All is set for a great day in Dublin on June 6th
The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) has revealed details of the historic Olympic Torch Relay that will come south of the border on the morning of June 6th, including information on 34 of the torch bearers.
Eventually 41 torch bearers will carry the torch in a six hour ‘window’ that includes a cross border ceremony, a civic event in Howth, a run on the Skyline roof at Croke Park and a relay around the capital. The names of the final runners will be announced shortly.
The Olympic Flame arrives in Belfast on June 3rd and will tour around the northern counties before coming south for its short symbolic visit which reflects the success of the Peace Process and the all island make-up of the Irish team for the London Olympic Games.
It will run for 70 days in the UK featuring over 8,000 torch bearers plus 41 in the Republic. Each torch bearer runs for 300 metres. The torches have a ‘kiss’ moment at each 300 metre transfer point and runners can retain their torches as souvenirs.
The event starts at Carrickarnon, outside Newry, at the Border on the old Dublin/Newry road at 6.30am. There, a short ceremony will see the symbolic handover of the Torch between Irish Olympic boxing legends Wayne McCullough (Belfast) and Michael Carruth (Dublin) to recognise the significance of the occasion. Children from schools in Newry and Dundalk will be in attendance.
A vehicle convoy will then dash to Howth, Co. Dublin. Included in the convoy will be a vehicle that contains a miner’s lantern holding the original Olympic Flame from Olympia in Greece. The Flame will be lit in Olympia tomorrow (May 10) before it heads for the UK. All torches are lit from this Flame.
The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins will greet the first Dublin torch bearer in a ceremony outside the offices of the Olympic Council in Howth at 8am in the company of school children from the area and many representatives of civic and sporting organisations.
The convoy then moves to Croke Park for a photo opportunity on the venue’s stunning Skyline Walkway, arranged by the GAA and featuring one of Irish hurling’s legendary athletes, Henry Shefflin at 8.45am. Henry then takes the first leg of the city relay, moving off from Croke Park at 9.30am.
The Torch Relay then runs around the city, taking in the Garden of Remembrance, O’Connell St. (Spire), Eden Quay, Custom House, IFSC, Sheriff St., Beckett Bridge, Holles St., Fitzwilliam Sq., Leeson St. Bridge, Grand Parade and bridges on the Grand Canal before crossing Harold’s Cross Bridge, into Clanbrassil St., Patrick St., Christchurch, Dame St., Trinity College, Nassau St., Clare St., Upper Merrion St., Ely Place, Hume St., St. Stephen’s Green – finishing at the Bandstand at 11.50am approx.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, will greet the Torch at Government Buildings on Upper Merron Street at 11.30am.
The final runner will light an Olympic cauldron on the Green’s Bandstand to commemorate the event. The Torch convoy will speed back North where the Relay re-commences it tour, with a celebration in Belfast at 4pm.
The location of each torch bearer’s crossover point is confidential at the moment and will be revealed some days before the event.
Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland said: “The Olympic Torch Relay will bring the spirit of the London Games to Dublin and starts the countdown for the Irish team’s challenge at the world’s biggest sporting event.
“It has taken many, many months of lobbying at the highest international levels to get the permission required to bring the Relay south. All along, we have had the full support of Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of LOCOG, the London Games organising committee, for this move”, he said.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague says “The Olympic Torch Relay in Dublin offers us in Dublin a wonderful opportunity to share in the London 2012 experience. On June 6th Dublin will become the only city outside of Greece and the UK to host the Olympic Flame. This is a huge honour and I call on all Dubliners to come out on the streets and cheer our torch bearers in what will be a great day for Dublin.
“Congratulations to all those chosen to be torch bearers and to all the agencies who have worked so hard to bring the Olympic Torch Relay to Dublin – The Olympic Council of Ireland, Dublin City Council, the Dept. of Tourism, Transport & Sport, the Office of Public Works, the sponsors, An Garda Siochana, GAA, Fingal Co. Council, Dublin Bus and the British Embassy”, he added.
The Torch Relay has three Presenting Partners – Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lloyds TSB – and each can nominate torch bearers as part of their commercial arrangements with LOCOG in London.
James Williams, Director, Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola, said: “With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games only weeks away, I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to start the celebrations early by confirming the Coca Cola Olympic Torch bearers we have selected from around Ireland. They are all outstanding people who spread happiness in their local communities to make Ireland burn brighter, and now they will be honoured with the amazing experience of carrying the Olympic Flame. I hope everyone joins us in cheering them on as they run along the route”
Gary Twohig, General Manager – Samsung Telecommunication & Networks Ireland, commented: “As a presenting partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Samsung is delighted to be able to share these celebrations with the communities and people of Ireland. Samsung’s ambition is to make London 2012 everyone’s Olympic Games and the Olympic Torch Relay has enabled us to create this opportunity for so many inspirational torch bearers. We wish everyone the best of luck and look forward to cheering everyone on when the Olympic Torch Relay arrives in Dublin on the 6th June”
The Mayor of Fingal Gerry McGuire commented:”I am proud that Fingal and Howth will be the first to welcome the 2012 Olympic Flame in Ireland, and that the Torch will be carried by student Cillian Kirwan from St Fintan’s High School, Sutton. Cillian is passionate about sports and is developing into a positive role model for the youth in Fingal”
