PRESS RELEASE

City of Derry to become Home for Flame Of Hope

09th October 03

The Olympic Flame of Hope will have an official home in Derry as Newbridge Silverware announced its decision to create a special commemorative torch for the city. William Doyle, Chief Executive of Newbridge Silverware, made an appeal earlier this year to find a home for one of the twelve torches. So great was the demand that Newbridge arranged for a special commemorative torch to be made for Derry as the city was the first Host Town to offer a home to one of the Olympic Flames.

Mayor, Councillor Shaun Gallagher welcomed the decision by Newbridge saying the city would provide a fitting home for the special commemorative torch.

“The city was one of the destinations that welcomed the Olympic Flame as it made its journey from Athens to Dublin and we were all immensely proud as Special Olympian, David McCauley lit the Olympic Flame Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the 2003 Special Olympics World Games. Providing the Flame of Hope with a home in the city is a perfect legacy for the event and the achievements of all the Special Olympians. It is an honour for the city to receive this important acknowledgement”.

In June, over a thousand people thronged Guildhall Square to welcome the international torch run team to the city on its journey from Athens to Dublin with The Flame of Hope. The Team were welcomed by Mayor, Councillor Shaun Gallagher, Denis O’Brien - Chairman of the Special Olympics World Games, Special Olympics athlete John Lynch from Derry and John Hume Foyle MP MEP, Co-Chairmen of the Host Town Committee Jim Herron (Bank of Ireland) and Tony Evans (Derry City Council). The Torch will be placed in the Mayor’s Parlour, Guildhall before it is transferred to its permanent home in the Tower Museum.

William Doyle, Chief Executive of Newbridge Silverware, said, “We are delighted to be able to provide a Torch for the city. Derry’s Host Town Committee was the first request I received after the appeal was announced, and it is only fitting that it finds a place of honour in Derry as the home of the only Irish athlete who had the honour of lighting the Olympic Flame at such a prestigious event”.

Details of the arrival date are expected shortly and it is anticipated that the Mayor, representatives from the Host Town Committee and Special Olympians will receive the Flame of Hope at a special ceremony in the Guildhall.

For additional information contact:

Press Office

return to previous page