After the homecomings earlier this week for Team Ireland and all the celebrations in honour of our record-breaking Olympians, it’s a good time to reflect on a special few weeks in Paris. We asked our readers for your highlights and favourite moments of the Olympics. Some of your responses and a selection of letters to the editor are published below.
Reader’s online comments on Olympics 2024
Rhys’s gold medal routine. My heart was in my mouth, I didn’t breath, just willing him to do well, and didn’t he do well and I could breath after I cleared the tears of joy! Gerard Lennon, Co Cavan
Amongst all the happy stories I found what moved me most was the few minutes’ rollercoaster of utter panic/.despair/hope/elation/distraught despair/pride on Saturday 10th August around 8pm UK time. I’ve never understood the draw of the track events, really because Ireland hasn’t had a serious competitor in that sector in decades. I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous or emotionally invested in the prowess of a team in green, and I’m a die hard rugby fan. Something so inspiring and emotional about 4 beautiful strong articulate Irish girls all competing at the elite level, putting their souls into their craft and being able to hold themselves so well in the face of such ferocious competition and disappointment. I was devastated for them in the immediate aftermath but so proud of them. Truly lifting all of us, especially those of us living away from “home”. I wish them nothing but success and more high-octane moments in the next competitions and can’t wait to start watching more athletics as the year progresses. What incredible raw TV. Thanks too to RTÉ for the wonderful David Gillick. Truly capturing the Irish zeitgeist and clearly also an infectiously positive character to the passersby from different teams too. What a wonderful showcase for Team Ireland. Catherine Kavanagh, London
Every year our extended family spend a week together in Caherdaniel, and happily this year it coincided with the 1st week of the Olympics. After a gorgeous Monday on the beach, the 8 cousins gathered around the TV to cheer (or scream) home Mona McSharry and repeated the trick the following evening for Daniel Wiffen. It was the ‘Italia 90′ moment for the next generation - they will always remember where they were for Paris 2024. Eamon McKay, Co Kerry
Olympic Letters
It’s my contention that pride in our Olympic athletes can unite, if only for a short time, an entire nation. One experienced two types of feelings in the aftermath of these games and they were pride and gratitude. One was especially grateful to these incredible athletes, their families and their teams apropos to what they achieved. It was so lovely to learn that the vast preponderance of the country was in good form as a result of their achievements. Most Olympic athletes understand that how they conduct themselves at the games will reflect upon their countries. It was especially so gratifying to see all of our athletes standing a little big taller and it was obvious to me the deep respect each Irish participant showed in being able to represent their country. With the eyes of the country upon them, our athletes could say that the best they could do was their best. Well done to each and every one of you for giving of your best. John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Sir, – There will probably never be a better time to reflect on the fact, illustrated by various studies, that while Olympic gold medallists are the happiest subgroup, those receiving bronze are ultimately happier than recipients of silver. It is nice to think that the joy so many of us experienced in the short term over this fairly grim summer will be felt in the long term by those who reached the podium in Paris. Well done to Team Ireland, and to their predecessors at prior games who made this possible. – Brian O’Brien Kinsale, Co Cork
Without doubt the standout sports commentator on RTÉ during the Olympics was in basketball. Having only become aware of Tim McCarthy in the current Olympics, it was easy to become an instant fan. His enthusiasm for his sport could not be equalled. His unique turn of phrase, delivered at breakneck speed, to describe the action conveyed the excitement of every game to his audience. The terms he used might seem strange in basketball, but we know exactly what he means by “boom-shaka-laka”, “shot from downtown”, or “my beautiful balloon”. A gold medal for commentary is overdue. Jim Ward, Barna, Galway
