#walshe

Key Highlights Brian Walshe is set to be sentenced for murdering and dismembering his wife Ana on New Year’s Day 2023. DNA evidence confirmed that Ana Walshe’s single-source DNA was found on the alleged murder weapons recovered from the trash. Prosecutors claim Brian Walshe killed Ana and disposed of her body to avoid accountability, while his defense denies any involvement in a premeditated…

BOSTON — Brian Walshe was found guilty Monday of first-degree murder in the grisly death of his wife, who he was accused of killing and dismembering nearly three years ago. Brian Walshe found guilty of murdering his wife, who disappeared nearly 3 years ago Ana Walshe, an immigrant from Serbia, was last seen early Jan. 1, 2023, after a New Year’s Eve dinner at the couple’s home. There was no…

Key Highlights Brian Walshe is accused of murdering and dismembering his wife, Ana Walshe. William Fastow, the alleged boyfriend of Ana Walshe, testified in the trial. Fastow described his affair with Ana and its impact on her marriage to Brian. Defense attorneys argue that Brian was unaware of the affair and faced marital stress due to a federal fraud case. The Legal Drama Unfolds in Dedham,…

Walshe and Corby Continue Ireland Record Breaking Streak; Walshe Through to Another Semi-Final

Irish swimmers assault on the record books continued in Budapest on Friday morning with two more records coming from Ellen Walshe in the 100m Butterfly and Eoin Corby in the 200m Breaststroke, making it nine Irish Senior Records and one Irish Junior Record across four days.

Walshe, who has already set six new Irish Records in the 100m and 200m Individual Medley and 50m Butterfly this week, continued her form with a new standard in the fastest ever 100m Butterfly (SC) race in history as the USA’s Gretchen Walsh set a new World Record of 53.24. The Templeogue swimmers time of 56.17 saw her second to Walsh and through to the semi-final in fifth place overall.

The 23-year-old’s previous record stood at 56.67 from 2023.

Speaking after the race Walshe said ‘It’s amazing to be part of a heat like that, the girls are so talented, and it will be a great semi tonight and maybe a final tomorrow. I’m hurting today, my legs are pretty sore, but I’ve just got to tidy up the small things and hopefully there’s a little bit more tonight, maybe a 55, who knows.’

National Centre Limerick’s Eoin Corby set his first Irish Senior Record in the heats of the 200m Breaststroke. Corby touched in 2:06.45 erasing Uiseann Cooke’s 2021 record of 2:06.81. The 22-year-old was sixth in his heat.

Commenting after the race Corby said ‘I’m very happy, funnily enough I felt kind of weird in the warm-up and I just kind of put that aside. I knew I was training well coming into the competition so I just kind of focused on that, took that into the race and tried to race some of the lads beside me and I got the Irish Senior Record so I’m very happy with that.

Also, in action this morning, Ellie McCartney swam her second-best time in the 200m Breaststroke clocking 2:23.26. The National Centre Limerick swimmer, competing at her first senior World Championships, was sixth in her heat, her only event this week

‘I mean I’m satisfied with it; I came here to race against the best in the World, I had one swim, I had one chance, and I think I somewhat took advantage of it. I know from last week (2:21.21 at Scottish Nationals), I can go two seconds faster, but I need to be under that in the heats next time and that’s something I need to learn to do.’

On Friday evening, Ellen Walshe will be joined in action by Shane Ryan who swims the Final of the 50m Backstroke having qualified eighth in 22.89 after Thursday’s semi-finals.

Day 4 Heats Results – Friday 13th December

Female 200m Breaststroke

Ellie McCartney

2:23.36 (17th)

Male 200m Breaststroke

Eoin Corby

2:06.45 (17th) ISR

Female 100m Butterfly

Ellen Walshe

56.17 (5th) ISR

Day 4 Heats Schedule – Friday 13th December

Male 50m Backstroke Final

Shane Ryan

17.12 IRL

Female 100m Butterfly

Ellen Walshe

17.20 IRL

Meet Information

Dates: 10th – 15th December 2024

Times: Heats 8am / Finals 4.30pm (Ireland)

Schedule: Competition Schedule | World Aquatics Official

Results: All World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) Results By OMEGA

SWIM IRELAND Wiffen Twins Advance to Freestyle Final - Walshe, Godden and Fannon Through to Semi-Finals

Irish swimmers brought their outstanding form from the opening day of the European Short Course Championships into the second day of racing, with five swimmers progressing from this morning’s heats to finals and semi-finals.

