A TRAVELLER, a special Olympian and a garda will join six Irish Olympic medallists from the last half century in the Dublin relay of the torch next month.
A poignant addition to the list of torch bearers for June 6th is Tony Sutherland, representing his late son Darren Sutherland. Sutherland won a bronze medal for Ireland in the last Olympics in Beijing but died tragically in 2009, aged 27.
The flame for July’s London games is due to be lit from the sun’s rays at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece today.
Among the 41 torch bearers to carry the flame in Dublin are Eurovision duo Jedward (John and Edward Grimes) who will carry it together. The pair are keen cross-country runners and completed the Los Angeles marathon in March.
Former Olympians taking part in the relay range from athlete Ronnie Delany (77), whose gold medal dates back to Melbourne in 1956, to boxer Kenny Egan (30) who won silver in Beijing in 2008 and silver medallist at Los Angeles in 1984, marathon runner John Treacy (56).
Just 34 of the 41 final torch bearers were announced by the Irish Olympic Council yesterday. There would be some “surprises” in the remaining seven, a spokesman for the council said yesterday.
About half of the bearers named were chosen for their involvement in local sports and community activities or because of their inspirational story.
Traveller John Collins (23) from Dublin works with young Travellers and is a member of Éireann’s Isle GAA club. Wicklow teenager Lee Kinsella (19) volunteers at a project to inspire other teenagers to follow him in moving away from antisocial behaviour.
Olivia O’Toole from Sheriff Street, Dublin, who has won over 130 caps with the Irish women’s soccer team was nominated by Dublin City Council.
Two athletes who hope to represent Ireland in the London games will also feature: marathon runner Mark Kenneally and pentathlete Natalya Coyle.
Other prominent sportspeople on the list include former Ireland soccer player Paul McGrath, all-Ireland medal winner and Dublin footballer Bernard Brogan and former Ireland rugby player Shane Horgan.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny would meet the torch at Government Buildings during its city tour, the Olympic council said.
Dublin Lord Mayor Andrew Montague called on “all Dubliners to come out on the streets and cheer our torch bearers in what will be a great day”. He said it was a “huge honour” for the capital.
The State will have the flame for six hours of its 70-day tour, which begins in Cornwall on May 19th.
Each torch bearer will run for 300 metres before transferring the flame to another torch. The location of each crossover point will not be released until days before the event.
Olympic boxing medallists Wayne McCullough and Michael Carruth will take part in a torch handover from the North at the border at 6.30am on June 6th.
The flame will then be transferred by a convoy which will include a vehicle containing a miner’s lantern holding the original Greek Olympic fire.
President Michael D Higgins will meet torch bearers in Howth. Kilkenny hurler Henry Shefflin will then take the torch on a skyline walk at Croke Park before beginning the first leg of the city relay at 9.30am.
The flame will travel around the city centre, will cross the Liffey at Beckett Bridge and will cross the Grand Canal at Leeson St and Harold’s Cross bridge.
The relay will end at the bandstand on St Stephen’s Green shortly before midday, where a commemorative Olympic cauldron will be lit at 11.50am.
GOLD STANDARD OLYMPIC TORCH BEARERS
Ronnie Delany (77):Olympic gold medallist, 1956 (1,500m).
Sonia O'Sullivan (42):Silver medallist, 2000 (5,000m). Manager of Ireland's Olympic team at the London Games.
John Treacy (56):Silver medallist, 1984 (marathon). Chief executive of the Irish Sports Council.
Michael Carruth (44):Gold medal (welterweight boxing), 1992.
Kenneth Egan (30):Silver medal (light-heavyweight boxing), 2008.
Wayne McCullough (42):Silver medal (bantamweight boxing), 1992. Former WBC world bantamweight champion.
Tony Sutherland:Representing his son Darren, the late boxer who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Games.
Jedward (20):John and Edward Grimes, twins and Eurovision regulars.
Paul McGrath (53):Former soccer international.
Shane Horgan (34):Former rugby international.
Henry Shefflin (33):Kilkenny hurler.
Bernard Brogan (28):Dublin Gaelic footballer.
Mark Kenneally (31):Will compete in the marathon in London.
Natalya Coyle (20):Modern pentathlete.
Irial Finan (54):From Co Roscommon. Executive vice president of Coca-Cola, based in Atlanta.
Mark Pollock:Adventure athlete.
Anne Ebbs (71):Founder of the Paralympic Council of Ireland.
Joan Freeman (54):Founder of Pieta House.
Olivia O'Toole (40):Former international footballer.
Brian Brunton (48):Garda.
Eddie Byrne (54):Boxing coach who has run 27 marathons
Áine ní Choisdealbha (22): TCD scholar.
John Collins (23):Nominated by Pavee Point Travellers Centre.
Aaron Fallon (16):Artist.
Karl Flood (17):Simon volunteer.
Mubarak Habib (54):Volunteer for Sport Against Racism.
Ger Keelan (15):Young person of the year in 2007 after saving his father's life after a farm accident.
Lee Kinsella (19):Volunteer.
Cillian Kirwan (15):Gaelic footballer, hurler and athlete.
Lauren Lawless (16):Volunteer.
Robbie Lyons (18):Medal winner in World Transplant Games.
Alva Nolan (20):Special Olympics volunteer, referee and coach.
Gary O'Brien (24):Medal winner at the 2011 World Special Olympics.
Niamh Reid-Burke (21):International diver.
