Fermanagh’s Ellie McCartney was in fine form at the Swim Ireland Irish Open Swimming Championships as she returned with a silver and bronze meda, the silver coming after a stunning swim in the 200IM.

The event was nothing short of electrifying as hundreds of swimmers from all across Ireland took to the pool to compete for national titles and a chance to represent their country in international events.

The five-day event at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre in Dublin was a spectacle to behold, with 70 clubs vying for top honours in 34 individual events, and a shot at joining seven Irish National Teams, including a home European Under-23 Championships in August.

For many of the swimmers, this was their last chance to post consideration times for the summer’s most anticipated events, such as the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan; the World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester; and the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, among others.

With so much at stake, the competition was fierce, and the excitement was palpable.

One of the most promising young swimmers to emerge from the event was Ellie McCartney, who turned 18 just a week later.

McCartney participated in four events at the Championships and returned home with consideration times in 100m and 200m Breaststroke, as well as 200m Individual Medley for two of these 18 And Under International events.

Her performance was nothing short of breathtaking, with her 200m IM time being the 11th-fastest in Europe this year.

On the second day of the event, McCartney qualified as the third seed for the 100m Breaststroke final behind Tokyo Olympian Mona McSharry, and another top Irish breaststroker, Niamh Coyne, with a new PB.

In an exciting final where McSharry broke the Irish Record, McCartney finished third for her first Senior medal at this event, another PB (1:09.65), as well as a consideration time for the European Under-23 Championships, European Junior Championships and Commonwealth Youth Games.

Following a rest day, the local swimmer returned to the pool for the 200m IM, where she won her heat by eight seconds to qualify in second position for the final.

That evening saw an exciting final with the 17-year-old pitted against another Tokyo Olympian, Ellen Walsh, and several more top Irish swimmers.

While all eyes were on Walsh, who won the event with a world consideration time, it was McCartney who almost stole the show by improving her PB by nearly a second and almost catching the Dubliner during the exciting breaststroke leg.

Her finishing time of 2:14.93 was good enough for a silver medal, and around 0.5 seconds off the Ulster Senior record.

Astonishingly, her time was the 11th-fastest time swam by any female in Europe this season, and earned her another consideration time for the European Under-23 Championships, European Junior Championships, and Commonwealth Youth Games.

The final day of the event saw McCartney compete in the 200m Breaststroke, where she finished fourth in the final, again behind McSharry, and achieved a third consideration time for the same international events.

National Centre Ulster Head Coach, Kevin Anderson, was extremely pleased with her performance, saying: “Ellie has experienced tremendous progress this year in her 200m IM, dropping four seconds.

“She is currently ranked 11th in Europe and has become a more professional and confident athlete. She will continue to improve and make an impact on the international stage for Ireland.”