07/06/2012

Olympic Torch Leaves Northern Ireland

The Olympic Torch has left Northern Ireland for Scotland.

On the last of five days on the island of Ireland, the torch traveled from Newcastle to Larne before crossing the Irish Sea to Stanraer to be welcomed for the next leg of its relay.

Today was a waterborne and rainy day for the Olympic flame, as it crossed Lough Neagh and the Irish Sea and the crowds who lined the streets to cheer it on got drenched in the bad weather.

It started at the foot of Slieve Donard, passed through Templepatrick and Antrim, crossed Lough Neagh by boat to Ballyronan and Magherafelt, then continued through Ballymena and Moorfields before reaching Larne where it was taken on to the Cairnryan ferry.

Comedian Patrick Kielty carried the torch through his hometown of Dundrum and jumped to kick his heels together, laughing that the move was to settle a bet.

Another torchbearer was Andrea Bingham, who took up judo to lose weight and donate a kidney to her sick son – and proceeded Northern Ireland Senior Champion in the sport.

Belfast’s new mayor Gavin Robinson received the torch at the City Hall last night after it came back from a symbolic visit to Dublin.

He said he hoped its legacy would be an inspiration for people to "get active" and enjoy sport.

(NE)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

18 May 2011
Olympic Torch To Race Round NI
NI will feature among the 74 locations on the 2012 Olympics torch relay route. It will start at Land's End and take a route that covers every nation and region in the UK and includes island visits, will see the Olympic torch travel 8,000 miles.
22 August 2012
Paralympic Flame Lit In Northern Ireland
The Paralympic Torch has been lit at the top of Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest peak. Scouts and mountaineers climbed the County Newcastle hill today to create the National Flame as part of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay.
05 June 2012
Olympic Torch Disrupted in Londonderry
A protest in Londonderry disrupted the Olympic torch relay yesterday, causing the route to be slightly changed. One man was arrested charged with assault on police and disorderly behaviour after minor scuffles. About 100 people had gathered for a dissident republican protest against police searches. Nobody was injured.
17 February 2005
PSNI and Garda Síochána take part in Torch Run
Members of the PSNI and Garda Síochána were quick off the blocks today for the start of the 2005 Law Enforcement Torch Run.
06 June 2012
Olympic Torch Crosses Border For The Day
The Olympic torch left Northern Ireland to visit Dublin today, after a symbolic ceremony at the border. Boxer Wayne McCullough from County Antrim passed the torch to former team-mate Michael Carruth, from Dublin, south of Newry.