– Niall Kelly reports from the Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
IT WAS A late one for those who stayed up but, just before 2am Irish time, a proud Paddy Barnes led Team Ireland into the opening ceremony at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Ireland were the 99th country in the Parade of Nations at Brazil’s famous Maracanã Stadium:
Not all of Ireland’s 77-strong squad were in attendance with many in action over the opening days of the competition; others, like the track and field squad, in the team’s holding camp in Uberlandia; and some still making their way out to Brazil: