Good day, it’s Sarah Burns. Today, a homecoming gathering in honour of Team Ireland, returning from the Paris Olympics, will unfurl at the GPO grounds, kicking off at half past twelve.
Initiated by the Dublin City Council and the Olympic Federation of Ireland, this is the inaugural civic reception to honour an Irish squad returning from the Olympic games. The event is open to the public and requires no tickets, all are encouraged to join with their loved ones to give the excellent team a fitting welcome.
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This celebration will be precedent-setting as it marks the first time an Irish Olympic team have been accorded a civic reception on their arrival back home. The afternoon will be laced with entertainment, courtesy of DJ Dec Pierce, and will culminate with the Irish team ascending the stage.
Double Olympic boxing champion Kellie Harrington will receive two rounds of celebration. Initially, at the GPO welcome ceremony for Team Ireland planned around lunchtime, and a second party set to take place at Portland Row later in the evening.
The ceremony’s commencement will be signalled at 7pm with Harrington parading down Sean McDermott Street from Diamond Park, proceeding towards The Five Lamps in the company of the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band.
Thereafter, Harrington will ascend the stage at Killarney Street to interact with fans, who will be treated to a performance by local singer Gemma Dunleavy before listening to Harrington recount her experiences and relive the enchantment of Paris 2024.
“Dublin City council urges guests to arrive early as the event is bound to be massively attended, to avoid any disappointment”, the council stated.
Anticipated heavy traffic in Dublin as it braces to welcome Ireland’s Olympic champions is expected.
The homecoming celebrations for Team Ireland will commence outside the GPO on O’Connell Street from 12.30pm. Later in the day, another celebration is lined up in the north inner city in honour of local icon Kellie Harrington, the back-to-back Olympic boxing gold medallist.
In order to accommodate the festivities, O’Connell Street will be inaccessible to all motor vehicles, including buses and trams, starting from 10.30am Monday until 5.30pm. Disruptions will also occur on the Red and Green Luas lines. The Green route will be disconnected from Dominick Street to St Stephen’s Green from 9am to 10pm, with trams active only between Bride’s Glenn and St Stephen’s Green and Dominick Street to Broombridge.
There will be no Red Line service from Smithfield to Connolly/The Point up until 10pm.
Today, the following detours will be executed in the heart of Dublin city:
• Traffic heading North: Will be redirected via Eden Quay – Gardiner Street Lower – Parnell Street.
• Traffic heading South: Will be redirected off O’Connell Street onto Cathal Brugha Street, with an option to swing onto Marlborough Street or Gardiner Street Lower leading to Eden Quay.
Access to Arnotts car park will be restricted during the course of today’s event.
Buses scheduled to stop on O’Connell street will be rerouted from 10am until at least 10pm, as per Transport For Ireland. Killarney Street in Dublin 1 will be closed to traffic and parking will be prohibited on Sean McDermott Street for a 12-hour period from 10am on Monday.
In Olympics news, since the Sydney Games in 2000, Ireland has climbed 45 spots in the medal rankings, according to Nora-Ide McAuliffe and Paul Scott. The Paris Olympics marked Ireland’s best-ever medal haul, advancing from 64th position 24 years ago when Sonia O’Sullivan clinched a silver in the Women’s 5000m to 19th, after Team Ireland secured four golds and three bronze at the Paris Games.
Due to a rushed hospital visit over the weekend, Olympic gold medallist Daniel Wiffin was unfortunately unable to participate in the closing ceremony last Sunday. President Michael D Higgins released a statement this morning to offer his congratulatory remarks and gratitude to all those Olympians who represented Ireland “with such honour over the past two and a half weeks.”
“Each of our medal clinching champions has delivered tremendous pleasure to not just those on our home turf but also to viewers globally, serving as inspiration,” was the statement. “The lofty standards seen from all competitors, reaching and surpassing qualifications, has brought a sense of extraordinary pride to all Irish folks, regardless of where they may be located.
“The Olympic games represent not just a quadrennial event but a lifetime of relentless training and dedication from our sportsmen and women. I convey my heartfelt respect and gratitude to all who have given their utmost in a myriad of sports, setting new personal, national and even Olympic records. Across all fronts, we’ve seen genuine successes.
“The hard work our Olympians have put forth showcases the commendable efforts of their coaches, family, and supporters. Many of whom made the journey to Paris to cheer on our athletes. They also exemplify the support system that has guided them on their individual and collective paths.
“The monumental results from these Games have elevated the Irish affection for sport to unprecedented heights. Looking ahead, the promise of additional funding fuels the hope that such extraordinary outcomes can be replicated and built upon in coming years.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of our Olympians as they reunite with their loved ones and communities, embodying the warm welcome they have truly earned.
“I am eagerly anticipating hosting them at an event at Áras an Uachtaráin in the near future, where I’ll have the chance to personally acknowledge their remarkable accomplishments.”