Kellie’s our golden girl!

The pride of inner-city Dublin Kellie Harrington is a “hero” and an “inspiration”, according to Portland Row locals.

As Harrington was in the depths of defending her Olympic lightweight boxing title against China’s Wenlu Yang at Roland Garros last Tuesday evening, her family, friends, and neighbours watched on from Diamond Park, cheering every punch, willing her over the proverbial gold line.

“Everybody was buzzing,” Nicola Fitzgerald, a local resident and longtime friend of Harrington’s said.

“My little one was running around the park with excitement from 12pm that day.

“It just really brought everybody together,” she said.

Louise Black, who has been working in the area for the past 25 years and is now the manager of CrossCare’s Portland Café said she had “never seen so many people tuning in [to boxing] and talking about it.”

Then, when the Canadian referee Jeffery Verhoeven raised Harrington’s wrapped hand into the air after three competitive rounds, Portland Row exploded with relief and elation.

One of their own was now a double Olympic champion.

The fact that Harrington is the first Irish boxer and first Irish woman ever to become a double Olympic champion is not lost on her community – especially on one where boxing is so entrenched in its culture.

As Fitzgerald remarked “not only is she an Irish gold medallist, she’s the best Irish gold medallist.”

The Bridge Tavern’s walls on Summerhill Parade are awash with pictures, singlets, and newspaper clippings of boxers and athletes from the area who have competed at the highest level.

Christy Elliott, who competed in the 1972 Olympics is featured, as is Darren Sutherland who won a bronze medal in the 2008 games in Beijing, China.

Emmet Brennan, who qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 is also honoured alongside Irish football international Troy Parrott.

Owner of the pub, Liam Gifford – who also comes from a family of great boxers – says the lift Harrington’s win will give to the community cannot be understated.

“It was just tremendous excitement,” he says.

“There were so many women and strangers coming in to watch her.

“We are very proud of her around the area, especially since this is an area with such a strong boxing heritage.”

Gifford, who with his father has run the pub for nearly three decades, says he saw Harrington training when she was young.

“I remember seeing her training and running when she was nine or 10,” he says.

“She is really is one of our own – very nice, always stops to talk when she can and when she drives by she’ll give a beep and a wave.”

“Her and her family are a credit to themselves.”

Standing in the lounge of his pub, surrounded by sporting memorabilia, Gifford stresses how much of an inspiration Harrington is to the young people of Dublin 1.

“There’s very, very few people who don’t know who she is and what she’s done,” he says.

“I’ve heard many kids say that they want to try boxing now.

“I’ve even heard young kids say “she’s inspiration,” when they don’t even know what that word means.

“But it’s everywhere, it’s great to see.”

Gifford also says that children from the community aren’t often given an opportunity to succeed as they progress in life and hopes Harrington’s success and exposure will help spur change.

“Every kid needs a chance, regardless of where they come from,” he says.

Portland Row and the surrounding streets were adorned with tricolour bunting and posters sporting Harrington’s face in the days and weeks leading up to her fights.

The colourful decorations remained intact afterwards too as the community had no urgency to move on from the historic victory.

“We call her the pride of Portland Row,” Black beamed.

“I can’t wait for her homecoming – CrossCare will probably be putting out drinks and snacks for the occasion as well.”Black is also excited about a banner that she is helping putting together.

It’ll read: “There’s 2 Gold Medals but there’s only 1 Kellie Harrington”.

Fitzgerald, Harrington’s longtime friend, says Harrington was “very calm” before the fight but in truth, didn’t expect anything else.

“That’s just Kellie,” she says.

“That’s just who she is – just a normal person and what you see is what you get with her.

“She’s a good example of if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything, it doesn’t matter where you come from.”

Fitzgerald is also anticipating the homecoming parade and hopes Harrington gets her wish of being able to walk down the street with her medal.

However, she doesn’t think it’ll be plausible.

“It’ll be packed!” she says.

“There was over 1.3 million people watching on RTE, it’ll be mad.”

Perhaps in a more suitably Harrington fashion, Fitzgerald does think that she’ll get her wish sooner rather than later.

“I can guarantee you Kellie will be walking down that street with Mandy and her dogs next week,” she says.

“That’s just Kellie, very normal.