Winter Games

Ireland slalom skiers Kirsty McGarry and Shane O'Connor have been training under the supervision of coaches Ken Ellis and Colin Gaffney.

Shane O'Connor gives an insight into the days before the big race and talks through his practice runs.

Ireland's womens bobsleigh team will compete in a 21 team event at 17.00 Canadian time, February 23rd at the Whistler sliding centre. The team complete two runs on the evening of the 23rd, followed by two runs on the 24th.

Pat Shannon finished an excellent 25th in the men's skeleton event in his first Olympic Games after a great run in heat 3.

Boosted by a series of fan blogs and Facebook sites, many linked to hundreds of messages of congratulations and support from Irish people all over the world, Ireland's women's bobsleigh team of Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin, along with alternate brakewoman Leona Byrne, are getting ready for the races of a lifetime at the Whistler Sliding Track next week (Feb 23 and 24).

Pat Shannon finished an excellent 25th in the men's skeleton event in his first Olympic Games after a great run in heat 3.

Ireland's Pat Shannon sits in 27th place after his first two runs in the men's skeleton event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

PJ Barron reflects on his first Olympic Games, having competed in 15km cross country event in Whistler. Its an event that is highly technical and endurance based. Barron is a 21 year student. Most athletes reach their prime in their late twenties, early thirties.

Ireland's male slalom skier at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Shane O'Connor, from Malahide produced a top 50 place in a World Championship race in qualifying , the best ever placing by an Irish skier in a major Championship. O'Connor has been in Vancouver training with his coach Colin Gaffney, and we asked him to comment on his experiences so far:

Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland met athletes and performance support staff in Whistler at the official welcome ceremony for the Irish delegation.