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| Olympic torch crosses border to Dublin | Olympic torch crosses border to Dublin |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Olympic flame has crossed the Irish border and is on its way to Dublin before returning to Belfast later. | The Olympic flame has crossed the Irish border and is on its way to Dublin before returning to Belfast later. |
| Visiting the Republic of Ireland capital is to recognise the "unique and deep ties" between Ireland and the UK, Olympics Minister Jeremy Hunt has said. | Visiting the Republic of Ireland capital is to recognise the "unique and deep ties" between Ireland and the UK, Olympics Minister Jeremy Hunt has said. |
| Olympians Sonia O'Sullivan and Dame Mary Peters are among the day's bearers, along with pop duo Jedward. | Olympians Sonia O'Sullivan and Dame Mary Peters are among the day's bearers, along with pop duo Jedward. |
| The flame left Northern Ireland in a ceremony at the border involving boxers Wayne McCullough and Michael Carruth. | The flame left Northern Ireland in a ceremony at the border involving boxers Wayne McCullough and Michael Carruth. |
| The long-time friends were team-mates representing Ireland at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona where McCullough, from County Antrim, took silver in the bantamweight division and Carruth, from Dublin, won gold at welterweight. | |
| The early morning handover took place at the site of the former customs station on the old Dublin road, south of Newry. Schoolchildren from both sides of the Irish border were there with their parents to witness the occasion. | |
| Special beacon | |
| The torch starts its day in Dublin with a "skywalk" over a glass section of the new roof at Croke Park stadium before it winds its way around the Irish capital and then back across the border before heading to Belfast for the evening. | The torch starts its day in Dublin with a "skywalk" over a glass section of the new roof at Croke Park stadium before it winds its way around the Irish capital and then back across the border before heading to Belfast for the evening. |
| Irish president Michael D Higgins is due to greet the flame in Howth, Dublin, and a host of sports stars will carry the flame on its 125-mile journey. | Irish president Michael D Higgins is due to greet the flame in Howth, Dublin, and a host of sports stars will carry the flame on its 125-mile journey. |
| They include former footballer Paul McGrath, ex-rugby internationals Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan and leading jockey Ruby Walsh. | They include former footballer Paul McGrath, ex-rugby internationals Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan and leading jockey Ruby Walsh. |
| Also among the torchbearers in Dublin will be Anthony Sutherland, whose son Darren won a boxing bronze medal in Beijing in 2008, but was found hanged in his London flat the following year, and Bridget Taylor, the mother of Katie, who will be attempting to add a women's boxing gold medal in London to her four world championship wins. | Also among the torchbearers in Dublin will be Anthony Sutherland, whose son Darren won a boxing bronze medal in Beijing in 2008, but was found hanged in his London flat the following year, and Bridget Taylor, the mother of Katie, who will be attempting to add a women's boxing gold medal in London to her four world championship wins. |
| A celebratory event will be held at St Stephen's Green, where Sonia O'Sullivan, a former world and European champion and Olympic silver medallist, will light a special beacon to mark the occasion. | A celebratory event will be held at St Stephen's Green, where Sonia O'Sullivan, a former world and European champion and Olympic silver medallist, will light a special beacon to mark the occasion. |
| "We will never have the Olympic Games in Dublin and the nearest we are ever going to come to it is the London Games, so to have the torch relay on our part of the island is quite unique and historical," said Pat Hickey, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland. | "We will never have the Olympic Games in Dublin and the nearest we are ever going to come to it is the London Games, so to have the torch relay on our part of the island is quite unique and historical," said Pat Hickey, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland. |
| "We got a special derogation for it to move from Belfast to Dublin and we see the crossing of the border as a way of celebrating peace in Northern Ireland for the last 15 years." | "We got a special derogation for it to move from Belfast to Dublin and we see the crossing of the border as a way of celebrating peace in Northern Ireland for the last 15 years." |
| At Croke Park, home of the Gaelic Games and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Irish sportsman Henry Sheflin, 33, will parade the flame along the new rooftop Skyline attraction before it begins its journey through the city. | |
| Henry plays hurling with his local club Ballyhale Shamrocks and has been a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team since 1999. He was the All-Ireland winning captain in 2007 and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. | Henry plays hurling with his local club Ballyhale Shamrocks and has been a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team since 1999. He was the All-Ireland winning captain in 2007 and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. |
| The Jedward twins, who have represented the Republic in the last two Eurovision Song Contests, will take the torch to the post office in O'Connell Street and later it will be met by Taoiseach Enda Kenny as it reaches Leinster House, which was built in the 18th Century and has served as the national parliament building since 1922. | The Jedward twins, who have represented the Republic in the last two Eurovision Song Contests, will take the torch to the post office in O'Connell Street and later it will be met by Taoiseach Enda Kenny as it reaches Leinster House, which was built in the 18th Century and has served as the national parliament building since 1922. |
| Later, after the flame returns to Northern Ireland, the relay will progress north through Newry and Lisburn before returning to Belfast shortly before 17:00 BST, where Olympic gold medallist Mary Peters will be among the torchbearers. | Later, after the flame returns to Northern Ireland, the relay will progress north through Newry and Lisburn before returning to Belfast shortly before 17:00 BST, where Olympic gold medallist Mary Peters will be among the torchbearers. |
| The day will end outside City Hall for an evening celebration featuring rock group General Fiasco, dance act Twist and Pulse and the City of Belfast School of Music Junior Choir. | The day will end outside City Hall for an evening celebration featuring rock group General Fiasco, dance act Twist and Pulse and the City of Belfast School of Music Junior Choir. |
| On Thursday, the relay will take in Newcastle, Dundrum, Clough, Downpatrick, Crossgar, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Templepatrick, Antrim, Ballyronan, Magherafelt, Ballymena and Moorfields before leaving Northern Ireland for Scotland. | On Thursday, the relay will take in Newcastle, Dundrum, Clough, Downpatrick, Crossgar, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Templepatrick, Antrim, Ballyronan, Magherafelt, Ballymena and Moorfields before leaving Northern Ireland for Scotland. |
| A total of 8,000 people will carry the flame during its 8,000 mile, 70-day journey to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London on 27 July. | A total of 8,000 people will carry the flame during its 8,000 mile, 70-day journey to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London on 27 July. |