Irish fans are gearing up for the Paris Olympics by celebrating some of the country’s biggest medal hopes.
In Portaferry, Co Down posters, bunting and flags featuring the Olympic rings have been put up in honour of middle distance star Ciara Mageean while in Dublin a striking new mural featuring sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke has appeared.
The two track athletes, who won gold medals in the recent European championships, are among a record 133 participants from Ireland at the summer games.
When they walk into the Olympic stadium for the glittering opening ceremony on Friday, they will be wearing uniforms that feature a nod to their home counties.
Designed by Laura Weber, individual patches of each county’s coat of arms have been embroidered and placed on the jacket sleeve.
Ms Weber said: “Not only is this going to be an amazing talking point for the athletes, but it felt like such a special tribute to all their families, communities and villages that have supported them just to get here.
“And also, just in light of having county representation as well as country pride, we have four shamrocks on the back of the jacket in white. And this was province representation.”
In Dublin, a new mural celebrating track star Rhasidat Adeleke has appeared on Chatham Row.
Created by Canvaz Street Art, it captures the sprinter in her Ireland uniform, with the words ‘Mise Éire’ on the badge.
The Tallaght athlete, who won mixed relay gold and individual silver in the European championships in Rome this summer, is considered a strong medal contender for Ireland in the women’s 400 metres in Paris.
In Portaferry, meanwhile, the local GAA club, for whom 1500m runner Ciara Mageean played camogie, has been encouraging people to festoon the village with bunting, flags and posters.
There is hope that Mageean can add an Olympic medal to a collection that already includes European gold and Commonwealth silver.
Wishing our very own @ciaramageean the best of luck in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games!!
— Portaferry GAC (@portaferrygac) July 22, 2024
The entire community is behind you Ciara🤞🍀🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/2Eo6Rcfesa
Other medal hopes include gymnast Rhys McClenaghan and Belfast boxers Aidan and Michaela Walsh.
McClenaghan from Newtwonards is a double world champion on the pommel horse while Aidan Walsh won a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
