Support for Olympic torch to Teltown

Dear sir - The inspiring gesture of the proposal to make an exception and to allow the symbolic visit of the Olympic Torch to Ireland, before it reaches its final destination of London for the 2012 Olympic Games, shines a light on the rich heritage and sporting ambitions of the country of Ireland as a whole, both North and South. In the same spirit, Navan Shamrock Festival wish to echo and endorse the call made by Kells Heritage Group and Scurlogstown Olympiad Group for the Olympic Torch to travel to Teltown, Navan as part of its tour across Ireland from Belfast to Dublin on its way to its London venue. Teltown is hallowed ground for many as it was the arena for the hosting of the famous illustrious Tailteann Games begun in Ireland in 1887. This seven day festival event hosted by the chieftains of Ireland attracted many great warriors and champions to partake. Impressive names such as Oisin and Finn McCool, Commander of Fianna Eireann, the legendary army of Ireland. The Tailteann Games were Ireland's first great national festival. This event formed the centre of the sporting and cultural life of Ireland for many generations and is the inspiration behind many of today's sporting associations. Meath GAA proudly named their headquarters in Navan Pairc Tailteann in honour and as a testimonial to the famous festival once held on the banks of the Blackwater. The Tailteann Games are further commemorated by the holding of the annual Ras Tailteann, now known as the An Post Ras, the around Ireland bicycle race. It is not generally known that the famous Olympic Games drew their inspiration from the more ancient games which originated in Ireland. It occurred when ancient Greek merchants discovered the Tailteann Games in progress while trading with the Eastern Sea Board of Ireland and were influenced with the idea of such a sporting spectral, and brought the idea back home with them to Mount Olympus in Greece. With this in mind it is only right and fitting that the Olympic Torch completes a full circle and returns to where it all began many a year ago. We call on all our local public representatives and the Minister for Sport, Leo Vardakar, to ensure that County Meath takes its rightful place in the history of the Olympic Movement by making certain that the iconic symbol of the Olympic Torch returns home to Teltown as the build up to the Olympic Games London 2012 begins. Yours, Irene Donnelly, Navan Shamrock Festival PRO.