Another Kilkenny cyclist is heading to Paris this summer!

Kilkenny's French focus has grown even greater after another sport star was picked for Team Ireland at the Summer Games.

Damien Vereker became the latest local athlete selected to represent Ireland at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The Kilkennyman was one of 12 extra athletes named across three sports - para cycling, para powerlifting and archery - to represent Ireland this summer. The addition of these athletes brings the team size to 24 named so far, with the remaining members of the team to be announced on August 1.

Growing from the success of the Tokyo Games, this year’s Para cycling contingent consists of 10 athletes, including four pilots.

"We are excited to name such a strong and experienced team for the upcoming Paralympic Games," said Cycling Ireland National Para-cycling Coach Jamie Blanchfield. "It is always an honour to represent your country, especially on what is the biggest stage in the world. Their dedication and hard work exemplify the spirit of Irish Para-cycling and we are very much looking forward to seeing them perform at their highest level in Paris."

Track racing gets underway on the first day of the Games, running from August 29 until September 1. The road events will start on Wednesday, September 4 and conclude on Saturday, September 7. The track events will be in the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome and the road events will take place in Clicky-Sous-Bois in Seine-Saint-Denis.

Paralympics Ireland have added 12 athletes to their team who will compete at Paris 2024 this summer from August 28 to September 8. Pictured at Irish Sport HQ in Blanchardstown, Dublin were, back row (from left:) Mitchell McLaughlin, Eve McCrystal and Eoin Mullen, with middle row, from left, Linda Kelly, Josephine Healion, Katie-George Dunlevy and Richael Timothy. Front row: Ronan Grimes, Juno the Dog and Damien Vereker. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

An experienced member of the Ireland Para-cycling National Team, Vereker represented Ireland at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.

Currently partnered with Mitchell McLaughlin since 2023, the pair compete in both track and road events and picked up a ninth place finish in the time trial at the 2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships.

News of Vereker's selection came hot on the heels of the announcement that Callan native and Gowran AC athlete Mary Fitzgerald will head to the Games, where she will compete in the shot-put. The Paralympics will be held after the Olympics, where the county will be represented by Mia Griffin (cycling) and Jeremy Duncan (hockey).