Over the past few days the Olympic Torch has been touring Northern Ireland, passing through the areas of Port Rush, Derry and Belfast and this morning at 6:30am, Olympic Games Hero’s from 1992, medal winning boxers Wayne McCullogh and Michael Carruth took part in a handover ceremony on the border near Newry.
Travelling by convoy to Dublin, it will be received by Irish president Michael D Higgins in Howth, County Dublin, before moving on to Croke Park, where it will embark on a 2 hour relay through Dublin City, ending in a festival in St Stephen’s Green.
Anyone in Dublin for the day be it for work, specifically to witness the Olympic Torch Relay or on their vacation in Ireland, will witness a small bit of history today as it makes its way around Dublin City Centre, carried by some of Ireland’s famous faces and some of Ireland’s elite sportsmen and sportswomen.
The first torch bearer, Kilkenny Hurler Henry Shefflin will leave Croke Park at 9:08am and carry the flame along the Skyline Walkway, the torch relay will then go through various streets in Dublin City, passing famous Dublin landmarks and government buildings, until eventually at 11:40am Ireland’s past Olympic hero Sonia O’Sullivan will carry the flame onto Stephen’s Green, where she will light an Olympic Cauldron on the stage of the community festival taking part in St Stephen’s Green.
The Olympic Torch will then leave Dublin, returning to Belfast before moving on to Scotland to continue its journey ahead of the Olympic Games and its final destination – The Olympic Stadium in London on 27th July.