Death of celebrated Paralympian Joan Salmon

IT IS with great sadness that Horse Sport Ireland records the death earlier today (Saturday) of Joan Salmon, the celebrated blind Irish dressage rider, who won a bronze medal for her country at the Atlanta Paralympics of 1996 and again represented Ireland at the Sydney Paralympics of 2000.

Joan, who had been blind since the age of 23 following a history of diabetes, underwent many operations in her life, including two kidney transplants and a pancreas transplant. She died at Blackrock Clinic outside Dublin this morning following a short illness.

Her Funeral Mass is on Tuesday at 11.30am in the Church of St. Thérèse, Mount Merrion, followed by burial in Shanganagh Cemetery.

To her family, and her very wide circle of friends, Horse Sport Ireland extends its deepest sympathy. May she rest in peace.