Triumphant Golden Girl Kellie comes home

THE North Inner City community lovingly welcomed triumphant Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington home on an emotional day that will never be forgotten.

When she touched down in Dublin Airport at lunchtime on Tuesday August 14^th, she said she had “no tears left to cry.”

“It means the world to me to bring back the gold,” Kellie said outside the airport.

“But my mentality is, anybody who steps through those ropes and makes it to an Olympic Games is a champion, regardless of whether you bring a medal back or not.

“For me, it’s not always about winning medals and stuff like that. It’s about getting through the doors of the boxing club, for all the young people out there, all the teenagers out there.

“It’s about stepping through the doors first, meeting people and becoming part of a family then.

“Whatever happens after that is a bonus really.”

The joyous scenes on the streets of the North Inner City as Kellie Harrington returned home with her gold medal.PICTURE CREDIT: PAUL REARDON

Kellie’s Dad Christy enjoying the homecoming. PICTURE CREDIT PAUL REARDON

Her family, friends and neighbours had been waiting since the previous Sunday morning to welcome their Golden Girl home following her victory against Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira in the women’s 60kg lightweight final in Tokyo.

Portland Row was ready to party and the street where Kellie is from was fittingly decked out in green, white and gold, banners, flags and bunting.

The open top bus parade began at just after 5pm as Kellie and fellow Olympian local boxer Emmett Brennan travelled along Ballybough Road towards Summerhill, past her parent’s house in Portland Row, and through Killarney Street, Sean McDermott Street, Gardiner Street and the North Strand.

A postbox outside Summerhill post office, close to Kellie’s family home, was even painted gold in anticipation of her arrival.

Kellie’s dad Christy told RTÉ that the excitement on the street was “powerful”.

“It’s like Christmas Eve, and they’re all waiting for Santa Claus, they’re actually tracking in the aeroplane!” he said.

When the open top bus reached Portland Row the crowd greeted her with chants of ‘Kellie! Kellie! Kellie!’

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland, said the whole city shared in the pride felt by the North Inner city.

“Today is a wonderful day for Dublin, for our local communities, for Team Ireland, for the families and friends of all our Dublin Olympians and most especially for our gold medalist Kellie Harrington,” she said.

“Dublin is bursting with pride.

“Kellie and all our local Olympians have allowed us to journey with them over the last few weeks. We recognise the enormity of their achievements as we have lived through them the highs and lows of elite Olympic competition.

“We recognise the importance of local sporting clubs, coaches and volunteers in providing the essential building blocks of world class athleticism. We recognise the strength, determination and resilience they possess to compete at Olympic level.

“Had it not been for Covid, Dublin would have thrown open its streets to all who wanted to show their pride and passion for our amazing Olympians – perhaps, in the future when Covid is well and truly passed, we can come together and celebrate with joy their amazing achievements.”

Local Independent Councillor Nial Ring said: “Dublin City Council and the Gardaí asked that this be a local event and that people spread around the parade route,” he said.

“This was done to ensure a safe yet spectacular parade.

“The North Inner City community responded in a responsible way, with DCC appointing local residents as stewarts which ensured that the event went off brilliantly.

“DCC funded banners, bunting, posters, balloons etc. which made for an electric atmosphere in the area, especially on Portland Row.

“But the ones who must take a big bow are the local residents who followed guidelines, instructions and advice to make sure that everything went off brilliantly – a day we will never forget and shouldn’t forget” he concluded.