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TEAM IRELAND RECEIVED a hero’s welcome when they arrived at Dublin Airport this afternoon following a successful stint at the 2024 Paralympics.
The team bring back six medals – one gold, three silver and two bronze – after Katie-George Dunlevy (twice with Linda Kelly and once with Eve McCrystal), Róisín Ní Riain and Orla Comerford climbed the podium in Paris.
There were six other fourth-placed finishes.
The team were greeted by friends, family and fans as they arrived at Dublin Airport this afternoon.
In a statement this evening, Taoiseach Simon Harris said the country was “incredibly proud” of the Paralympians.
“The joyous scenes in Dublin Airport at the return of Ireland’s Paralympic team is not only the least our athletes deserve, but it’s the least anyone who has spent time with Team Ireland would expect,” Harris said.
He said the team’s energy, enthusiasm and level of support from their “army of travelling fans” has been “infectious to watch and be around”.
“I said in Paris at the opening of the games that the time I had spent with Team Ireland was among the most inspiring in my time as Taoiseach. That was before a single event was contested.
What the team went on to do in the games will not only inspire this generation of Paralympic athletes, but those looking towards the next games as well as all of us watching on.
“Congratulations to every one of you and make sure you enjoy the rest of the homecomings in your communities with your families.”
Minister for Sport Catherine Martin congratulated all who were involved with Team Ireland and acknowledged their years of dedication and hard work.
“These athletes have inspired the next generation of Paralympians and they are a credit to their families, coaches and communities,” she said adding that the government will continue to invest heavily in sport,” Martin said.
“It is helping to ensure that our athletes can prepare for these prestigious international sporting competitions in the best possible way.
“We will continue to do so in the coming years, not just in the high performance system but also at grassroots community level.”
Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education Thomas Byrne was at the Games last week.
“It was fantastic to see the hugely vocal support they received in their competitions and everybody is enormously proud of our 35-strong team,” he said.
“They have all represented their country with distinction and have created some truly historic moments this past fortnight that will be remembered for a very long time.
“The Government, for its part, is proud to have supported Team Ireland with record funding to support high performance sport.”
Team Ireland consisted of 35 athletes who were selected to compete in nine different sports – a larger team than the one that competed at the last Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021.
Over 40% of Team Ireland athletes became first-time Paralympians in Paris. As well as the 6 medals won in Paris, including one gold, three silver, and two bronze, Team Ireland also had over 20 top 8 performances.
With reporting by Jane Moore
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the world need more of this chap. Determined. brilliant that he’s getting the help he deserves.
The world needs an even spread of wealth and resources.We all love to preach but very few of us are prepared to give up our lifestyle to help those living in such poverty.
The mother is working two jobs and they’re still homeless. Scandalous. Virtual slavery.
Except slaves are given a home.
And kids in Ireland complain about slow WiFi…
Yes allister esp the 1100 homeless kids in temporary accommodation in Dublin. Easy doing homework while sharing a hostel room with your whole family.
It’s pronounced wiffy.
And not having proper drugs to abuse.
Hey tap, it must be depressing being a self hating irishperson
Why are people so unwilling to accept we have homeless children in Ireland? Hostels, b&bs, hotels all over Dublin in particular are full of homeless families. How is it so many can empathise with a homeless Filipino, but are so disdainful of our own who have fallen on hard times? Oh, I forgot, they are prob single mother tarts or sw scroungers.
Hey, is your name Pat Lyons but you call yourself Tap Solny because I see what you did there.
I am sure that he will succeed.
As my Grandfather used to say “I complained about having no shoes until I seen a man with no feet”
That’s sandalous ..
As my Grandfather used to say “I complained about having no shoes until I seen a man with no feet”…
“So I took his shoes”
Boom.
I’ll never forget what my Granada said to me before he kicked the bucket. ” Hey Tom, watch how hard I can kick this bucket” He passed away the following year.
What a great young fella!
highlights 3 things,homelessness, innocence of kids,and the determination of the human being.all the best wee man.
Despite strong economic growth one quarter of the population live on a dollar a day. Which just goes to prove how theoretically out of touch with human reality economics is.
Growth means getting bigger than you were, not necessarily progress. Ireland is the fastest growing economy in the eurozone, just because you’re the tallest midget in the class doesn’t make you a giant.
wants to be a police man in a country with one of the most corrupt forces in the world. Aim higher my boy aim higher
I’m in the Philipppines at the moment, lots of homeless kids hang around McDonalds to beg.
It would break your heart to see them. I’ve fed a few of them in the last few days. Despite having nothing they are always cheerful and polite.
I work with homeless youth in my spare time. There was a young girl literally living under a bridge while studying for her leaving cert. But managing to attend school by day. Homeless because of domestic difficulties. We placed her in a homeless hostel for the few weeks leading up to and during the exams. I look forward to seeing how this courageous feisty girl turns out.
The fact that the mother works two jobs and is still homeless proves that capitalism and globalisation are not working… But hey, the shareholders of mickey dees and starbux are getting richer
I reckon there won’t be an article on The Journal today about how ‘evil’ Direct Provision is.
inspired, not wondering why homeless children are left doing home work on the side of the road
I’m currently living in the Philippines. I can tell you there is wealth in this country but it’s not getting to the hard working people that deserve it. The economy is growing but based on remittances from the 10 million Filipinos who work abroad. I’m glad this has gone viral to show how unfair the system is here.
What an amazing kid! What I find lacking, however, is criticism of a system that allows a huge divide between rich and poor. Such a system is creeping into our country. Rents forcing families onto the streets. Single mothers having to leave 7yr olds at home alone. People have made fortunes off the back of this crisis and pushed the wedge that divides rich from poor further into society. This kid could be one of ours, doing homework under a car light. Let’s not let this happen here.
Got something in my eye… Wonderful
Isn’t it fantastic what direct aid can do and not get lost in the whole bigger aid picture . Delighted as I so wanted to help him but didn’t know how
He’s doing his Nohomework
Free advertising for big chain McDonald’s – have they stepped in and helped?
thumbs down this comment 500 times and I will never thumbs down a comment rv3r
Free advertising for MacDonald’s – wonder if they have put their hand in their deep pockets?
Free advertising for McDonald’s – wonder if they have put their hand in their deep pockets and helped?
Free advertising for McDonald’s – wonder if they have put their hand in their pocket to help?
lovely story
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