Twins Daniel and Nathan Wiffen cruised into tomorrow’s 1500m Freestyle Final, progressing first and seventh respectively.

Daniel, who won Ireland’s first ever European Short Course Gold medal last night in the 400m Freestyle, touched in 14:34.50, conserving his energy for the final, the 22-year-old has a best time of 14:14.45 in the event.

Speaking after the race Daniel said, ‘My goal there was just to try and make it as easy as possible after last night and the toll it would have had on me, so as easy as possible to make it back and I’m happy to be first and in lane four for the final.’

For Nathan, the swim secured a first European Final at his debut Team Ireland competition. The Loughborough swimmer, home in 14:39.34, knocked a massive nine seconds off his previous best of 14:48.69.

Commenting post-race Nathan said ‘I’d said beforehand I want to make a final at my first international, and I’ve done that, very happy. I think I had a nine second pb, towards the start I had to go with everybody, but it felt comfortable in the end’.

Last night’s bronze medallist in the 400m Individual Medley, Ellen Walshe, was also back in action this morning in the 100m version of the event.

Walshe clocked 1:00.20 to progress to this evening’s semi-final in tenth place overall and is looking forward to this evening’s semi-final ‘It’s nice to have another swim tonight, the 100m IM is not something I race much, or anybody would race regularly, but it’s a quick speedy one and hopefully I’ll be faster tonight.’

Maria Godden, the first Irish swimmer in action this morning, made her European Short Course Championships debut in the 200m Backstroke Heats. The National Centre Limerick swimmer was third in her heat in a personal best time of 2:07.10 and advances to the semi-final in twelfth place.

Godden spoke after the race saying ‘I’m a little bit tired, that was my first swim and the first one is always a little bit tricky, get the nerves out of the way, but I’m delighted, my dad flew out last night, so I was delighted to swim a personal best and all of my teammates are doing really well so that really inspired me to go out today.’

In the Men’s 50m Freestyle, Tom Fannon was the best of three Irish swimmers and confirmed his semi-final place in 21.56.

Fannon holds the Irish long course (50m) record in the event and will be aiming to break the short course record of 21.35 in this evening’s semi-final ‘It’s good, my first semi-final for Ireland which is nice, especially short course, so I’ll take that, I’m looking forward to tonight, go back get a rest, get some food in me and hopefully be in the 21 lows tonight, try to aim for that Irish record.’

Also competing in the Men’s 50m Freestyle were Dylan Registe and Oisin Tebite, with both clocking personal best times of 22.50 and 22.87 respectively.

In the 100m Breaststroke, Liam O’Connor was second in his heat in a best time of 1:00.25 while Grace Davison touched in 1:02.47 in the 100m Individual Medley.

Shane Ryan will join Walshe, Godden and Fannon in action this evening, competing in the Final of the Men’s 50m Backstroke.

2023 European Aquatics SC Swimming Championships (Otopeni, Romania)

Day 2 – Wednesday 6th December l Heats Results

Women’s 200m Backstroke Maria Godden           2:07.10 (12th) SF

Men’s 50m Freestyle            Tom Fannon  21.56 (16th) SF

Dylan Registe 22.50 (43rd)

Oisin Tebite   22.87 (45th)

Men’s 100m Breaststroke    Liam O’Connor          1:00.25 (29th)

Women’s 100m Individual Medley Ellen Walshe  1:00.20 (10th) SF

Grace Davison           1:02.47 (25th)

Men’s 1500m Freestyle Heats          Daniel Wiffen            14:34.50 (1st) F

Nathan Wiffen          14:39.34 (7th) F

Day 2 – Wednesday 6th December l Finals Schedule (All times Irish)

Men 50m Backstroke Final  Shane Ryan    4.05pm

Men 50m Freestyle Semi-Final        Tom Fannon  4.16pm

Women 200m Backstroke Semi-Final         Maria Godden           5.16pm

Women 100m Individual Medley Semi-Final        Ellen Walshe  5.26pm

Note to Editor:

Tuesday – Sunday schedule: Prelims: 07:30 / Finals: 16:00 (Ireland)

