‘We are a small nation, but we are a mighty nation’ – Kellie Harrington tells 20,000 people gathered on O’Connell Street for Team Ireland homecoming (2024)

Olympic champion swimmer Daniel Wiffen told the crowd: "I'm a dual sport Olympian now so that's pretty cool."

Wiffen waved to the crowd with his gold and bronze medals around his neck.

"I'm okay now I was a bit ill," he said, thanking the crowd. He was rushed to hospital on Sunday ahead of pulling out of carrying the Irish flag during the closing ceremony in Paris.

"I definitely felt the whole country backing me going into it. You always feel those nerves but go in knowing everyone back home is backing you.

"I backed myself day and night and that is what I did.

"We train 26-30 hours a week, it's a bit of a crazy schedule but it's all worth it when you come home with a medal."

He predicted that he and his twin brother Nathan would win gold and silver in the same event at the 2028 games in Los Angeles.

He was joined on stage by gold medalist Rhys McClenaghan and bronze medallists Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle.

Olympic gold medal rower Fintan McCarty took to the stage without his partner Paul O'Donavan who is gone back to work.
"We were just really excited that we did our best and did our best race," said McCarty.

McCarthy said his Olympic journey was “surreal”, adding: “I just trained really hard and managed to get two of these (gold medals).”

He said of the last Olympics: "That was kind of the moment I realised any of us can do it and I trained really hard and managed to get one of these."

He teased that he and his gold medal partner Paul O’Donovan could join Lynch and Doyle for a four-man rowing event at the 2028 Olympics.

While bronze medalist Mona McSharry said winning a medal was a "dream come true".

Taekwondo fighter Jack Woolley told the crowd:

"I'm very proud to have gone for my second Olympics. Devestated with the result.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet," he said.

"We are a small nation, but we are a mighty nation," Harrington told the crowd, to a large applause.

In a finishing word Harrington told the crowd she saw her father, Christy Harrington, standing in front of the Dublin Portal on O'Connell Street before she went on stage with an Ireland flag draped around his shoulders, praising his daughter to those in New York watching on.

Gold medalist Kellie Harrington received a huge round of applause from the crowd. "Kellie, Kellie, Kellie," they chanted.

"I think it's only fair we have our coaches up here," said Kellie, requesting the full boxing team on stage.

Harrington said to win gold at the Paris Olympics after gold in Tokyo was the “stuff of dreams”.

“It hasn’t actually sunk in yet, but it’s the stuff of dreams to be honest with you,” she said.

“I think it’ll only be in a few weeks when I actually sit down and have time on my own to think back over the last 20 years … I’m just looking forward to having that time to myself … to see how far we’ve come.”

She added: “I never underestimate anybody, and I always expect the worst when you’re stepping in there and and I tried to take the pressure off myself by expecting the worst.

“I wasn’t worried. I wasn’t fearful. Sometimes the fear of losing can be greater than the joy of winning and I didn’t let that happen. I just went out there to enjoy myself, and all I wanted was to be happy. That is genuinely all I wanted, was to just be happy and I’ve never been as happy boxing as I have been out there when I’ve been boxing and I think that’s because I knew this is it now, like this is the last leg of the journey, and after this, I’m finished. I’m done. I’m dusted. So lets just enjoy it.”

Responding to a shout of one more year and speculation she could take another Olympic gold, Harrington said: “I’m done”.

"Its actually crazy. When we landed in Dublin Airport this morning we did not expect this many people here today," said Phil Healy, of Ireland women's 4x400m relay team

"Next time, LA 2028, we just have to go for another four years", said Sharlene Mawdsley.

The athletics team is first to take to the stage, with a roar from the crowd.

Chants of Ole, Ole, Ole could be heard from the crowd.

Taoiseach Simon Harris told the crowd: "I want to say a massive thank to these men and women who have inspired."

Mr Harris told the homecoming “very little work” had been done in the country during the Paris Games as people went “hoarse” from cheering on Irish athletes.

Speaking on the stage, the Taoiseach said that the Irish team inspired children around Ireland.

“I’m so delighted about today that the athletes and their families who’ve been away in Paris are getting to see what it’s like because up until now, they’ve been somewhat in the Olympic bubble.

“But they’re back here today realising that this whole country – 5.6 million of us – have been cheering them on.

“We’ve been hoarse from cheering them on, and today we got a chance to say one amazing thing to them: ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.'”

Boxer Kellie Harrington’s parents were among the families who gathered outside the GPO on O’Connell Street draped in tricolour flags.

Children held signs celebrating Harrington’s second gold medal and one girl was seen holding an “I heart Mona” banner to celebrate swimmer Mona McSharry’s bronze medal.

Others sat in windowsills and looked out from above rooftops to catch a glimpse at the celebration.

More than 100 Irish competitors, including all Olympic medallists, are to attend the event.

Minister Roderic O'Gorman said: "It's absolutely incredible to be here today on O'Connell Street. Over 20,000 people waiting now for our Olympians to come onto the stage.

"It's a huge opportunity to just say thank you for every single one of them, medal winners, but all of them, for giving us such an exciting two weeks in August this year.

"Seeing the achievement, how magnificent they participated in their races. It's really amazing. It's a testament to the investment we've put in as a county, elite sports but all our sports."

Swimmer Daniel Wiffen talking to the media on O'Connell Street before Team Ireland take to the stage.

Wiffen took home the gold medal in the 800m freestyle, setting an Olympic record and returning to take his bronze medal just days later in the 1500m freestyle.

The Olympians have arrived on O'Connell Street in the last few minutes and are getting ready to take to the stage. The celebration is expected to last until 3pm.

Crowds have been gathering in the sun since 10am.

It will be the first time Team Ireland have received a civic reception on their return home from the Olympics, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of Ireland’s participation in the Games.