Olympic silver medalists the O’Donovan brothers, Gary and Paul, are due to arrive home to Skibbereen next Monday, and up to 10,000 people are expected to be there at their homecoming.
The two brothers, who came second in the Olympic men’s lightweight double sculls, are expected to arrive in Cork at 7:30pm on an open topped bus, and large screens are being set up in the town so that everyone present will be able to watch the two rowers be interviewed by RTE’s Jacqui Hurley.
The boys’ mother, Trish O’Donovan, told The Irish Times of how happy she is for her son Paul, calling him a “force to be reckoned with.”
“Paul has always wanted to be a force to be reckoned with in the single sculls and his dream and ambition is to be the dominant force in single sculling.
“But he wanted to give the World Championships a shot and he looks very strong. He has put down the markers for all the other competitors,” she said.
She also expressed the pride she felt at her son Gary getting to carry the flag for Ireland.
“I was so proud of Gary and he was so proud to have been asked to carry the flag. Did you see how high he lifted it?
“I think he was nearly more proud of carrying the flag than winning his medal,” she said.
Well done Gary and Paul.