Live Results

Live Stream

2023 European Aquatics Championships (25m), Bucharest, Romania

Name  Home Programme    Home Coach

Evan    Bailey  New Ross SC  Fran Ronan

Victoria          Catterson       National Centre (Dublin)     Steve Beckerleg

Grace  Davison          Ards SC           Curtis Coulter

Tom    Fannon           National Centre (Dublin)     Steve Beckerleg

Maria  Godden          National Centre (Limerick)  John Szaranek

Danielle          Hill      Larne SC         Peter Hill

Ellie     McCartney     National Centre (Limerick)  John Szaranek

Max     McCusker       Millfield School         Ryan Livingstone

Liam    O'Connor       Project 28/Terenure SC       Andrew Addison

Dylan  Registe           Lisburn City SC          Stan Sheppard

Erin     Riordan          National Centre (Dublin)     Steve Beckerleg

Shane Ryan   National Centre (Dublin)     Steve Beckerleg

John    Shortt National Centre (Limerick)  John Szaranek

Oisin   Tebite National Centre (Dublin)     Steve Beckerleg

Ellen    Walshe           Templeogue SC         Brian Sweeney

Daniel Wiffen            Loughborough University    Andi Manley

Nathan           Wiffen            Loughborough University    Andi Manley

Swim Ireland LEN European U23 Championships - McSharry and Walshe Show Their Class in Day 1 Heats

A strong Irish team played host to the first ever opening session of the LEN Dublin European Under 23 Swimming Championships at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre this morning. Ten Irish swimmers were amongst the field that included the best European swimmers from the age grade along with invited nations of the United States and South Africa.

It was a good morning for the Irish swimmers as Mona McSharry and Maria Godden secured their places in their respective finals whilst Ellen Walshe qualified on the double to progress to two finals in this evening’s session. The finals will also showcase the championship debut of  European Record holder and World Championships finalist Daniel Wiffen, who will race for a medal in the final of the 1500m Freestyle. It was also a fantastic morning for New Ross’ Evan Bailey, who set a new National Junior Record in the Men’s 100m Butterfly in front of a vibrant Dublin crowd.

Mona McSharry was the first Irish athlete to taste competition at the Dubin based championships in the Women’s 50m Breaststroke. The Ballyshannon Marlins swimmer eased into the final as she won her heat in fine style swimming a time of 30.66, to record the second fastest time of all three heats behind only Anita Bottazzo from Italy who touched in 30.08. McSharry will now compete for a medal in the final of the Women’s 50m Breaststroke this evening where she will have a great chance of claiming a first medal of the championships for Team Ireland.

Speaking after her swim McSharry said “I’m happy with that as a morning swim, you know the 50 can go either way and I think on the first day everyone is kind of figuring everything out and so that’s what this is about, but I think having it in my home pool gives it a little bit more comfort because I have raced here so many times.”

Ellen Walshe was the busiest of the Irish athletes this morning as she competed three times in the heats including in the Mixed 4 x 100m Medley. Walshe was in individual action first and will be in the pool twice more in the finals after winning through to the final in both the 100m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley. In the Women’s 100m Butterfly, competing in the third heat, Walshe eased into the lead early and was the first athlete home as she comfortably progressed through to the final with a time of 58:86. Walshe finished as the second fastest athlete overall from the four heats this morning behind only Emma Stickleman from the USA who had a time of 58:43. Walshe repeated the trick in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley as she lead home her heat with a strong last 100m to ensure her progress through to a second final this evening, second overall behind Justina Kozan of the USA.

Reflecting on her race Walshe said “It felt okay, it was a faster heat swim than I did in Worlds and I’m happy enough with it. We know the pool better than anybody else, like it’s our home, we’ve swam in it so many times so it’s nice to have a home meet here.”

Maria Godden competed against a particularly strong field in the Women’s 50m Backstroke. Her time of 29:20 was good enough for a third-place finish in her heat behind the Dutch duo of Hosper and Giele. It was an anxious wait for Godden before her qualification through to the final of the event was confirmed as the eighth placed finisher overall.

Speaking after her race Godden said “It was okay, I was a little bit off my best, for me 50 isn’t an event that I would put my primary focus on so I kind of just use it as a good tune up for the 100m and 200m over the course of the weekend. This is probably the highest calibre long course meet I’ve ever been to. I’ve only ever been to junior long course championships so I’m really excited and having it in my home pool makes it all the more special.”

