The sweet taste of success. Daire Lynch (right) and Philip Doyle celebrate with their Olympic bronze medals. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Daire Lynch paid tribute to "the huge Irish support" who had cheered him and Philip Doyle when they won bronze in the Men's Heavyweight Double Sculls at the Olympic Games this morning.
Shortly after receiving his bronze medal from International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, Prince Albert of Monaco, Daire said there were a lot of people from his home town Clonmel at the final, including his parents Joanna and Niall and other family members.
"I stayed away from it all for the last week, I was in my own bubble. But it will be good to see them now," he told RTÉ Sport.
He was also aware of the tremendous support from Clonmel, where flags, bunting and posters have been displayed around the town in support of their Olympian, while hundreds turned out at the Kickham Barracks plaza to watch the semi-final and final on a big screen.
Philip Doyle also acknowledged the "phenomenal support" from back home, and on his second time competing at the Olympics he said it was " a genuinely amazing experience".
The Irish pair were winning Ireland's first heavyweight rowing medal at the Olympics, with Daire competing at his first Olympics.
Lynch and Doyle also paid tribute to their coach Fran Keane.
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