Seán Kelly, the president of the GAA has confirmed Cian O'Connor, Olympic show-jumping gold medal champion, will be a special guest of the GAA at the All-Ireland hurling final, between Kilkenny and Cork on September 12th, where he will be introduced to the attendance.

Kelly said: "Cian brought huge honour to Ireland and its equestrian tradition and it was both opportune and appropriate that he should be honoured in the biggest sporting arena in the country."

In the past years Michael Carruth, Wayne McCullough and Sonia O'Sullivan were similarly honoured for their Olympic exploits, as was Ken Doherty, world snooker champion and Gillian O' Sullivan, world silver walking medallist.

Ronnie Delany was recently introduced to the crowd in Croke Park before the Cork and Wexford All-Ireland hurling semi-final.