The Men’s 100m Butterfly featured two Irish athletes, Jack Cassin and Evan Bailey competing in the same heat. Cassin was the first of the duo home with a time of 54:08 to finish in sixth place, and was followed home by his teammate, Evan Bailey, who will be delighted to have set a new Irish Junior Record with a fantastic time of 54:22. Bailey in fact broke Cassin’s record of 54.29 set at the 2023 Irish Open in April, Cassin, now a senior, is not eligible to break the record again.

There was interest on the double for Team Ireland in the 50m Breaststroke as both Eoin Corby and Liam O’Connor competed in that event. Corby swam in the second heat finishing in joint fourth in a time of 28:10 with O’Connor coming home in tenth position in the final of the three heats with a time 29.02.

Speaking after his debut swim at a major championships O’Connor said “It’s insane, I wish everyone could experience this just once, I am so grateful, I’m never going to take it for granted, repping the flag and wearing that green jacket. I love it so much.”

16-year-old John Shortt, the youngest member of Team Ireland, was in action as he competed in the Men’s 200m Backstroke. Shortt competed in a strong heat with American Tapp Hunter leading out from the start to record a fast time of 1:58.32. Shortt’s time of 2:00.18 saw him finish in third place in his heat, in a dead heat with the Greek swimmer, Makrygiannis, finishing just outside the Top 10 required to progress directly through to this evening’s final, although he will be a reserve for the event.

Victoria Catterson competed in the Women’s 200m Freestyle where she swam in a particularly strong heat recording a time of 2:01.70 to finish in eleventh place overall narrowly missing out on a place in the final by just 0.2 of a second.

The Irish relay team completed the mornings action for Irish swimmers as they competed in the Mixed 4 x 100m Medley. Ellen Walshe returned immediately to the pool after her own Individual Medley performance and she was joined by John Shortt, who led the team off, followed by Eoin Corby, before Walshe herself swam the third leg and Victoria Catterson anchored the team home. The team put in a brave display to finish in fifth place in their heat  in 3:54.74 which meant they finished in 12th place overall, narrowly missing the finals this evening.

There will be plenty of Irish interest in this evening’s finals as Mona McSharry, Ellen Walshe and Maria Godden will race for places on the podium. They will be joined in the finals by Grace Hodgins (800m Freestyle) and Daniel Wiffen (1500m Freestyle) who will make their first appearances of the championships. The Finals will take place at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre at 6pm with McSharry expected in the pool in the first final of the championships at 6pm.

Swim Ireland Golden Night for Team Ireland as McSharry, Walshe and Wiffen Glitter in Dublin at LEN European Under 23 Swimming Championships 2023

Irish swimmers delivered three gold and a silver medal at the LEN European Under 23 Swimming Championships 2023 at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre to end the opening night of competition at the top of the medal table. Mona McSharry, Ellen Walshe and Daniel Wiffen all clinched gold medals with Walshe also adding silver to her collection.

Mona McSharry got the finals of the LEN Dublin European U23 Championships 2023 off to the perfect start as she secured the first ever medal of the inaugural LEN U23 Championships in front of her home support in the Women’s 50m Breaststroke Final. McSharry won gold in a brilliant time of 30:37, powering home over the last 5 metres, to edge ahead Italy’s Anita Bottazzo.

Speaking after her gold medal performance McSharry said “I was just going out there trying to race, have some fun and get my hands on the wall first. This morning was a pretty good race and I was just trying to top that and go faster, and I did so I can’t but be happy with it and then to come out with a gold is just awesome. It’s a great way to start the meet.”

Delighted to be competing in Ireland McSharry said “It’s amazing, I think coming into it I wasn’t sure what to expect but even yesterday in the build-up and hearing people were coming and having my family and friends and all being able to sit in the stands is just awesome you know, there’s just so many more familiar faces, it’s not just one or two it’s 90% of the crowd is Irish so that’s awesome!”

Ellen Walshe had an outstanding night in the pool as she was crowned European U23 Champion in the 200m individual Medley as well as winning 100m Butterfly silver. 

Walshe’s first final was the 100m Butterfly, where she produced a stirring comeback. The Templeogue woman looked to be in trouble after the first 50 when she turned in eighth place overall, but she produced the fastest second 50m of any swimmer in the pool thundering home in 30.4 seconds to claim second place in 58.70, missing  the gold medal by just 2 tenths of a second to Keanna McInnes from Great Britain.

Speaking about her silver medal performance Walshe said “ I knew it was going to be a tough one after three swims this morning. It’s not a personal best but it’s better than it has been so yeah, I’m happy enough with it.”

