Barry Prime becomes Swim Ireland's new National Performance Director

April 19, 2005

Barry Prime has been appointed the new National Performance Director of Swim Ireland, the governing body of swimming in Ireland.

Mr. Prime (50), a former British Olympian, has an extensive coaching background. He moved to Australia in 1993 to take on the role of senior coach at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra. He spent 25 years coaching in Birmingham prior to his move to Australia. In Birmingham he trained five British swimmers to Olympic representation including Nick Gillingham.

Swim Ireland has struggled in recent years due to a sex abuse scandal and legal dispute with Sarah Keane who was made CEO last year. Further setbacks occurred earlier this year when the National Aquatics Center (NAC) in Dublin suffered storm damage to its roof resulting in closure since then.