City trumpets arrival of Grand Slam legends

THE Triple Crown, the Six Nations trophy, a boxful of specially commissioned medals and, as if there wasn’t enough silverware flying, music from silver plated trumpets.

It was all part of a gleaming ceremony in the shamelessly modern atrium of Cork County Hall yesterday afternoon when city and county councillors came together to host the Irish rugby team. It took Ireland’s first Grand Slam victory in 61 years for the urban and rural politicians to hold a joint ceremony – and there wasn’t a local election poster in sight.

Looking like Eurovision entrants among their sober-suited county counterparts, city councillors came through the swing doors of County Hall wearing their ceremonial red and green robes.