Bangor played host on Friday to a pre-Games celebration for Team Northern Ireland’s swimmers, bringing together elite athletes, aspiring youngsters and local club officials at the Aurora Leisure Centre.
Local clubs recognised as pathway to elite sport
The event, backed by The National Lottery, showcased the connection between community clubs in Bangor, Ards and Larne and the athletes selected to represent Northern Ireland at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. A 15-strong swimming squad will travel to Scotland to compete at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
Those named in the squad include Danielle Hill, Ellie McCartney, Conor Ferguson, Charlotte Cullen, Grace Davison, Adam Bradley, Matthew Hamilton, Paddy Johnston, Alana Burns-Atkin, Victoria Catterson, Emily Hughes and Barry McClements. Olympic and Paralympic medallists Daniel Wiffen, Bethany Firth and Jack McMillan are also among the high-profile names set to race this weekend.
Community voices and investment
Former Commonwealth swimmer Michael Dawson, who represented Northern Ireland at the 2014 Glasgow Games, was present at the Bangor gathering. He highlighted the significance of returning to the clubs where elite careers often begin and thanked National Lottery players for supporting athletes’ ambitions.
“I’m so excited to see Jack, Bethany and Daniel and the team in action at Glasgow 2026, and it means a huge amount to be back here in Bangor, at the clubs where many of our swimming stars' journeys began.”
Shelley Adams, chair of Ards Swimming Club, spoke of the pride felt locally at seeing six of its swimmers selected for Team Northern Ireland and underlined the role that National Lottery-funded facilities and coaching have played in that success.
Richard Archibald, interim CEO at Sport Northern Ireland, also attended and drew attention to the wider benefits of the Lottery investment, emphasising that the funding supports not only elite competitors but the clubs, coaches and facilities that nurture the next generation of athletes.
What this means for Bangor
For Bangor residents the celebration was both a moment of local pride and a reminder of the tangible links between community-level sport and international competition. The Aurora Leisure Centre’s role as venue underlines how local infrastructure contributes to athlete development and community engagement.
- Event: Celebration for Team Northern Ireland swimmers
- Location: Bangor Aurora Leisure Centre
- Squad size: 15 swimmers named for Glasgow 2026
- Notable attendees: Michael Dawson, Richard Archibald, Shelley Adams
The gathering united young club swimmers with those who have reached the highest levels of the sport, offering a visible example of the athlete pathway in Northern Ireland. It also served as an opportunity to acknowledge the role of National Lottery funding in maintaining coaching standards and facilities across the region.
As Team Northern Ireland’s swimming squad prepares to compete at Tollcross this weekend, the event in Bangor provided a local send-off and a spotlight on the volunteers, coaches and supporters whose efforts underpin competitive success. For many families and club members present, seeing names from their clubs on the Team NI roster confirmed that investment in local sport continues to deliver opportunities on the international stage.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | Bangor Aurora Leisure Centre |
| Event | Pre-Games celebration for Team NI swimmers |
| Competition | Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Tollcross International Swimming Centre |
