This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18328382#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Olympic torch crosses border to visit Dublin | Olympic torch crosses border to visit Dublin |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Olympic flame has crossed the Irish border and is visiting Dublin, before returning to Belfast later. | The Olympic flame has crossed the Irish border and is visiting Dublin, before returning to Belfast later. |
| The trip to the Republic of Ireland capital recognises the "unique and deep ties" between Ireland and the UK, Olympics Minister Jeremy Hunt has said. | The trip to the Republic of Ireland capital recognises 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 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 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. | The 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. |
| McCullough said: "It was like going into the Olympic final again, you get emotional. | |
| "This was something I was looking forward to all week, to do something cross-community and meet my good buddy Michael Carruth. I am honoured to be doing it." | "This was something I was looking forward to all week, to do something cross-community and meet my good buddy Michael Carruth. I am honoured to be doing it." |
| Special beacon | Special beacon |
| The torch started its day in Dublin with a "skywalk" over a glass section of the new roof at Croke Park stadium, carried by hurling player Henry Shefflin. | The torch started its day in Dublin with a "skywalk" over a glass section of the new roof at Croke Park stadium, carried by hurling player Henry Shefflin. |
| It wound its way around the Irish capital and will later head back across the border and on to Belfast for the evening celebration. | |
| Northern Ireland Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilín described the torch's trip to Dublin as "significant" and said the torch had been really warmly received throughout the course of its journey in Northern Ireland. | Northern Ireland Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilín described the torch's trip to Dublin as "significant" and said the torch had been really warmly received throughout the course of its journey in Northern Ireland. |
| She also paid tribute to those who had carried it: "A lot of the torch bearers are ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. | She also paid tribute to those who had carried it: "A lot of the torch bearers are ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. |
| "They're carrying the torch not just as an international symbol of hope, vision and inspiration but also for overcoming their own personal difficulties." | "They're carrying the torch not just as an international symbol of hope, vision and inspiration but also for overcoming their own personal difficulties." |
| Irish president Michael D Higgins greeted the flame in Howth, Dublin, and a host of sports stars are carrying 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 are 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 is being held at St Stephen's Green, where Sonia O'Sullivan, a former world and European champion and Olympic silver medallist, lit a special cauldron. | |
| After running in the relay she said she had been "nearly as nervous" as before a race and it was a "long" 300m dash with the torch. | |
| "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 Sheflin, 33, paraded the flame along the new rooftop Skyline attraction before it began 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. |
| He said carrying the torch was "up there with his eight All-Irelands (hurling medals)". | |
| The Jedward twins, who have represented the Republic in the last two Eurovision Song Contests, took the torch to the post office in O'Connell Street and it was later met by Taoiseach Enda Kenny when it reached 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 takes 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 takes 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. |