Dublin City Center was absolutely hopping on Monday as it warmly welcomed home members of Team Ireland after the country's most successful Olympic ever.
Irish Olympic medallists Kellie Harrington, Daniel Wiffen, Mona McSharry, Rhys McClenaghan, Fintan McCarthy, Philip Doyle, and Daire Lynch were among the Irish athletes who were rightly treated to a hero's welcome home in Dublin on Monday.
With seven medals - four Golds and three Bronzes - Ireland enjoyed its most successful Olympics ever. The haul also landed them in an impressive 19th place overall on the Paris 2024 medal table.
The celebrations kicked off on Monday morning as Irish athletes touched down at Dublin Airport aboard an Aer Lingus flight from Paris.
The occasion didn’t pass without a few classic photo ops.
Home sweet home ?✨#TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/68YYeSTtth
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 12, 2024
Waiting for Team Ireland at Dublin Airport was a crowd of fans who delivered an enthusiastic welcome home.
What a welcome back!! Thank you all ??#TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/1i6vtH3JKe
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 12, 2024
From Dublin Airport, Team Ireland was driven to O’Connell Street by Dublin Bus for Dublin’s first-ever civic reception for Olympic athletes.
Olympic Homecoming ? ?? pic.twitter.com/iWHHU5MyVE
— dublinbusnews (@dublinbusnews) August 12, 2024
The free homecoming reception, which was announced last week, was hosted at the GPO. According to reports, more than 20,000 fans descended upon the area for the open-air event.
Look at this for a welcome at our official homecoming! ✨?? pic.twitter.com/LCFClL2lb8
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 12, 2024
Addressing the crowds on Monday, Taoiseach Simon Harris said Ireland's athletes had done the country "so proud" and that their performance at the Olympics had "lifted our spirits."
He said: "There has been very little work done in this country for the last fortnight because every opportunity we have had, we have all been glued to our screens.
"And on your behalf, I just want to say a massive thank you to these men and women who have inspired our nation. Go raith mile maith agat.
"We have talked a lot about lighting flames and lighting Olympic flames but really what these men and women have done is they have lit a flame in all of the young people right across Ireland.
"I have met so many little tiny kids, including my own, and see so many here today who now believe that they too can be the very best in the world. That they can represent Ireland. They can win medals. That’s what they have done."
August 12, 2024: Crowds at Dublin's GPO welcome home Team Ireland after the Paris 2024 Olympics. (RollingNews.ie)
Irish Olympian Phil Healy, who was part of the Women’s 4x400m relay team with Sophie Becker, Sharlene Mawdsley, and Rhasidat Adeleke that narrowly missed a medal on Saturday, was shocked by the size of the crowd.
“It’s actually crazy,” Healy said on stage.
“When we landed in Dublin Airport this morning, just seeing the reception here - we did not expect this many people to turn out here today, so thank you to everybody for coming along to support us.”
Becker admitted: “When I heard there was a homecoming I thought it was like when you have your birthday party and you’re scared no one’s going to show up, that’s what I thought, so thank you all so much.
“You know, we got snippets of what it was like at home when we were racing, but nothing compares to actually seeing everybody here supporting us.
"Thank you so much.”
Team Ireland homecoming‘We did not expect this many people to turn up’ – Members of Ireland’s 4x400m women’s relay team Phil Healy, Sophie Becker, Sharlene Mawdsley and Kelly McGrory speaking at the Team Ireland homecoming in Dublin
Posted by RTÉ Sport on Monday, August 12, 2024
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The homecoming was doubly sweet for boxer Kellie Harrington, who grew up on Portland Row, not far from where the reception was staged.
Having won Gold in Paris, Harrington made history by becoming the first Irish female athlete to not only win medals at two Olympic Games, but to win two Gold medals.
Addressing the homecoming event at the GPO, Harrington said: "We're a small nation, but we're a mighty nation. And we'll fight and we'll keep on fighting. That's why we are who we are."
'We’re a small nation, but we’re a mighty nation.'
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) August 12, 2024
Double Olympic champion Kellie Harrington praises the support Team Ireland received during the competition | Follow live updates: https://t.co/eCF0zJHhpY pic.twitter.com/ZgTfoAfFm4
After the reception event at the GPO, Harrington was treated to another emotional homecoming when she returned to Portland Row where she was met with great fanfare.
Donning a green Ireland top and her brand-new Gold medal, a tearful Harrington said: "I genuinely didn't expect this.
"But I don't know why I didn't expect it because we're just bleedin' brilliant."
"I just want to say thank you to absolutely every one of you, for all the support."
An emotional Kellie Harrington thanked the thousands of supporters who welcomed her home following her success at the Paris Olympic games | https://t.co/J8J5aUskmf pic.twitter.com/0DXxgyWfqr
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) August 12, 2024
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