We are so proud of our Olympic team!
Team Ireland arrived home on Monday to huge crowds in the heart of Dublin city.
134 athletes competed in 14 sports across the course of 16 days and brought home a haul of seven medals – four gold, three bronze. Marking our most successful Olympics yet.
To commemorate that Irish Olympians were given their first ever civic welcome.
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Some of Ireland’s most successful athletes were welcomed by hundreds of onlookers on O’Connell Street on Monday afternoon.
Taoiseach Simon Harris was there to welcome the athletes home.
“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,” he said at the event.
“On your behalf I just want to say a massive thank you to these men and women who have inspired our nation. Go raibh mile maith agat.
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“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.
“Thats 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.”
Minister for Sport Catherine Martin said: “Team Ireland has made the nation so proud, our most successful team ever at an Olympic Games.
“Over these past few weeks, thousands of Irish supporters travelled to France to loudly cheer on the team and it was clear that our athletes greatly appreciated this support.
Look at this for a welcome at our official homecoming! ✨🔥💚 pic.twitter.com/LCFClL2lb8
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 12, 2024
“We have invested at all levels, from the high-performance system right on down to the grassroots community level and we will continue to build on that investment in the years to come, to provide our athletes with the support they deserve.”
Gold medalist Kellie Harrington told the crowd: “We are a small nation, but we are a mighty nation.”
She went on to say: “It hasn’t actually sank in yet. It’s the stuff of dreams when I sit down and have time on my own to think back over the last 20 years.
“To have the support of this great nation is fantastic. This is amazing for every one of the athletes on team Ireland who give their all day in and day out.
What a welcome back!! Thank you all 🫶👏#TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/1i6vtH3JKe
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 12, 2024
“It means the world us, whether we win or lose… to have you all there to pick us up and dust us off.”
While hurdler Sarah Lavin said: “It’s totally surreal. It’s so emotional. Irish people are the best supporters in the whole world and we felt that every second on the track. Thank you so much.”
