A boxer led out Team Ireland for the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Olympics and a boxer will lead out Team Ireland for the Closing Ceremony.

Darren O’Neill, the captain of the Irish boxing squad at London 2012, will lead out Team Ireland at tonight’s (7.30pm) Closing Ceremony of the 30th Olympiad in London.

O’Neill and Adam Nolan both won on their Olympic debuts in the English capital.

Irish boxing claimed one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the Games and the Best Female Boxer of the Games award, an historic first.

Katie Taylor, who led out Team Ireland for the Opening Ceremony, John Joe Nevin, Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan finished in podium positions in London.

Cian O’Connor won a magnificent bronze medal for Ireland in show jumping and there were some fine performances from our athletes and sailors, particularly Annalise Murphy and Rob Heffernan.

Murphy and Heffernan both agonisngly lost on medals after finishing 4th in the Laser Radial class and 4th in the 50 kilometer walk.

Team Ireland’s medal haul at London 2012 matches that of Team Ireland’s record medal haul at the 1956 Games in Helsinki.

Ireland claimed one gold, one silver and three bronze medals in 1956.

The 2012 team won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals.

The great Ronnie Delaney won gold in the 1,500 meters in 1956, while Katie Taylor won gold in the lightweight class in London.

Irish boxing won eight of the ten medals at both Games, securing one gold, two silver and five bronze.

Boxers Katie Taylor, Fred Tiedt, John Joe Nevin, John Caldwell – Michael Conlan and Freddie Gilroy, both of the St John Bosco BC – Paddy Barnes and Tony “Socks” Byrne finished in podium positions at London 2012 and Melbourne 1956.