MICK BYRNE, a familiar member of the Republic of Ireland's technical team, will today be named as masseur for the Irish Olympic squad going to this year's Olympic Games at Atlanta.
It is a new posting for Byrne who became involved with Ireland's football team during the managership of John Giles and later held the post under Eoin Hand and Jack Charlton.
The Olympic masseur's post has been filled by Joe Doran for more than 20 years. A former track athlete, Doran also acted as masseur for Ireland's rugby team.
Dunleer AC, one of the oldest athletics clubs in the country, will celebrate its centenary year with an international cross country race on Sunday.
Ras na hEireann, launched by Joe Christle in 1967, has long been recognised as the centrepiece of the NACA season. Now it has gone open for the first time and the outcome should be a superb presentation for spectators.
Among the overseas athletes travelling for the race is the Kenyan, William Mutwol, a bronze medalist in the Olympic 3,000 metres steeplechase championship at Barcelona and current holder of the world five kilometres road race record.
James Kariuki, another Kenyan international, recently won the big race at Mallusk and to these will be added Britain's John Nutall, Christian Weber (Canada) and the American Seamus McElligott. Three BLE national champions, Seamus Power, David Burke and Noel Cullen will also be on the starting line.
