The London 2012 Paralympic Games have drawn to a close in front of a stadium audience of more than 80,000.
During the closing ceremony, Ireland's 800m and 1,500m metre gold medalist Michael McKillop was presented with an International Paralympic Committee award in recognition of his work encouraging schoolchildren throughout Ireland.
Ireland's paralympians go home with eight gold, three silver and five bronze medals.
Mr McKillop's international award was for an athlete who best exemplifies the paralympian spirit.
The team are due to touch down in Dublin aboard a CityJet flight at about 7pm tomorrow. At the airport they will be welcomed home by Minister of State Michael Ring.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny will host a reception for them at Farmleigh on Friday and they will be honoured by President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin next month.
