Olympic Torch travels to Dublin

The Olympic flame travelled through the Republic of Ireland for six hours last Wednesday.

Normally, the torch only tours the host country after being lit in Greece, but a special derogation was made in recognition of the Northern Irish peace process, and the fact that the Irish Olympic team comes from both sides of the border.

It's likely to be the only time the flame will ever pass through 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," said Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey.

"To have the torch relay in our part of the island is quite unique and historic, and I think in years to come people will look back and say 'that must have been great'."

The torch began its journey in Northern Ireland, and crossed the border at Newry, where there was an official handover ceremony involving two Olympic medal winning boxers - Wayne McCullough and Michael Carruth.

It then travelled by convoy to Howth in north County Dublin where the Olympic Council of Ireland has its head office, where it was received by President Michael D Higgins.

Afterwards it was paraded by a range of athletes, Olympians and celebrities around Dublin city, including Eurovision pop act Jedward, and Olympic gold medal winner Ronnie Delaney.

"I got an emotional buzz," said Delaney, who won gold in the 1500-meter race at the Melbourne Games in 1956.

"I'm not the most emotional person in the world, but my 10 grandchildren were there, I saw them all, and I actually had tears in my eyes."

Star hurler Henry Shefflin took it high onto the roof of Croke Park on its new Skyline tour.

Athlete Sonia O'Sullivan, who will be the Chef de Camp for the Irish team at the London Olympics, lit an Olympic cauldron before the flame was returned to Belfast.