THE OLYMPIC FLAME lit up Dublin this morning on its only visit outside Britain en route to the 2012 London Games, in a symbolic gesture of reconciliation between the two states.
President Michael D Higgins received the flame, which is making a 10-week, 8,000-mile relay ahead of the Games that start on 27 July, in Howth following a handover at the border.
The flame was transferred across the border between 1992 Olympic boxing medallists Wayne McCullough from Belfast and Michael Carruth from Dublin. London Games chief Sebastian Coe and Sports Minister Michael Ring watched with a crowd of local onlookers as McCullough lit Carruth’s torch with his own.
“This is a truly historic day for Ireland,” said Ring. “Today we bring the Olympic spirit into the heart of our capital city, in front of a global audience.”
The flame crossed the border as part of its a five-day journey around Northern Ireland as a token of closer ties between Britain and the South following Queen Elizabeth II’s landmark visit there last year.
The flame was taken around Dublin ahead of its return to Northern Ireland to visit Newry and Lisburn before finishing in Belfast.
The Dublin relay started at Croke Park stadium before passing some of the capital’s most historic sites. It was also to be greeted by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.
Dublin’s 40 torchbearers included former Ireland rugby winger Denis Hickie, and pop duo Jedward, who represented Ireland at last month’s Eurovision song contest. Ronnie Delany, who won the 1,500 metres gold at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, jockey Ruby Walsh and former Ireland international footballer Paul McGrath were also to carry the flame.
Final torchbearer Sonia O’Sullivan, who won the 5,000 metres silver at the 2000 Sydney Games, lit an Olympic cauldron in the city’s St Stephen’s Green.
London Games officials decided the torch should stay in Britain apart from the Ireland trip, following Tibet-related protests that dogged the global torch relay for the 2008 Beijing Games.
“It has taken many, many months of lobbying at the highest international levels to get the permission required to bring the relay south,” said Pat Hickey, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland.
The Olympic torch landed in Britain on a plane from Greece on 18 May and will arrive at the Olympic Stadium in east London for the opening ceremony on 27 July.
All the pressure on Offaly today and they were well deserved winners. Hopefully they will progress to senior level and they’ll compete in the All-Ireland series in 4/5 years time. Congratulations from a KK supporter
@Niall Egan: Fancied Offally to win this. Especially after the heartache of losing a minor and under 20. Some very good hurlers coming through.
@Ray Ridge: Brilliant
What a team…the most likeable team in the gaa at the moment.. thank you Leo..
There won’t be a bunker raked in esker hills tomorrow
Some group of hurlers just shows what can be done when everyone is on the same page, Workrate, teamwork, determination, skill and bottle in abundance they have it all.
Go on The Faithful county
Congrats to Offaly. They completely out hurled Tipp and could have won by much more.
Screeney is a class act and we all know that already. Dan Bourke was my man of the match. Imperious at centre forward. His goal put the game to bed just when Tipp had responded well to the first Offaly goal and looked like the game would go to the wire.
The joke among Tipp fans leaving the ground was at least the traffic won’t be bad leaving with all the Offaly fans celebrating back on the pitch.
It was the best atmosphere at a game in years thanks to the great Offaly support.
Enjoy the celebrations in Birr, Banagher, Tullamore and the rest of Offaly. Third time is a charm as someone else posted and this team are great champions.
Super atmosphere in KK,the place was mega.great game of hurling and Offaly never looked like they were going to come 2nd this evening.commiserations to a very good Tipperary team who had us on the edge of our seats at times alright but congratulations to the Faithful ! Up Offaly
Delighted for Offaly and Leo as well. Great stuff!
A Limerick man over a swashbuckling Offaly side winning an AI, Leo should get the senior job in a few years time with the majority of that side breaking through.
@colmkearney39@hotmail.com: the legend Eamon Cregan was also an adopted Limerick man and wiped the floor with his own county to bring glory to the Offaly senior team.
Better team won, no complaints, hopefully a few players from both set ups make the step up to senior level over the next few years.
What a brilliant atmosphere at the game, despite being on the losing side, just home watching the Saturday game, could have done with more coverage, interviews etc.