Katie Taylor and Michael Carruth led the congratulations as Kellie Harrington became Ireland's third Olympic boxing champion.

Harrington joined the Irish boxing duo in winning a gold medal at a Games on Sunday in Tokyo after she beat Brazil's Beatriz Ferreira in the women's 60kg lightweight final.

Having narrowly lost the opening round to her opponent, the Portland Row fighter battled back in the last two rounds to earn a victory which she described to RTÉ Sport as the "stuff of dreams".

Two-weight world champion Taylor, who famously won gold at London 2012, lauded the 31-year-old as "outstanding".

Carruth, whose own triumph came at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona spoke of his pride after an "amazing fight" and added "welcome to the club".

Former world champions and Olympians Barry McGuigan and Andy Lee also offered their congratulations to the Dubliner.

"What a star. Don't forget, a frontline worker who brought a lot of joy with her videos during the depths of the pandemic. Now Olympic Champion, congratulations," Lee added.

The congratulations spanned the sporting spectrum. Fellow Olympic medal winner Sonia O'Sullivan described the feat as "fantastic", while former Ireland rugby captain Brian O'Driscoll was captivated by the scenes in Harrington's native Portland Row and ex-soccer international defender Paul McGrath had one word for it: "Wow".

Fellow Team Ireland member Nicci Daly, who was part of the women's hockey squad in Tokyo, added: "Irish eyes are smiling all over the country thanks to this CHAMP! What a competitor, what a role model, what a person!"

Gymnast Rhys McClenaghan said that he and Harrington had sung along to 'Hakuna Matata' from the Lion King film, which was a catchphrase she quoted during the Games and he added that the achievement "couldn't have happened to a more deserving person".