Paris 2024 has proven that the Olympic Games is the world’s leading international festival of sport. During the past fortnight, Paris was the centre of the world where the French, with typical Gallic flair, affirmed the unifying power of sport. The City of Love radiated with bonhomie, togetherness, joie de vivre and solidarity. From the colourful opening ceremony, where Celine Dion delivered a powerful rendition of L’hymne à l’amour (The Hymn to Love), the games ran like clockwork. We were privileged to witness the world’s best athletes competing for their nations’ and their personal glory. They were the heroes who, in true Corinthian spirit, gave their all for their respective countries. Not all competitors won medals but all have achieved the distinct honour of becoming Olympians, which they can dine out on for life. To win a gold, silver or bronze Olympic medal is a lifetime achievement. The athletes left no stone unturned to get on the podium. That is why our daily routine was discarded, why the dog wasn’t walked, why the grass wasn’t cut, so that we could soak-up the competitive atmosphere and marvel at the extraordinary performances of elite athletes. Paris 2024 will be fondly remembered in Ireland. Our gallant Olympians punched above their weight, tamed the wild horse, pulled like a dog, swam like a dolphin and ran like a cheetah. We bask in the reflected glory of Team Ireland’s success. Well done, Team Ireland. – Billy Ryle, Tralee, Co Kerry
Sir, – Over the past two weeks, the spirit of the Olympic Games has shone through in every sport. Whether winning or losing, the sheer joy and camaraderie among all the competitors has been outstanding to witness. With the new soccer season starting, perhaps they could learn from the Olympic spirit. – GM Hughes, Stockport, England
Sir, – What a set of performances from Team Ireland in Paris thus far. I was particularly inspired by Rhys McClenaghan’s back story where he revealed that he and his coach set a 10-year programme 10 years ago to win an Olympic gold. I have decided to follow his example. I just need to decide what event would best suit a 76 year old. – Hugh McDonnell, Dublin 9
Sir, – I am so concerned about the young people of Ireland. After these Olympics, how will they ever survive without the traditional national inferiority complex? Comhghairdeachas to all. And still plenty more to come. – Jackie Nugent, Dublin 7
© 2024 The Irish Times DAC A RECORD haul of seven medals capped off the Paris Olympics as Team Ireland’s most successful to date.
In the swimming pool, Ireland has made a splash with Daniel Wiffen winning gold in the 800m and bronze in the 1500m while Mona McSharry won bronze in the 100m breastroke final.
Lahinch’s Paul Talty played his part in their success as Head of Physical Preparation with Swim Ireland.
Speaking to The Clare Echo from Paris, Paul said, “What Mona and Dan have achieved is really special. This week’s results are a testament to their hard work and commitment over many years to perfecting their craft. The significance of these results for everyone in the Irish swimming community should not be underestimated.
“On a personal level, it is a huge privilege to witness all of this in person. Getting to see the Irish flag raised in an Olympic venue two days in a row is a memory that will stay with me forever. All of this is creating a great buzz around the team”.
Now living in Armagh, Paul’s involvement in Team Ireland was also referenced by All-Ireland winning Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney when he was attending the fight of Kellie Harrington in Paris.
After graduating with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science from UL, he worked at Coventry University, before going to the Northern Ireland Sports Institute as a Strength & Conditioning coach.
Prior to the Olympics, he was back in the county in June and was a keen spectator at Treacy’s West County Hotel in Ennis where his brother Shane was elected for a second term on Clare County Council.
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If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.
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August 19th, 2024 8:00 AM
By Kieran O’Mahony
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Two-time Olympic gold medallists Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy, Aoife Casey, Emily Hegarty and coach Dominic Casey will attend the event being organised by Skibbereen Rowing Club. It is expected that the homecoming will follow a similar plan to the homecoming in 2016 with further details to be released in the coming weeks.
At Dublin’s homecoming on Monday, with crowds of over 20,000 in attendance, Paul O’Donovan was absent from the podium as he had already returned to work as a junior doctor in CUH last week. Fintan McCarthy said: ‘We’ll leave him off, he’s doing a really good job at home in CUH. We miss him, of course, but we will be reunited soon.’
