Olympic 100m breaststroke bronze medallist Mona McSharry was given a hero's welcome in her hometown of Grange, Co Sligo tonight as hundreds of people turned out to celebrate the achievements of the first Olympic medallist from the northwest.
Mona’s homecoming was held back two weeks due to other commitments.
However, the wait did not dilute the excitement, pride and sheer jubilation in Grange tonight.
The chairperson of North Sligo Athletics Club Niall Canning said the success of Mona McSharry and Chris O'Donnell has inspired a generation.
Mona McSharry produced a powerful finish in the 100m breaststroke final in Paris to win bronze by one hundredth of a second.
The McSharry household has been inundated with cards and letters of congratulations over the past two weeks.
Mona said the support and messages of congratulations she received were heartwarming.
Mona told RTÉ News that she plans to return to the swimming pool in the new year as she plans to take a four month break from swimming.
Mona’s success has been no surprise.
At the age of 15, McSharry was just under a second shy of the time required to make the Rio Games.
She was a European junior champion at the age of 16 in the 50m breaststroke, and then shortly after her 17th birthday she was a world junior champion in the 100m breaststroke.
Another global gold came in the latter event in 2021, some five months after McSharry's name gained a wider prominence at the Tokyo Olympics, taking bronze in the World Short Course Championships.
Two weeks ago, Grange, nestled between Benbulben and the Atlantic Ocean had another homecoming for their other two-time Olympian and European champion, Chris O'Donnell – a unique achievement for a rural village with a population of under 600 people.
Tonight’s celebration doesn’t mark the end of the celebrations in the northwest.
The Marlins Swimming Club, 30km away in Ballyshannon, where Mona started her swimming career, will be hosting another homecoming for their Olympic medalist and her coach Grace Meade tomorrow evening.
