Open top bus for Belfast boxers

Published Tuesday, 14 August 2012
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Belfast boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan are being taken around the city in an open top bus to celebrate winning their Olympic bronze medals.

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The pair, who arrived home on Monday, waved to crowds of supporters as they toured city centre, showing off their medals.

The parade started at 1pm at Writers' Square in Cathedral Quarter, and will travel along Royal Avenue and down Donegall Place before passing around City Hall.

Deputy Lord Mayor Tierna Cunningham said the boxers represent the "new face of Belfast".

"They have been our ambassadors on a world stage for the past two weeks - the personification of Belfast as a world class city, full of high achievers and warm, welcoming people with a great sense of humour," she said.

"These two sportsmen brought us almost unbearable tension as we watched them perform on the world's biggest sports stage. They exhilarated us with their skill, their bravery and their unbelievable determination and will to win.

"They made us the proudest people on the planet when they won their medal winning bouts to put themselves and Belfast once again on the world boxing map."

Barnes, who is 25, became the first Irish boxer to medal at two consecutive Olympics after he won bronze in Beijing four years ago.

Conlan, his 20-year-old Team Ireland teammate, picked up bronze at his first Games after losing to Cuba's Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana, who went on to take gold.

The fighters were welcomed back to Belfast at the Titanic Centre on Monday afternoon by a massive crowd, which included six former Olympians from Northern Ireland.

Later, Conlan brought his bronze medal to the Falls in west Belfast to celebrate his win with family and friends.

Michael's mother, Teresa Conlan, said they were delighted with the support from the people in her community.

"It's the inspiration of the young children of the Falls, that we'll give them something to look forward to and try to emulate," she explained.

Meanwhile preparations are continuing for the return of Coleraine's Olympian rowers - silver medal winning brothers Peter and Richard Chambers, and bronze single sculler Alan Campbell.

They will arrive home on Wednesday and will be greeted at Bann Rowing Club, where they are members, before walking into Coleraine for an outdoor celebration event.

© UTV News
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22 Comments
rodger in kerry wrote (305 days ago):
linda they fought for team ireland which represents all 32 counties not just 26 thats the way it is for boxing and incase u didnt know their irish and not bits have to say the bitterness is just unreal in these posts and u mcgurk u call it team GB and nothern ireland lol id luv to know what chanel u were watching that refered to it as that and how many unionests siad wayne mc cullough should be paraded around dulin instead of belfast when he won his medal for TEAM IRELAND
Ciaran in Here wrote (305 days ago):
Well said Ryan. The people with those negatives should really feel ashamed. It is clearly only them who are upset at people celebrating winning a medal at the olympics - and celebrating it in their own home town. You're hatred and bigotry knows no bounds...
craig in lisburn wrote (305 days ago):
coming from ni they should have represented team gb and ni this is a disgrace having a different nations flag in our country well done alan campbell and the chambers brothers.
Jay in London wrote (305 days ago):
Well said Ryan, it is True, Belfast is an Irish city. Half the north is Irish the other half also irish in ireland but want to be British, thats ok. But you are all Irish in Ireland. Whatever passport you hold......
Paul in Belfast wrote (306 days ago):
They had to fight for Ireland because Northern Ireland boxers are not able to represent GB in the olympics. Do some research before posting.
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