Flame sparks torch relay festival

Aug 25 2012

The Paralympic flame will be used to light a ceremonial cauldron at Northern Ireland's devolved parliament in Belfast to start a region-wide torch relay festival celebrating the Games.

"Splinters" of the fire will visit communities in Ballymena, Cookstown, Carrickfergus, Londonderry, Lisburn, Newry and Strabane.

The event will culminate in an evening of entertainment outside City Hall in Belfast.

Scouts lit four flames atop the highest peaks of the UK to spark the Paralympic torch relay this week.

The cauldron will be ignited at Stormont, the home of the power-sharing political administration between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland before parts of the fire are brought to towns around the country.

Seven-year-old sports fanatic Marc McGarel, from Ballymoney, will collect the flame for Strabane. He was born with spina bifida and dreams of one day winning a gold medal at the Paralympic Games for archery.

Oliver Murphy, Newry flame ambassador, is the only surviving member of the Irish Team that competed at the first Paralympic Games in Rome 1960. He is in his 70s and remains an advocate for the rights for people with disabilities - in 2010 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Limerick for his dedication to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

On Saturday night the flame will arrive back in Belfast for a lantern procession from the city's Waterfront Hall to the City Hall, where a cauldron will be lit.

At the City Hall there will be displays by Disability Northern Ireland, basketball games, and an appearance by the Firepoise fire performance group. The Luminous Soul dance project for people with disabilities will also showcase. The Open Arts Choir featuring disabled and non-disabled will sing in a demonstration of inclusivity. There will also be entertainment from X Factor winner Joe McElderry.

The evening will end with fireworks celebrating the Paralympic symbol Agitos on the front of the City Hall.