Paul, who is now a three-time Irish Olympic medallist, is preparing for the World Championships in Canada next week, where he will line out in the lightweight men’s single sculls.
Fintan, along with bronze swimming medallist Mona McSharry, led Team Ireland at the closing ceremony on Sunday night in Paris, due to Daniel Wiffen taking ill. Daniel’s mum’s family, the O’Keeffes, were originally from Kinsale, but settled in Wirral in the UK.
Paul and Fintan’s homecoming into Dublin Airport last week almost garnered more attention than their gold medal success after they received a spin back to Cork with a fellow passenger, Kieran Duggan. He was surprised when they told him on the flight that they were planning to get the Aircoach back to Cork, if it ‘wasn’t booked out’.
Speaking on the Southern Star Olympic Podcast last week, Fintan said they hadn’t really organised anything going home, as he was heading back out to Paris the next day again.
‘I just came back to drop a million bags, but thank God Kieran, who we met on our flight from Paris, saved the day. We were going to get the Aircoach but he said he would take us back to Cork,’ said Fintan.
‘We got a door-to-door service from Kieran and he dropped me and Natalie Long to Ballincollig, and Paul to Douglas.’
Meanwhile, locals in Kilbrittain came out in their droves on Monday evening to welcome home their Olympic hero, Nicola Tuthill, as part of the Kilbrittain Summer Festival. The 20-year-old athlete, who was the youngest competitor in the women’s hammer in Paris, finished 16th in the Stade de France last Sunday morning.
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Developed by Square1.io and powered by PublisherPlus.com Wednesday, 14 August 2024 13:35
By Hazel Nolan
@HNolan101
The latest episode of our limited podcast series, 'Sprint for the Line - the making of Team Ireland's athletes' gets some fascinating insight from the athlete's families.
When Kellie Harrington sank to her knees on the canvas in Paris, it was about so much more than winning an Olympic gold medal.
Her journey back to the summit had been incredibly tough, and in the minutes after her gold medal winning performance she was quick to pay tribute to those closest to her.
“I'm so happy that it's everyone who gets a piece of the pie. It's been extremely difficult the last three years, and there have been times I thought I'm not going to get to the Olympics, even after I qualified.
“I said to Mandy three months ago, I don't think I'm even going to win a fight out here, because I don't even know how I'm feeling, I don't feel like I'm in the right place right now.”
In our latest episode of out limited podcast series, 'Sprint for the Line - the making of Team Ireland's athletes', we talk to those closest to the competitors who brought us so much joy in Paris.
Nhat Nguyen became a two-time Olympian this summer. His sister Tham worked hard to join him, but her attempt to qualify in weightlifting came up just short.
She told us how Nhat helped her nurture her own Olympic dream.
“I'm totally inspired by watching my brother's journey because if I hadn't watched him I wouldn't have returned to weightlifting.
“He inspired me to come back and weightlift.
“I've watched him since he was six years-old and he climbed up to be one of the best Badminton players in Ireland.
“I'm very proud to be his older sister but I'm even more proud of all his achievements. He's hungry all the time, he has goals, goals, goals and he's always looking to achieve and strive better for himself. ”
Tokyo bronze medalist Aidan Walsh has been very open about his struggles with his mental health since the Tokyo Olympic Games.
His family watched him hit rock bottom, but his Dad, Damien, told us how proud he is of his openness and his journey back to the top.
“I think it's tough for any boxer in any sport, we always have the highs and we always have the lows, but it's how you carry yourself through that.
“I think there's a lot of people running around not willing to express it. For a person like Aidan, and Michaela, who can be at the top, that 1 per cent, who can come out, be open and say it's okay not to be okay.
“If you feel like that go and speak to somebody, it's done him amazing good. It's helped him on the journey, and there's Aidan back on his feet again, from being at the bottom.
“Sometimes it takes going to rock bottom to appreciate coming back up to the top, and thanks be to God, that's where he is.”
