Over 8,000 people turned out in Skibbereen in West Cork to welcome home the town's Olympic heroes and local rowers.
Gold medallists, Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy, along with fellow Olympians Aoife Casey and Emily Hegarty took part in an open top bus parade this afternoon.
It was Ireland's best Olympics yet and today Skibbereen was the centre of the rowing universe. Thousands of people piled onto the streets of the small West Cork town to cheer on their very own world class Olympic rowers.
Addressing the crowd, Tanaiste Mícheál Martin said the whole country was celebrating the extraordinary achievement of Skibbereen in producing four Olympic champions and making their local community so proud.
As for the athletes themselves they were humble about their success putting it down to hard work and consistency of training and praising their local Skibbereen rowing club for setting the blueprint for Olympic success.
They also thanked their families for being a strength of support and often having to take a back seat to their daily rigorous schedule.
The champions were accompanied by their internationally acclaimed coach, Dominic Casey, father of Olympian Aoife Casey. Herself and Emily Hegarty were placed 5th and 7th in their finals marking them out on the world stage.
County Mayor Joe Carroll said: " I am delighted to again welcome these great rowers back home to Skibbereen, champions and Olympic gold medalists.
"They have brought fame and glory to their club, town, county and country. This occasion is particularly special as we missed the celebration of Olympic medals in 2021, and I am looking forward to a great event, which they truly deserve."
Fintan McCarthy was beaming broadly as he took in the scenes of joyful celebration
"It's so amazing just to see the turnout. I thought no one would be showing up. It's been a month now, and I thought things would have died down.
"To get home and see the joy that everyone has for us and everyone just so happy to have us back, it's just really nice."
Fintan praised his club for turning them into Olympic gold medal winners and paid tribute to his family.
"Over the last few years, we've been really busy. So it's just nice to celebrate with them and share the success.
"Because they're not just for the good days. You know, they're there on all - for all the failures and all the bad days as well. So having something to bring home and share with them is special."
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Fintan's twin brother Jake who was the reserve on the team said even though he was not in the boat this year it was a privilege to be part of the team.
There was plenty of girl power in the crowds also with a huge fan base for Skibbereen's female Olympians - Aoife Casey and Emily Hegarty. Emily said women have made huge strides in sport.
"It's nice to think that we are role models for younger girls coming up. And just to know that the Olympics and all of that isn't completely out of reach, that we've proved that everything is possible."
Aoife Casey agreed.
"Me and Emily were here supporting the lads in 2016 and we were just rowing away, loving doing the sport that we love, it's in everyone's reach, and everyone can find a sport you love and just keep at it.
"And one day you could be here on top of a bus!"
Meanwhile Paul O'Donovan said hard work and discipline is at the core of their success story.
"I think training and a lot of hard work and dedication and taking a bit of enjoyment in what you do as well, helps you put in the long hours.
"It's not any magic I have, but I often feel like I'm just prepared to put in a lot of hours into the things that I love to do."
Fintan said he is looking forward to getting back into shape.
"You know you feel great when you're fit and training, and in a routine. I'm not great at these late nights and not working out."
And even Olympic gold medalists have super heroes. Fintan is a big fan of Taylor Swift and was due to attend her concert in Austria before it was cancelled after a threatened terrorist attack.
"Yeah I'm a big fan and I suppose I have about 10 favourite songs. Right now it's 'Alchemy'.
The Olympic rowers have certainly cast their own spell over a massive fan base.
