The athletes and staff who represented Team Ireland at Tokyo 2020 this summer were formally congratulated at the Official Team Ireland Homecoming in Dublin Castle this morning.
A record number of Irish athletes competed at the Summer Olympics in Japan with 116 athletes (including three dinghy sailors; Annalise Murphy in the Radial and Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove in the 49er) competing across nineteen sports.
Olympic Federation of Ireland President Sarah Keane, and CEO of Sport Ireland, John Treacy were joined by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister Catherine Martin, Minister of State Jack Chambers and His Excellency Ambassador of Japan to Ireland, Mitsuru Kitano at the special event to honour the athletes.
Athletes were presented with gifts to recognise their achievements as Olympians at the ceremony, which included music by musician Roisin O. Top class memorable performances and emotional moments captured the nation for two weeks, in a Games that netted two Olympic titles and two bronze medals for Ireland, with a record number of eight athletes stepping on the podium.
Congratulating the athletes and team at the official event Taoiseach Micheál Martin said,
“I am delighted to honour and pay tribute to the Team Ireland athletes and staff for an Olympic Games that will live long in the memory.
“We are incredibly proud of our medallists, and also each and every athlete. Your personal efforts and commitment was truly inspirational.
“To even reach the Games was an extraordinary journey, and your achievements lifted the nation this summer.”