President and Taoiseach pay tribute to Egan

The President and the Taoiseach are leading tributes to Irish boxer Ken Egan who has secured a silver medal at the Olympics in Beijing.

The 26-year-old from Dublin has missed out on gold, losing 11-7 in the light heavyweight final at the Workers' Gymnasium.

President Mary McAleese says the people of Ireland are uplifted by the outstanding achievement.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen says Ken gave everything in a wonderful bout of top-class boxing.

Dozens of family members and friends crammed into the Egan family home in Clondalkin, west Dublin to watch the fight.