Pictures: SkibbeGREEN WHITE & GOLD!

Sun, 01 Sep, 2024 - 21:22

The celebrations were mighty for Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy in Skibbereen today, where the Olympic back-to-back gold medallists were paraded through the streets of the town.

People line the streets of Skibbereen as the town welcomed home its Olympic rowing heroes. Picture: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire

Following their fantastic gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games they at last got the homecoming they deserved, having missed out on proper celebrations after they won gold at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which took place in 2021 while the world was dealing with a pandemic.

Paul O'Donovan (left) and Fintan McCarthy in Skibbereen, County Cork. Picture: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire

Skibbereen welcoming home its four Olympic rowing heroes, Aoife Casey, left, and Emily Hegarty with gold medallists Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy during an open top bus parade through the West Cork town. Picture; Anne Minihane.

In Skibbereen today fans young and old cheered and clapped as the champions were celebrated, with jubilant scenes, as the town and fans turned out in colourful style to give them a rousing reception.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin with Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy during an homecoming celebrations. Pictue: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire

Fans in Skibbereen as the town welcomed home its Olympic rowing heroes. Picture: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire

A glorious occasion, two fantastic athletes, and it was a day for all of Skibbereen's Olympic stars to be celebrated, and Paris 2024 Olympics finalist Aoife Casey and Tokyo 2020 Olympics bronze medallist Emily Hegarty were cheered on by the big crowd that turned out for the Olympic celebrations.