Highest Laois honour ahead for European medal winning athlete

A Laois athlete is to receive the highest civic honour, to mark her outstanding sporting achievements.

Portlaoise athlete Mary Mulhare as part of the Irish Women's Senior Team won bronze for Ireland in the senior women's 8000m at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Turin last December.

A teacher at St Mary's CBS in Portlaoise, Mary was given a big homecoming to Laois by Portlaoise Athletics Club that month. Below:

Now Laois County Council is to honour her with a Civic Reception.

The reception was proposed formally at the January meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District in a motion tabled by Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald.

"Mary is a local girl who has worked hard. Not everyone wins a medal in the European Championships. She helped the Irish team win a bronze in the cross country. It is surely worthy of a civic reception," she said.

Cllr Willie Aird seconded the motion.

"She is an ambassador in our community. You wouldn't win a European medal sitting at home watching television. Huge work was put into that," he said.

"Being an athlete takes huge commitment, and to achieve at European and World level is a massive achievement," agreed the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Barry Walsh.

Cllr Noel Touhy's son, Australian football star Zach Touhy is a past recipient.

"As someone whose son was a recipient of a civic reception, it means a lot to the individual, community and family. Well done Mary," he said.

The Corporate Policy will now consider the motion at their next meeting on January 23.