Smyth and McKillop will be confident of adding European titles to the world titles they claimed last year in Lyon, France, despite both recently recovering from injury.

McKillop spent a lengthy period rehabilitating a foot injury sustained after he won the IPC Athletics World Championships last year.

Smyth had been receiving treatment for ongoing tightness of his hamstring but clearly showed this is behind him when representing Northern Ireland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, despite being knocked out in the 100 metre heats after running 10.66sec.

The duo will be joined in Swansea by London 2012 Paralympic medallist throwers Orla Barry and Catherine O'Neill.

Reigning discus F57 European champion Barry will be hopeful of retaining her title, having proved her credentials in the past as a major Championship performer including bronze in the women's shot put at London 2012.

Paralympic discus silver medallist O'Neill, on the other hand, will compete in the club throw event hoping to add to her growing collection of accolades from major sporting Championships.

Catherine O'Neill will be looking to add European success to the silver medal she won in the discus at London 2012 ©Getty Images



Fellow thrower Lorraine Regan, a member of Paralympics Ireland's development panel, has been in great form of late achieving a personal best in javelin, a mark she will be hoping to improve again when the Championships get underway on Monday (August 18).

The team will be joined by wheelchair racer at 100m and 400m John McCarthy, teenage long jumper and sprinter Heather Jameson and newcomer to this level Andrew Flynn, who races in the 5,000m.

"This is a very high quality team with lots of experience; six of the eight have represented Ireland at London 2012," said Ireland's head of Paralympic Athletics James Nolan.

"I am confident that they have done the necessary preparatory work to achieve success in Swansea, for some that will be podium positions for others personal bests or seasons bests.

"Without doubt they will be competitive and rise to the challenge."

Almost 560 athletes from 39 countries will be competing at the IPC Athletics European Championships, which will be held in the Swansea University International Sports Village from August 18 to 23.

The Irish team depart on Friday (August 15).

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