Limerick woman celebrates bronze medal success at European Blind Tennis Championships

A LIMERICK woman enjoyed medal success when representing Ireland at the European Blind Tennis Championships in Poland.

Ballybrown woman Marquerite Quinn celebrated a very successful championship when claiming a bronze medal in her singles event.

Irish Tennis players enjoyed their best ever week at the International Blind Tennis Association (IBTA) European Championships.
Former Limerick principal Marguerite suffered a brain aneurysm while attending a camogie match in 2016, leading to 12 months of hospital recovery.

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Retiring due to medical grounds one year into her “dream job” as principal of St Nessan's National School in Mungret, Marguerite, who had to relearn how to walk and has a brain injury as a result of the aneurysm, decided that she needed a “new avenue.”

This lead her to take up blind tennis lessons in Killaloe, with local coach Wesley O’ Brien in 2022, with Quinn going from strength to strength in the sport ever since, achieving a third place finish at her first ever international blind tennis tournament that year.

Celebrating her great bronze medal winning achievement in Poland,last week Marguerite Quinn said: “Tennis may seem like an individual sport, but the list of people who have helped me achieve my first international tennis medal at a major tournament is very long.

“Being away with my fellow teammates leaves me with so many memories, but the most prominent thing I’m left with is support and laughter — plus continuing to develop our tennis skills together.”

Coach Simon McFarland praised the athletes’ commitment and the collective effort behind their success: “It was an absolute pleasure to lead this group of outstanding athletes to Poland, and we are extremely proud of every one of them.

“To achieve this medal haul at a major event is testament to all the visually impaired coaching groups across the island, and we hope this will inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps.”

Vinny Keane took home two bronze medals from Poland. Keane placed third in both his singles and mixed doubles events.