Two time World Cross County Champion John Treacy is made a Freeman of Waterford.
Athlete John Treacy is originally from Villierstown in County Waterford. At a special ceremony, the Villierstown athlete John Treacy was greeted with fanfare and a parade when he was made a freeman of Waterford.
Twenty-two year old Treacy was greeted by the same loud cheers that sent him over the winning line at Limerick last March to become the world champion for the second time.
Thousands of people were joined by some of Ireland's top sporting personalities for the occasion which took place at Waterford City Hall. John Treacy was officially greeted by Mayor Stephen Rogers before he signed his name alongside those of President Éamon de Valera, President Seán T O'Kelly, Cardinal Browne and Cardinal Conway to become the nineteenth freeman of the city.
John Treacy thanked the people of Waterford for bestowing this special honour on him. He will now embark on serious training to defend his world title at the 1980 World Cross Country Championships which will take place in France next spring.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 26 July 1979. The reporter is David Donoghue.
