A hero’s welcome awaits in Ballyshannon on Wednesday evening for the Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry.
Ballyshannon Marlins Swimming Club will welcome the return of its long-serving member and her club coach Grace Meade to the town for what promises to be an historic evening.
Wednesday’s celebration follows on from Tuesday night’s homecoming event in McSharry’s home village of Grange in north Sligo.
A host of Special guests are set to attend with an event stage and large screen being put in place at the festival site at the Market Yard in Ballyshannon town centre that has been decked out in Olympic and Irish flags.
Master of ceremonies on the main stage for this evenings event will be Marty Morrissey from RTE Sport, having recently greeted the Irish Olympic Team on Dublin’s O’Connell Street.
There will also be music from the CCE Phil Rooney Branch from 6pm.
The victory parade will begin at 6.45pm, led by the St. Catherine’s Marching Band, Killybegs and will see Mona McSharry proudly display her Olympic medal flanked by her Coach Grace Meade and members of Ballyshannon’s Marlins Swimming Club.
The Parade will start on the Bundoran Road crossing Allingham Bridge on to Main Street through the Gables and back towards the Market Yard Festival site to the event stage.
The Olympic Medallist will be met by Special guests including the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Niamh Kennedy and representatives from Ulster Swimming and Swim Ireland.
Guests, members of the McSharry Family and Mona will be interviewed and the “Great Paris Moments” will be relayed on the large screen as well as the special medal winning swim and medal ceremony from the 2024 Olympic Games.
