O’Connell Street will Host the Homecoming
Dublin city centre is expected to grind to a halt today as Team Ireland return from Paris to celebrate the nation’s most successful Olympics to date, with 7 medals in total. The Irish team won 4 gold and 3 bronze medals.
Thousands are anticipated to gather on O’Connell Street, where the city council has arranged a celebration at the GPO to honour the achievements of the 133 athletes.
This marks the first time an Irish Olympic team has been welcomed home with a civic reception.
Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan stated, “Now is our chance to tell them in person just how proud we are of them. I have no doubt their efforts will inspire many young people across the city and the country to follow in their footsteps.”
Geoghegan added “We may not have Tom Cruise and Snoop Dogg, but we do have Marty Morrissey and Sinéad Kissane.”
The event, organised in partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland, is free and open to the public with no tickets required. Taoiseach Simon Harris will also attend.
Meanwhile, Olympic gold medallist Daniel Wiffen, who fell ill and was unable to be Irelands flagbearer during the closing ceremonies, will be celebrating with Team Ireland today.
Traffic Restrictions and Road Closures for the Olympic Homecoming
Attendees are encouraged to use public transport to reach the family-friendly, alcohol-free event, and should enter O’Connell Street from the O’Connell Bridge end.
Celebrations are scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm, but travel restrictions will be in effect much earlier.
Bus services will be diverted from O’Connell Street starting at 10 am, with services resuming on the northbound side at 5 pm and on the southbound side at 10 pm.
Luas Green Line services will be suspended between the Dominic and St Stephen’s Green stops from 9:30 am until 10:00 pm today to accommodate the homecoming event.
During this time, the Green Line will operate between Broombridge and Dominic stops, as well as from St Stephen’s Green to Brides Glen stops only.
Additionally, Luas Red Line services will be suspended between the Smithfield and The Point stops from 9:30 am to 10:00 pm.
Dublin Bus will honor valid Luas tickets during these hours.
Kellie Harrington Homecoming Event
Double-Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington will also be celebrated with a special homecoming near her residence.
Organised by the city council and the North East Inner City Initiative, this event will be held on Killarney Street from 7 pm to 9 pm.
The location offers a view of Kellie’s home on Portland Row.
Kellie had expressed her wish to walk through her hometown streets, rather than ride on an open-top bus, as she did after her first gold medal win in Tokyo in 2020.
A stage will be set up for the event, and Kellie will walk from the corner of Gardiner Street, up Sean MacDermott Street, and onto Killarney Street.
Fans in attendance will be treated to a performance by Sheriff Street singer Gemma Dunleavy before hearing from the boxing champion herself.
