Lurgan-born woman wins Olympic gold medal

A woman born in Northern Ireland is celebrating after winning a gold medal for Canada at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Thirty four year old Lurgan-born Geraldine Heaney, who emigrated to Canada with her parents when she was nine months old, helped her adopted country defeat the United States 3-2 in the women's ice hockey competition.

Afterwards, she dedicated her triumph to her late uncle, who died in October. Geraldine, who was nine months old where her parents Kathleen and Michael emigrated to Canada, says she plans to visit the country of her birth in May and June and show her relatives the gold medal.

She said her one regret in winning the medal was that her uncle Seamus was not alive to see the victory. She said that he had been her number one fan and came out every year to watch her play hockey.

Canada's victory avenged the defeat they suffered at American hands four years ago, and is the country's first Olympic ice hockey gold in 50 years.

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