Paralympic flame lit in Mournes

Paralympic flame lit in Mournes

29 August 2012

THE Paralympic Games came to the Mournes last week when the Paralympic flame was lit at the top of Slieve Donard.

Scouts and blind mountaineers were among a group of climbers which scaled the slopes of Northern Ireland’s highest mountain on Wednesday morning.

The 2,800 feet climb coincided with ascents of the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales as the UK marked the official countdown to the Games which will be opened by The Queen in London later today.

The expedition set off at 6.14am exactly and the top of Slieve Donard was reached before 10am. Three Scouts used the traditional method of rubbing flints together to make a spark to light the fire from which Bernadette Sloan, from Warrenpoint, lit the Paralympic flame.

The flame was then placed in a miner’s lantern for its journey down the mountain.

Bernadette, a blind outdoor sports enthusiast, said it was one of the best moments of her life. “It was an absolute privilege to have been given the honour of lighting the flame.”

She continued: “I climbed the mountain last Saturday so I knew what I was in for. It was blustery and windy at the top, but it was still a great day. Now I just want to wish all the Paralympic athletes all the best for London.”

Among those also taking part were Pat Shields, from Newry, who is also blind, and 16 year-old Scout Daniel O’Mahony, whose left leg was amputated below the knee. Accompanying the group were mountain guides, police and members of the rescue services.

The lantern was taken to Belfast for a programme of Paralympic events which included the lighting of the ceremonial cauldron at Stormont on Saturday morning and the open air festival outside City Hall later that evening.

The flame was later united with the England, Scotland and Wales torches at Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, which is regarded as the spiritual home of the Paralympics, before beginning its journey to the Olympic Stadium in London.

Scout leader Richard Dorrian, who helped lead the expedition up Slieve Donard, joked that Northern Ireland had already won its first Paralympic gold medal.

“We were the first to the top of the mountain, the first to light the flame and the first to get it down to sea level,” he remarked.