Lord Killanin, who died ten years ago, was a former President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, a position he held until 1973. Two years later he was elected a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and became IOC President in 1972, just after the official closing of the controversial Munich Olympic Games.
A proud Galway man, Lord Killanin remained as head of the IOC for eight years, presiding over the IOC during a stormy period for Olympism in which he had to address several crisis linked to international politics including Olympic Games boycotts.
The Irish Olympians Association, headed by Irish Olympic legend Ronnie Delany, commissioned the bronze bust in association with the Olympic Council of Ireland to commemorate Lord Killanin’s huge input to the development of Olympic sport in Ireland and on the world stage.
The bronze sculpture was created by Paul Ferriter, one of Dublin’s best known practitioners, and is placed in the front garden area of the Olympic Council’s headquarters at Harbour Road, Howth.
The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism, Mr. Martin Cullen TD was a guest at the unveiling ceremony along with members of Lord Killanin’s family, many Olympians and sporting personalities along with the ambassadors of Britain (London Games 2012) and Canada (Winter Olympics 2010).
Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, welcomed the guests from home and overseas and hosted a reception at Howth Yacht Club.
Dr. Jacques Rogge later paid a courtesy call to An Taoiseach Brian Cowen at Government Buildings.