Taoiseach Simon Harris told the homecoming for Team Ireland following the Olympic Games that Ireland’s athletes have inspired children around the country, saying they now believe they can grow up to represent Ireland and win medals.
Large crowds gathered at Dublin Airport and in the city centre to welcome the team home following what was the State’s most successful Olympics, yielding seven medals.
Dublin City Council organised the celebratory event at the GPO on O’Connell Street which began at midday and runs through the afternoon.
A total of 64 women and 69 men competed for Team Ireland across 14 sports, winning seven medals in total.
Four gold medals were won across various events at the Paris games.
Daniel Wiffen, 23, won gold in the men’s 800m final and also took a bronze in the men’s 1,500 metres final.
Rhys McClenaghan, 25, won gold in the pommel horse final, in what he called his “redemption story”.
Three athletes retained their Olympic titles from the Tokyo games: Skibbereen rowers Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy in the men’s lightweight double sculls; and Dubliner Kellie Harrington in the women’s 60kg boxing event.
Mona McSharry, from Co Sligo, won a bronze medal in the 100 metre breaststroke, while rowers Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch also won bronze.
Speaking at the event, the Taoiseach said the team had done the country proud, with the public glued to their screens for the last two weeks.
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“They have done us so proud. I was just saying backstage that there has been very little work done in this country for the last fortnight because everyone opportunity we’ve had we’ve all been glued to our screens.
“On your behalf I just want to say a massive thank you to these men and women who have inspired our nation. Go raibh míle maith agat.
“We’ve talked a lot about lighting flames, and what these men and women have done is lit a flame in so many little tiny kids … who now believe they too can be the very best in the world, they can represent Ireland, they can win medals.
“That’s what they’ve done, and what we will do now is invest in sport because we believe in these athletes and that’s going to be the legacy of these Paris games.”
Olympians arrive at Dublin Airport ahead of homecoming
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Swimmer Daniel Wiffen said he felt all of Ireland supporting him as he won Olympic gold and bronze medals.
“I definitely felt a whole country backing me going into it. Walking out into the stadium was crazy, you always feel those nerves but you got to level your head and get in and know everyone back home is supporting you and they want the gold medal as much as you do,” he said.
Going into the 800m freestyle final the Armagh swimmer said he “definitely knew” he was going to win gold, particularly in the last 50m of the race.
“I backed myself day and night and that’s exactly what I did.
Wiffen missed out on being a flag bearer at the closing ceremony in Paris but said he is feeling much better now after a trip to hospital last night.
Looking ahead to LA 2028, Wiffen said he expects his brother Nathan to be competing alongside him.
“I’m sure in LA we’ll both be on the podium so I hope everyone looks forward to cheering on the both of us with hopefully a gold and a silver,” he said.
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In Pictures: Homecoming for Irish Olympic heroes
Bronze medal winner Mona McSharry told the crowd that winning a medal at the Olympic games was “a dream come true”.
“Being an Olympian alone was a dream come true and then being a two-time Olympian was icing on the cake and winning a medal was that step further… So happy.
“I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much. Couldn’t stop crying afterwards, just so overwhelmed with emotions. I got to experience something magical.”
Kellie Harrington said her second gold medal win has not “sunk in yet” and she is looking forward to having more time to herself following her retirement, adding that having the support of Irish people has been “amazing”.
Ireland is a “small nation but a mighty nation” she told the crowd on O’Connell Street.
Members of the Irish women’s 4x400m relay team – who narrowly missed out on a medal in the final on Saturday night – also spoke to the crowd.
Bandon’s Phil Healy thanked those who turned out to welcome them home, while Sophie Becker said she was “scared no one was going to show up”.
Tipperary sprinter Sharlene Mawdsley, who ran the anchor leg in the final, said the team “never dreamt of coming fourth” and that it was bittersweet as they were so close to winning a medal.
“We found out after the race that that time would have won silver at every Olympics except 1988 so we’re so proud of what we produced,” she said.
Ireland’s gold medal-winning gymnast Rhys McClenaghan told the crowd that he was glad to walk away as Olympic champion following his disappointment in Tokyo.
“That to me is the beauty of gymnastics, one tiny error can send you landing on your head. That’s what makes the sport exciting to me,” he said.
“It happened to me in Tokyo, but I’m glad to say it didn’t happen to me this time and we get to walk away as Olympic champions,” he told the crowd.
Diversions in place in Dublin city centre
O’Connell Street will be closed to traffic until 5pm and diversions will be in place. All buses with stops on O’Connell Street are being diverted.
On the Luas, there will be no trams running between Smithfield and Connolly on the Red Line until 10pm.
There will be no trams running between Dominick and St Stephen’s Green on the Green Line until 10pm. During this time, trams will run between Broombridge and Dominick, and between St Stephen’s Green and Brides Glen only.