RATHKEALE HAILS WORLD CHAMPION

It was celebration all the way last week in Rathkeale when one of their own came home a world champion. Ian O’Sullivan competed in the World U21 Trap Shooting Championships which are of Olympic standard, the highest in clay pigeon shooting, and beat off competition from 34 countries in Grenada in Spain to claim the gold medal. The young Rathkeale marksman became the first ever Irish individual winner of a gold medal at the World Shooting Championships in the Olympic discipline. Ian had previously won a world medal at a lower discipline some years ago. The town turned out in force last Thursday evening for a homecoming organised by Rathkeale Community Council and, after a parade through the town, the new world champion was the recipient of a special presentation by the Council to mark his achievement, in the Community Centre. A huge crowd was there including local public representatives. See photographs on page 38.