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SHE KEPT IT together after winning her final bout against Russian Sofya Ochigava, while accepting her long-overdue Olympic medal and even when Ireland’s national anthem was belted out by the 10,000-strong Excel Arena audience last Thursday.
But the tears eventually came yesterday as Katie Taylor’s town gave the 26-year-old boxer the welcome-home she deserved.
Thousands of men, women and children – a mix of proud locals and excited fans from further afield – waited patiently in Bray, county Wicklow from Monday afternoon for a glimpse of their Olympic hero.
When the gold medalist arrived on an open-top bus, they were ready to give her a reception she just couldn’t believe.
Overwhelmed by the support, she could be seen mouthing to master of ceremonies Des Cahill that the scenes were just “unbelievable”.
Although no official figure has been released, it is understood that more than 20,000 people turned up to Bray for the official homecoming, which included a parade, short speeches and presentations, live music and a fireworks display.
Also being recognised was local Garda and Olympic boxer Adam Nolan, as well as Katie’s dad and coach Pete Taylor.
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Irish pride..priceless.Nice to see all em happy faces.
Makes up somewhat for the embarrassment that was the European finals.
Does Sinead have a look of Katie T or is it just me
Don’t know about that Eugene…but I definitely don’t have her talent unfortunately!
Eugene, why don’t you ask her out and find out? :) tell us how you get on. :)
Okay so now the 5 medal winners are home and the celebrations are well underway for weeks to come no doubt, I have to ask, what about the other 61 athletes in the Irish Team? Don’t get me wrong, I won’t take 1 iota away from the 5 medal winners but just because they didn’t win a medal isn’t it enough that they represented Ireland against the greatest in sport? There is plenty of talk of money now needing to be pumped into sport here, and while it all sounds fantastic, I’m wondering if the attitude is wrong and if it will just fizzle out it once all the hype has died down.
There was recently much debate about how to tackle the drug, alcohol and violence issue after the SHM gig and no matter what you believe the solution to be, I don’t think anyone can deny if sports were a focus for the younger generation this would help (I say HELP, I don’t mean to say it would be the only answer). There is nothing but positives by following our athletes and their successes; how much of a boost did it give to a nation watching Katie’s fight, how well were we represented in the international arena, how great was a 20000 turnout in Bray yesterday?
Back to my original point, I feel as though we are only celebrating the medal winners, I think there needs to be a focus on every athlete who attended, I think there needs to be stories on who almost made it to the Olympics but didn’t quite get there, those that we are to watch out for in the 2016 games. I think if we had a healthier attitude to our athletes (all of them) then we stand a chance of this being little more than just hype.
was thinking that too, no sign of all the others being celebrated!
Hurray for Katie.
Not so much hurray for those of her fans who failed to clear up their litter adequately after the shindig.
The real winners in all this were definitely the koo and back bar :)
Too right
I think it was 50000. Brilliant. John Jo got a better bus.
very happy for Katie and for the people of Ireland . Its good to hear good news from Ireland now adays you. don,t hear that much over here in Germany God kmows the irish need it
If Bray made Katie cry…..it’s in deep trouble!!!!
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