Today sees the closing ceremony of the 8th Gay Games in Cologne, which kicked off on 31st July – and a well-deserved rest for the 100-odd members of Team Ireland. (You may remember the Gay Games from such articles as here and here.)

And bloody hell, didn’t Team Ireland do well? The unofficial roving reporter for the Cork contingent tells us that their medal haul alone was 27. Twenty-seven!!

Some Team Ireland highlights

Team Ireland’s first medal of the tournament was won by Nick Flanagan, who picked up silver in the 50m backstroke and who set a new personal best.  In the Triathlon event on the same day, competitors Eithne Ni Longphuirt and Yvonne Delaney picked up medals of gold and silver, respectively, in their classes.

Poolside, Ireland’s Vivenne picked up a gold, silver and a bronze. Celebrate diversity, what? Meanwhile, Ireland win a medal in the 10k road race through the forest near Cologne, with Louise Cavanagh taking the bronze.

Nick Flanagan strikes again in the 4x50m medley, winning the gold. And Ireland’s terrific women won bronze in the 200m relay. Eilis Burns went on to take gold in the 100m breaststroke and break the Irish record for her age group. Go girl!

By the evening of 4th August, there were at least 14 medals for Team Ireland’s Cork contingent. Within under three days of that, the total number of medals increased by 7. Still awaiting the full tally for Team Ireland. GO TEAM!

Injuries

Unfortunately the Team sustained a number of injuries, including goalie, Fi, with broken ribs after some dirty play. There were also torn ligaments for Ireland’s striker, who required treatment by ambulance staff.

Thievery!

Teammate, Eithne, had her three medals stolen! We certainly hope she was able to get them replaced.

• Derek Scally has a run-down of the week’s events and some words from Team Ireland’s participants in today’s Irish Times.

• For more same-sex sporting successes, keep your eyes peeled for the Eurogames in Rotterdam (2011) and the next Gay Games in Cleveland, Ohio (2014)!

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