To hear much more, listen to the latest episode of 'Sprint for the Line - the making of Team Ireland's athletes'.
It is the first time the Irish Olympic Team have received a civic reception on their return home.
They won seven medals at Paris 2024 - four gold and three bronze - with four of those medals taken by athletes from Northern Ireland.
Three athletes from Northern Ireland won medals as part of Team GB, who arrived back in London on Monday afternoon, will have a homecoming event on Saturday.
It is Ireland’s most successful Olympics team - 100 years after it first took part in the Olympics.
The team flew into Dublin Airport and travelled to the centre of Dublin for a free public event on O'Connell Street.
Swimmer Daniel Wiffen, who won a gold and a bronze in Paris, told Irish broadcaster RTÉ it felt good to be back home to celebrate.
“It's been amazing, what a journey,” he said.
“Thank you to everyone for showing us support over the past couple of weeks.
“You're really what is making us win these medals.”
Wiffen made history in Paris, becoming the first Northern Ireland athlete to win an individual gold medal since 1972.
The 23-year-old, from Magheralin in County Down, won gold in the 800m freestyle and bronze in the 1500m freestyle.
Gymnast Rhys McClenaghan, who won pommel horse gold, said the support was incredible.
“We only got a taster of it over social media while we were out there but to see it in person, this is incredible,” he said.
“It was a fairytale story for me and it continues.”
McClenaghan said he and his fellow Irish athletes were a “big family”.
“We've all been a part of making this a historic result for Team Ireland,” he said.
“I think all of us here will forever be a close knit group of friends, a family.”
McClenaghan completed the gymnastics' 'Grand Slam' after winning gold.
The victory mean the 25-year-old gymnast from Newtownards in County Down had won the top prize in the World, European, Commonwealth and Olympic tournaments.
With no more competitions until next year, McClenaghan said he would take some time to relax and enjoy his success.
On O'Connell Street, two young fans, Cora-Jane and Riley, said they were most excited to see 400m runner Rhasidat Adeleke.
Riley told BBC News NI he thought the Olympics were “really good”.
“It was a fairytale story for me and it continues.”
Cora-Jane added that it was very important to see Irish women competing in the games.
Rower Philip Doyle from Banbridge won bronze alongside Daire Lynch in the men's double sculls.
The 31-year-old dedicated his medal to his late father, Eamonn, who passed away in 2015 from cancer.
He acknowledged the huge success athletes from Northern Ireland achieved during the 2024 Olympics.
“To see so many Northern Irish athletes doing so great over the past few days has been amazing. It's really spurred me on,” he said.
Boxer Kellie Harrington defended her Olympic title, while Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan picked up Ireland's other gold medal with victory in the lightweight men's double sculls.
Mona McSharry rounded off the medals with a bronze in the women's 100m breaststroke.
Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said an extra €400m (£342m) would be announced for sport in the coming weeks.
This would also include funding for a new national velodrome and badminton centre.
The National Lottery is due to host a homecoming event for Team GB at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday.
The event will be hosted by Emma Willis and Vernon Kay, and broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer.
Individual homecomings have also been announced for Olympians across Northern Ireland.
Daniel Wiffen is to be welcomed back to his hometown of Magheralin on Tuesday, with the event starting at 19:00 BST at St Patrick’s Church Hall.
Hannah Scott is due to attend a Coleraine Town Hall reception 16:00 on Wednesday, while Rhys McClenaghan will be honoured with a parade from his local gym to Conway Square in Newtownards on Friday at 16:00.
Survivors are encouraging people with knowledge of the institutions to take part in a public consultation.
The algae has been confirmed at the Barmouth between Portstewart and Castlerock.
Hundreds of thousands of students do vocational qualifications known as BTecs every year.
A senior party colleague says Mr Beattie's decision to quit came as a shock.
Steven Cunningham admitted causing Charlotte McHugh's death by dangerous driving.
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