“It’s been tough since coming back from worlds, getting back into the swing of things. Having another home competition made things a little bit easier for me but, yeah, listen I’m happy enough with tonight’s swim and to come away with a medal for Ireland, we don’t often get that so, delighted.”

In contrast to the Butterfly race, it was Walshe that that was in control in the 200m Individual Medley as she claimed Ireland’s second gold medal of the day. Walshe’s time of 2:13.12 saw her reach the end narrowly in second place behind Justina Kozan, but as that swimmer is from the USA the gold medal goes to Walshe as the fastest European. In an exceptional race Walshe turned after 100 metres in first place before powering through in the Breaststroke leg to turn for home, knowing the American’s strongest stroke was her freestyle, Walshe battled gamely to hold on to the lead but was caught by Kozan in the end. A second gold medal and second European U23 Champion for Ireland.

Speaking after the race Walshe said “I’ve never won a European medal in my life, I’ve got a youth medal but I haven’t got a European medal, it’s Under 23’s, it’s probably my only year I will be able to get this medal so I’m delighted to take gold for the 200IM today”

Daniel Wiffen electrified the Irish crowd in the Men’s 1500m Freestyle final as he produced a world class performance to win Ireland’s third gold medal, recording the 8th fastest time ever by a European over the distance. Wiffen lead from the very first 50m length and never relinquished the lead over the following 29 as he flirted with both World and European records at different stages of his swim. Wiffen cruised home to win gold in 14:35.79, just outside his best time of 14:34.91, after an extraordinary performance in front of a raucous home attendance.

Speaking after his brilliant performance Wiffen said “It feels amazing, we’re not really looking for individual success in this team coming into this meet, that was the world champs. This goal is to have a big team atmosphere, to support each other and deliver and we have three golds and a silver tonight so, amazing.”

Speaking about his time Wiffen said “I had no idea (I was so close to the European record) I thought I was way over my time and then to look back and see my time, it’s just special. It shows I still got the training bank in me and that, maybe I’ll go even faster in my other events after.”

Maria Godden enjoyed a strong performance in her 50m Backstroke Final as she took two tenths of a second off her time from the morning heats to come home in sixth place in 28.98, a new personal best for the National Centre Limerick swimmer. It looked as if the race might have gotten away from her, but Godden dug deep in the final 25m to record an excellent sixth place in a strong race which was won by Tessa Giele from the Netherlands with a time of 27:96.

Grace Hodgins got her LEN Dublin European u23 Swimming Championships underway in the 800m Freestyle. Hodgins showed real grit throughout the gruelling event as she battled with South Africa’s Janie Coetzer. In the end Hodgins edged out Coetzer to take eighth place in a strong race which was won by Germany’s Isobel Gose in 8:20.8.

Competition continues tomorrow with gold medallists McSharry, Wiffen and Walshe all returning to action.

Results Friday 11th August 2023

F 50m Breaststroke Mona McSharry 30.66 (2) F 30.37 (1)

M 200m Backstroke John Shortt       2:00.18 (12)   

W 100m Butterfly Ellen Walshe        58.86 (2)F 58.70 (2)

F 50m Backstroke Maria Godden     29.20 (8)F 28.98 (6)

M 50m Breaststroke Eoin Corby 28.10 (14)

Liam O’Connor 29.02 (27)    

F 200m Freestyle Victoria Catterson 2:01.70 (11)  

M 100m Butterfly Jack Cassin 54.07 (27)

Evan Bailey 54.22 (30) IJR    

F 200m IM Ellen Walshe        2:15.01 (2) F 2:13.12 (1)

Mix 400m Medley Relay       Ireland 3:54.74 (12)   

F 800m Freestyle Final          Grace Hodgins           F 8:59.54 (10)

M 1500m Freestyle Daniel WiffeN F 14:35.79 (1)

Schedule Saturday 12th August 2023

F 400m Freestyle       Grace Hodgins

M 400m Freestyle      Daniel Wiffen

F 100m Breaststroke Mona McSharry

Molly Mayne

M 50m Backstroke     John Shortt

M 50m Freestyle        Oisin Tebite

Matthew Walsh-Hussey

W 100m Backstroke   Maria Godden

M 200m Breaststroke            Eoin Corby

Liam O’Connor

F 50m Freestyle         Mona McSharry

M 200m Butterfly Jack Cassin

W 400m Individual Medley Ellen Walshe