A buzzing crowd of around 20,000 gathered in the sunshine this afternoon to welcome back Ireland’s Olympians.

The athletes, including Sarah Lavin, Sharlene Mawdsley, Phil Healy, Sophie Becker, Kate O’Connor, and Thomas Barr, were the first to take to the stage after an energetic performance from four young dancers clad in PTSB-branded T-shirts.

Joanne Cantwell and Marty Morrissey were the hosts for the day, welcoming Taoiseach Simon Harris, Dublin Mayor James Geoghegan, and Sports Minister Thomas Byrne to say a few words. However, the crowd was here for the tracksuits rather than the business suits, and the first precious metal on stage was worn by Kellie Harrington, greeted by a raucous roar.

She insisted on getting the coaches up on stage, along with her teammates, including Jack Marley, Jude Gallagher, Daina Moorhouse, Aoife O’Rourke, and the rest.  Zaur Antia teased that Kellie was well capable of making it three in LA, but she was insisting ‘I am Done,” before rallying the massed ranks by saying that even though we are a small nation, we are a mighty one.”

A parade of those who had been part of the 133-strong team came on stage, including Shane O’Donoghue from Hockey, Aifric Keogh from Rowing, Sarah Ennis from Equestrian, Shane Ryan from Swimming, Ciara McGing from Diving, and so many more that we have gotten to know over this Olympic Cycle and especially in the last two weeks.

The top of the bill was reserved for the medallists, with each of those who had won making the time to celebrate with the fans.  Fintan McCarthy represented his teammate in the Double Gold Lightweight Sculls, Paul O’Donavan, who was back on his training rotation as a newly qualified Doctor.

Philip Doyle is not returning to the Ulster Hospital until September, but he was there with Daire Lynbch and their bronze medals in the heavyweight pairs. The question was asked whether the two teams might unite to row the iconic fours in LA, but no answer has been given quite yet.

Daniel Wiffen is not only going for a bac-t-back but also for a podium finish alongside his twin brother Nathan in LA.  No shortage of self-confidence there.

Mona McSharry is taking a few months off before determining the next phase of her life and whether it will still be in the pool.

Finally, there is no such decision-making for Rhys McClenaghan, who is heading back for more and hoping to follow in Kellie Harrington, Paul O’Donoavan and Fintan McCarthy’s footsteps to win Double Gold in four years’ time.

It was great to see the tricolour regained these past two weeks and, in glorious exposition today, waved proudly by so many in the crowd who might not trace their Irish roots to famine times or beyond but are every bit a part of who we are and what we are as a nation.

The afternoon rounded off with Green smoke billowing from behind the stage, all in the shadow of the GPO and with Roisín O belting out Grace, a republican anthem of lost potential reborn these past weeks as an anthem with Olympic overtones.  Sure, you couldn’t make it up. 

Well done Dublin City Council for pulling it all together at such short notice.

Roll on now, and let’s do it all again for the Paralympics, Cortina, and Los Angeles.

 

 

 

 

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