UL Sport, Limerick
Thursday 9th – Sunday 12th July 2026
🏊♂️ Event Overview
The 2026 Irish Summer National Age Group Championships (50m) will take place at UL Sport Arena, Limerick. This is Swim Ireland’s premier national competition for 12–14 year old athletes, featuring heats, finals, HDW distance events, and relay championships across four days of racing.
The meet will run under Swim Ireland rules, policies, and eligibility requirements. All athletes, coaches, and team staff must follow the accreditation and safeguarding procedures outlined below.
📍 Venue Information
UL Sport Arena is a 10‑lane, 50m competition pool equipped with:
- Anti‑turbulence lane ropes
- Wedge starting blocks
- Backstroke ledges
Limited pre‑competition training will be available on Wednesday 8th July (time TBC).
⏱ Qualification Criteria
Qualification times must be achieved between 1st January 2026 – 8th June 2026 in either Long Course or Short Course (with SC→LC conversions applied automatically in Hy‑tek).
Eligible times:
- Irish‑based athletes: Times from Level 3+ licensed meets in Ireland
- Athletes living/training in Ireland: Offshore times permitted if results are submitted in Hy‑tek format
- International club athletes: Times must come from meets equivalent to Irish Level 3+
Full qualification tables are available in the event guide.
📝 Entries
- Entry Deadline: Tuesday 9th June 2026 at 5:00pm
- Please review the Eligibility Report before entering. Link to the report is at the bottom of the post.
- Queries on entry process to Peter via email: galwaysccompetitionsecretary@gmail.com
Entry Fees:
- Individual events: €12
- Link to entries -> https://galwaysc.teamapp.com/clubs/553764/store?_detail=v1
🏊 Competition Format
Heats
- All heats seeded slowest to fastest
- 50m events require qualification via the 100m or 200m of the same stroke
- Heats and relays take place in the morning sessions
Finals
- 50m events: A & B Finals (combined 12–14 yrs)
- 100m & 200m events: A & B Finals (age‑grouped)
- 400m IM: A Finals only (13 & 14 yrs)
- 800m/1500m & Relays: HDW
- Max two non‑Irish athletes per A or B final
🏅 Awards
- Medals awarded to top 3 in A Finals or HDW events
- Eligibility requires representing a Swim Ireland club
- Non‑eligible athletes receive commemorative awards
- Improvement certificates awarded per age group
📊 Points Scoring
- 20 points for 1st down to 1 point for 20th
- Max 4 scoring swimmers per club per event
- Only one relay team per club scores
- Top Irish Club Award & Quality Irish Club Award presented
📅 Competition Schedule
The full four‑day schedule (heats & finals) is included in the event guide. Sessions include:
- Day 1 – Thursday 9th July
- Day 2 – Friday 10th July
- Day 3 – Saturday 11th July
- Day 4 – Sunday 12th July
Warm‑up and start times will be confirmed in the Team Information Document.
🛡 Safeguarding & Photography
All safeguarding, photography, and anti‑doping policies apply as per Swim Ireland regulations.
Photography devices must be registered at the venue. No photography is permitted on poolside.
🎟 Accreditation
All athletes, coaches, and team staff must apply for accreditation via the Swim Ireland JustGo system. Profiles must include a photo and correct primary club.
Competition Schedule
| Day | Morning Session – Heats | Afternoon Session – Finals |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Thursday 9th July 2026 | Session 1 – Heats (Slowest to Fastest) Male & Open 50m Backstroke Female 100m Breaststroke Male & Open 13–14 yrs 400m IM Female 200m Freestyle Male & Open 200m Freestyle Female 50m Butterfly Male & Open 100m Breaststroke Female 200m Backstroke Mixed 12 yrs 200m Mixed Medley Relay (HDW) Mixed 13/14 yrs 400m Mixed Medley Relay (HDW) Male & Open 13–14 yrs 1500m Freestyle (HDW) | Session 2 – Finals 50m Events (A & B Finals) • 50m Backstroke (combined 12–14 yrs) 100m Events (A & B Finals) • 100m Breaststroke 200m Events (A & B Finals) • 200m Freestyle • 200m Backstroke 400m Events (A Final only) • 400m IM (13–14 yrs) Medal ceremonies as scheduled |
| Day 2 Friday 10th July 2026 | Session 3 – Heats (Slowest to Fastest) Female 50m Breaststroke Male & Open 200m Backstroke Female 100m Butterfly Male & Open 50m Freestyle Female 50m Freestyle Male & Open 100m Butterfly Female 200m IM Male & Open 12 yrs 200m Freestyle Relay (HDW) Female 12 yrs 200m Freestyle Relay (HDW) Male & Open 13/14 yrs 400m Freestyle Relay (HDW) Female 13/14 yrs 400m Freestyle Relay (HDW) | Session 4 – Finals 50m Events (A & B Finals) • 50m Breaststroke • 50m Freestyle 100m Events (A & B Finals) • 100m Butterfly 200m Events (A & B Finals) • 200m Backstroke • 200m IM Medal ceremonies as scheduled |
| Day 3 Saturday 11th July 2026 | Session 5 – Heats (Slowest to Fastest) Male & Open 100m Freestyle Female 400m Freestyle Male & Open 200m Breaststroke Female 100m Backstroke Male & Open 50m Butterfly Female 200m Breaststroke Male & Open 100m Backstroke Male & Open 12 yrs 200m Medley Relay (HDW) Female 12 yrs 200m Medley Relay (HDW) Female 13/14 yrs 400m Medley Relay (HDW) Male & Open 13/14 yrs 400m Medley Relay (HDW) Male & Open 13–14 yrs 800m Freestyle (HDW) | Session 6 – Finals 50m Events (A & B Finals) • 50m Butterfly 100m Events (A & B Finals) • 100m Freestyle • 100m Backstroke 200m Events (A & B Finals) • 200m Breaststroke 400m Events (A Final only) • 400m Freestyle (age groups) Medal ceremonies as scheduled |
| Day 4 Sunday 12th July 2026 | Session 7 – Heats (Slowest to Fastest) Female 50m Backstroke Male & Open 400m Freestyle Female 13–14 yrs 400m IM Male & Open 200m Butterfly Female 100m Freestyle Male & Open 50m Breaststroke Female 200m Butterfly Male & Open 200m IM Mixed 12 yrs 200m Mixed Freestyle Relay (HDW) | Session 8 – Finals 50m Events (A & B Finals) • 50m Backstroke • 50m Breaststroke 100m Events (A & B Finals) • 100m Freestyle 200m Events (A & B Finals) • 200m Butterfly • 200m IM 400m Events (A Final only) • 400m Freestyle (age groups) • 400m IM (13–14 yrs) Final medal ceremonies |