Thousands of Dubliners cheer Olympic torch relay

Irish Eurovision entry singers Jedward, John (L) and Edward Grimes, carry the London 2012 Olympic torch during its relay through Dublin June 6, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

DUBLIN - Thousands of Dubliners packed the city streets on Wednesday to cheer on the London 2012 Olympic torch relay.

Forty torch bearers wended their way through the city street, starting at Ireland's historic Croke Park and finishing up at St. Stephen's Green, a public park in city center.

At Croke Park, Irish hurling star Henry Shefflin, representing the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), carried the torch along the stadium's skywalk.

During a public celebration at St. Stephen's Green, Irish Olympics hero Sonia O'Sullivan lit the cauldron to commemorate the Olympic torch's first visit to the republic.

A collection of sports stars and other celebrities, including Jedward singers, carried the torch throughout the city.

Prior to the Dublin City run, the Olympic torch was greeted in Northeast Dublin's Howth harbor by President Michael D Higgins and Lord Sebastian Coe of the London Olympics in the company of school children from the area and many representatives of civic and sporting organizations. The Olympic hymn was sung by schoolchildren during a brief ceremony marking the Olympic torch's first official stop in the republic.

Irish boxers Wayne McCullough (L) and Michael Carruth touch London 2012 Olympic torches on the border between Newry, Northern Ireland and the Dundalk, Ireland, June 6, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

The torch was visiting Ireland as part of the 70-day London 2012 torch relay and crossed the border from Northern Ireland early Wednesday morning. During a special ceremony at the border, the torch was passed between two former Olympic boxers, Belfast's Wayne McCullough and Dubliner Michael Carruth.

Dublin is the only city outside Greece and the United Kingdom to host the flame.