Glenealy pulls out all the stops for hockey hero
WICKLOW silver medallist Elena Tice was afforded a hero’s welcome as she returned home to Glenealy following her exploits with the Irish team at the Hockey World Cup in England.
Huge crowds gathered outside Glenealy Village Hall awaiting her return and Glenealy Camogie Club formed a guard of honour just as Elena arrived on Friday evening.
The hockey star was completely at ease as she was surrounded by adoring locals, keen to pass on their congratulations on her achievement. She was also more than happy to chat away to young fans and pose for photographs with her medal.
She was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a gift as a mark of the appreciation from the local community.
Elena, a former student of St Gerard’s School in Bray, was part of the much-celebrated Irish team hockey team that made it to the World Cup final against Netherlands, having topped their group against England, India and United States, followed by penalty shoot-out wins over India and Spain in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
The celebration was organised by the Glenealy Village Hall Committee.
‘It was very much a community-driven event,’ said Mary Weir of the hall committee.
‘Everyone in Glenealy was watching her exploits in the world cup and we are all so proud of her. She is a wonderful person and very well-liked. The whole community is so proud of her achievements’.
Elena was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England but moved to Glenealy with her family at the age of nine after some time in the USA and Austria.
She won her first cap in November 2016 against Scotland and is also an accomplished cricket international.