Double gold for remarkable Rohan

Ballinahown's Mark Rohan is celebrating double gold success at the London Paralympics. The paraycyclist won the Men's Individual Road Race over 48km today (Friday), at the famous Brands Hatch venue in Kent in a time of 1.53.09. In a tense and tight race with a huge crowd of Irish supporters cheering him on, Mark beat Tobias Fankhauser of Switzerland by just two seconds to the delight of hundreds of locals back home who gathered in Ballinahown NS to await the result. The most proud of all was Mark's 90-year-old grandfather Mike, who with tears in his eyes said: "I'm delighted. He had to work very hard to get that far. I'm very proud. He's out on his own, there's no one like him". His uncle Gerry simply described the occasion as a "super" one for the entire Rohan family, thanking everyone in Ballinahown for all their support down through the years. Principal of Ballinahown NS Mary Daly said it was a momentous day for Ballinahown and everyone in village, one that everyone will remember for many years to come. "To win one medal was great, but two is phenomenal," she enthused. Mark Rohan took his first gold medal to the one he won on Wednesday in the Mens Individual H1 Time-Trial event. Attention now turns to a massive homecoming event due to take place in Ballinahown village on Tuesday evening at 7pm. Roads in the village will close prior to, and during, the event which will be held in the carpark, just across the road from the local church. The double gold medallist is expected to be paraded through the village before being feted at a formal ceremony.