Rob Heffernan will be awarded the bronze medal for the 20k walk race at the European Championships in Barcelona in 2010 by Athletics Ireland in a ceremony to be held in the City Hall on Friday 19^th December. The ceremony will take place in the council chambers at 6pm.

It is a case of better late than never as Rob Heffernan becomes the latest Irish athlete in line for a major championship medal due to the retrospective banning of a Russian athlete for a doping offence.

Heffernan who had finished just outside the medals 4^th place in a time of 1:21 has been upgraded to 3^rd after the Russian athlete Stanislav Emelyanov who won the gold medal in Barcelona  has been banned due to irregularities in his biological passport.

It is appropriate that Rob will receive this medal in his home city of Cork in front of family, friends, fans and dignitaries. Present at the event will be the City Mayor Councillor Mary Shields & County Mayor Councillor Alan Coleman. Representing Athletics Ireland will be President Ciarán Ó Catháin and CEO John Foley.

Heffernan will now have a European bronze medal to go with his World Championship gold.