Irish Wheelchair Association Sport (IWA-Sport) is proud to announce the outstanding success of Cork natives Ruairí Devlin, Kinsale, and Niamh Buckley, Ballydesmond, along with their teammate Casey Fitzgerald, Mullagh, Co Cavan, at the recent Fazza Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai. The trio of athletes returned home with a total of 3 gold medals and 3 lifetime best lifts, showcasing their talent and dedication on the international stage.
Ruairí, Niamh and Casey have been making waves in the para powerlifting world with their consistent and solid performances. Accompanied by a dedicated coaching and management team, including Denver Arendse, Declan Nyhan, Aileen Buckley and head coach Roy Guerin, the athletes represented Ireland with pride and determination.
IWA-Sport is the national governing body in Ireland for Para Powerlifting, Wheelchair Basketball, and Wheelchair Rugby, providing opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities to excel in sports from a grassroots level through to the Paralympic Games.
The Fazza Para Powerlifting World Cup, now in its 13th year, is a highly competitive event that offers valuable ranking points for athletes aiming for a spot in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. The Irish team, which also included Britney Arendse, Mullagh, Co. Cavan, and Sean Hughes, Dunboyne, Co Meath, due to return later today, demonstrated their strength and skill as they competed against top international competitors.
Gold medallist Niamh Buckley expressed her joy at the event, stating, “I'm delighted to be coming home with a Next Gen gold medal and a new personal best. There's still lots to work on, but I'm glad to be making gains!” Ruairí Devlin, also returning with a gold medal, thanked his coaches and support staff, saying, “It is great that my hard work paid off, but the job isn’t finished yet. Bring on the next competition!”
The success of Ruairí, Niamh, and Casey highlights the talent and dedication of Irish para powerlifters and brings pride to Cork and Cavan and the entire country. IWA-Sport is appreciative of the funding support from Paralympics Ireland towards the programme and congratulates the athletes on their achievements and looks forward to supporting them on their journey to future competitions.

Photo: Hiroki Nishioka