Heroes’ homecoming as Sonia and Roy get Freedom of Cork

IF only all council meetings were like this. Roy Keane and Sonia O’Sullivan were hailed by their own at a lavish ceremony in Cork City Hall yesterday afternoon and for once there wasn’t a dissenting voice to be heard.

Sonia was first to arrive for the joint conferral of the Freedom of the City. When she stepped out of the black Mercedes she was greeted with spontaneous applause from those gathered outside City Hall. Accompanied by her partner Nic Bideau, she looked thrilled and a little shy about it all. That's our Sonia.

In her acceptance speech she thanked the people of Cork for their "continuing support, for their loyalty and for their affection over the years", through good times and bad.

"I am extremely touched and flattered for being chosen for this unique honour," she added.

Roy, looking sharp in a grey suit, had managed to inveigle his way into City Hall through the side entrance. As he accepted the freedom of the city he said he was "proud and delighted", and kept his words as tight as his haircut.

"I've been very lucky and, you know, I think I'd put it down to a lot of luck," he claimed.

In his speech, Lord Mayor Sean Martin mentioned everything from the Ancient Olympics to scandals in the Church, but he eventually got down to the nitty gritty.

The feats of Roy and Sonia had left us in "stupefied fascination", he said. They had hammered their God-given natural talent into something extra special through dedication and hard work and were examples of modern icons. They were heroes, he said, "and we have never been in more need of heroes".

Both the Manchester United captain and the Cobh-born Olympian were feted by musicians and poets. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern sent his own tribute, as did the Mayor of Manchester. Autograph hunters ran from one side of the building to the other in a bid to get Roy's signature it was that kind of day.

It was also one tinged with sadness. Some day soon they'll hang up the boots and the running spikes and then what will we do? One thing is for sure, we might never see their like again. As they say down here, 'chalk it down'.