Sam Bennett looks set to have a new park named in his honour

Tipperary County Council was a little slow off the mark in honouring Sam Bennett's Tour achievements last year due to the pandemic but now one of its councillors wants to for broke

Sam Bennett looks set to have a new park named after him in Carrick-on-Suir as part of Tipperary County Council honouring his achievements last year.

While the Irish rider won two stages at the Tour de France and also claimed the green jersey, the celebrations were somewhat muted by the pandemic.

Carrick-on-Suir was still decked out in signs to honour Bennett during the race and a mini parade was staged to celebrate the success of the home rider when the Tour ended.

However, the pandemic and a busy race and recovery schedule all conspired to keep Bennett away from the action; something he has since said he regretted.

Recently Tipperary County Council held an online civic reception for him, during which one of the councillors revealed he wanted a Sam Bennett Park in the area.

Advertisement
Related News

Cllr David Dunne of Sinn Fein said Bennett's achievements were so significant they deserved to be marked in a big way that would leave a lasting impression.

Dunne offered his congratulations to Bennett and his family for the Irish sprinter's "amazing career" so far, adding he was sure there was more to come.

"It's a great honour for you to receive this civic reception, it's the highest honour any council in Ireland can bestow on a person to congratulate them on their success," he told Bennett.

"There's a new park that we're hoping to have in Carrickbeg and I'd be proposing that the park is named in your honour. We have Sean Kelly Square and now we should have Sam Bennett Park."

Sean Kelly already has a square and leisure centre named after him and Bennett has previously said he thought Sean Kelly was a leisure centre when he was a kid, as he only realised the extent of Kelly's achievements when he went to Europe himself to race.