Team NI's Commonwealth Games athletes honoured with homecoming event

Northern Ireland’s Commonwealth Games athletes have been honoured with a homecoming reception at Stormont.

It comes after the region’s athletes scooped Northern Ireland’s second highest ever haul of medals at the Games in Glasgow.

Gold medallists Gary Kelly and Adam McKeown (bowls) and boxer Jon McConnell were among those personally congratulated by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons at the event on Wednesday evening.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and MLAs from across the parties also attended the event in the Great Hall.

In total, Team NI athletes won 16 medals – three gold, including Kate O’Connor (heptathlon), four silver and nine bronze.

It is the most medals won since the 2022 Games in Birmingham (18).

In a speech to the athletes, Mr Lyons said, “We are all so incredibly proud of you."

“Over recent weeks people from right across Northern Ireland followed your progress with enormous pride, you created a real feelgood factor, lifted spirits and gave people moments to remember, and reminded us also of the power of sport to inspire and to unite.”

He paid tribute to Dame Mary for all her work to support and encourage athletes through her trust, telling her she continues to be an inspiration and her support for young people has made a “real and lasting difference”.

Ms Little-Pengelly said that for 10 days, the public had “the privilege” of watching the athletes compete.

“Every single one of you made us all so deeply proud,” she said. “Thank you for being such great ambassadors for Northern Ireland.”

Earlier, Mr Lyons said he wanted to reflect the pride felt across Northern Ireland for the achievements of athletes across so many sports.

“Qualifying in and of itself is an incredible achievement and so many of our athletes achieved personal bests, got further than they thought that they would and some were medallists as well, so that was an absolutely fantastic Games and a real buzz across Northern Ireland and a real willingness to get behind our athletes,” he told the Press Association at the start of the event.

“That’s why I am hosting this event tonight so that we can recognise their success and celebrate it.”