the Irish Paralympic Order award, Byrne was recognised for a lifetime of dedication to disability sport in Ireland which has seen him involved in coaching and administrative roles from beginner level right up to becoming the Chef de Mission for the Irish team at Beijing 2008.

As well as holding the position of President of the Irish Paralympic Council through the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympic cycles, Guest was involved in Irish Blind Sports - recently re-launched as Vision Sports Ireland (VSI) - for 35 years as a guide runner, before becoming a national coach and team manager at major events.

Award winners on the night: Back row left to right: Jimmy Byrne, Brenda Green, Bridie Lynch, Tony Guest and front row Oliver Murphy and Michael CunninghamAward winners on the night: Back row left to right: Jimmy Byrne, Brenda Green, Bridie Lynch, Tony Guest and front row Oliver Murphy and Michael Cunningham



























Brenda Green was a founding member of Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland in 1978, and has been involved with the governing body of Paralympics Ireland since its inception as a coordinating body in 1987, as well as being an official on the Irish Paralympic team at four Paralympic Games.

Green was an official classifier at the Barcelona 1992 Games and was responsible for introducing the sports of football seven-a-side and boccia to Ireland.

"The Irish Paralympic Order is our highest honour and again, I am very pleased to be in a position to honour this particular trio," said Gradwell.

"Jimmy Byrne has been involved for so long, developing athletes and he's still training young prospects.

"He was a great help to me too over the years so I'm delighted he is being honoured.

"Tony Guest is a past President, so he's been there and done that.

"Brenda Green has 35 years involvement from grassroots level right up to the Paralympics, until her retirement this year.

"They are all very deserving and for me as President, because I know them, it's an honour to be involved in recognising them for their work on behalf of the Paralympic movement in Ireland."

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