HOMECOMINGS:HUGE CROWDS are expected in Bray, Co Wicklow, on Monday evening for a homecoming celebration for local sporting heroine Katie Taylor. Bray Town Council was still finalising the details of the celebration yesterday evening.
The plan, subject to the approval of the Taylor family, is for the Olympic gold medal-winning boxer and her entourage to proceed in an open-top bus through the town at 7pm.
Celebrations will continue until 10pm on the seafront, where there will be fireworks and celebrity guests.
The Irish Olympic team is due to land at Dublin Airport at 1.30pm on Monday.
The Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) said there were no plans for an event in Dublin city centre after the arrival. A spokesman said the Government planned to honour the team at a State function in Farmleigh in the next 10 days.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport said it understood the OCI was in discussions with Dublin City Council about a reception.
Thousands of people are expected to attend a ceremony in Mullingar to welcome home boxer John Joe Nevin and equestrian event competitor Joseph Murphy on Monday evening. Mullingar Town Band will lead a parade through the town from the end of Patrick Street from 6.30pm.
The parade, with the athletes transported on an open-top bus, will arrive at Cusack Park at 7.30pm for a homecoming address and ceremony at 7.45pm.