Cycling: Martyn Irvine

Part of Matter of the Day – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at on 25 February 2013.

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Photo of Cathal Ó hOisín Cathal Ó hOisín Sinn Féin

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.  Déanaim comhghairdeas fosta le Martyn ar an ócáid stairiúil seo.  I congratulate Martyn Irvine on the occasion of winning silver and, indeed, the world championship for Ireland. 

As other Members have said, it was a very historic day in Minsk for Irish cycling, and this comes on the back of a remarkable number of months for Martyn, including, of course, his participation in the 2012 Olympics and his success in the Track World Cup in November and now this spectacular double win.  It is a fairy-tale story of a boy who went from being a mechanic to a cyclist and has now become a world champion.  We give our heartiest congratulations to Martyn.  I also take this opportunity to pass our congratulations to Kelly Gallagher for winning the bronze medal in the women's downhill and silver in the Super-G.  They have both done us proud, as, indeed, has the Ireland women's rugby team in winning the Triple Crown.  At this moment in time, the less said about the men's team the better.  I cannot let it go without congratulating Derry on a great start to the National Hurling League at Celtic Park yesterday.

The whole of Newtownards will come together to celebrate that achievement, as will the whole of Strangford, remembering that this is not exceptional for the area.  Sycerika McMahon recently won silver at the Euro swimming championships. 

I congratulate Martyn Irvine.  There will be pride at Movilla High School, his old school, in Newtownards, in Strangford and across Northern Ireland and pride across the whole of Ireland because he won wearing an Irish vest.  I look forward to seeing Martyn in Northern Ireland colours next year at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.