THE women's bobsleigh pilot Aoife Hoey and her older sister, and team manager for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, Siobhan will be honoured in their hometown of Portarlington on Sunday.
Events will begin at 3 pm outside Portarlington Leisure Centre from where a parade will makes its way to the GAA centre, led by St Patrick's Boys School Band, under the direction of Colin Smyth.
In attendance will be Laois athlete Anne Keenan Buck
ley, along with representatives from the Olympic Council of Ireland. Members of the local Special Olympics branch will also attend
A nominal fee of n5 will be charged to attend the function in the GAA centre, the proceeds from which will go towards providing the Hoey sisters with a holiday. The homecoming committee PRO Willie Murphy said people may not realise the sacrifices which both women have made and that they are long overdue a break after their hard work.
Speeches, live music from comhaltas and a disco provided by Anthony Jaffray, who is providing his services free of charge, will take place in the GAA centre.
There was mixed joy for Josie and Nuala Hoey, parents of Aoife and Siobhan when they returned from Vancouver where they witnessed their daughter's performance in the four bobsleigh runs.
Their pride at their daughter representing her country in the Olympics was tempered somewhat by a break-in to the house while they were away. While the house was ransacked, it is understood that no valuables were taken and the many medals garnered by both girls were untouched.
