Homecoming for Tipperary Olympic hero to take place next week

The people of Clonmel and Tipperary will get an opportunity to acclaim Olympic hero Daire Lynch in person next week.
A homecoming will take place,  on  Wednesday evening of next week, at the Kickham Plaza in Clonmel.
While the homecoming celebration will take place next week, it is understood that the civic honour ceremony to be accorded to Daire Lynch will take place at a later date.

It is expected that the civic honour will take place in September or October.
“Daire has done us all proud. We are going to give him one hell of a homecoming. We are all so, so proud,” declared the Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Michael Murphy.
“Darie is an inspiration. Hopefully people will come out in Clonmel in the same numbers as they did when people were supporting Daire in his races,” said the Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Michael Murphy.
“There is a great sense of pride in the area about what Daire has achieved. It is an extraordinary achievement to bring back the first Olympic medal to the town since 1932,” said the mayor.
He said the Olympic triumph was a tribute to all of the Clonmel Rowing Club members who had dedicated themselves to keep the club going over the years.

“This is a great boost for Clonmel. This provides Clonmel with a great lift,” he said.
Clonmel Rowing Club member Brendan Wall was in Paris to witness the event;
“You never even dreamt anything like this was possible. I am still pinching myself to see if it was real. It was lovely to be in Paris to see it,” said Brendan Wall.

“We were looking at the videos from home at the Kickham Plaza and felt we were missing out but you can’t be in two places at the same time,” said Brendan.

The homecoming will be an emotional and proud occasion for his family, parents Niall and Joanna, sister Aoife and brothers Conor and Brian.

There will be three speakers at the homecoming.
Daire, who won a bronze in Paris with his double sculls partner Philip Doyle, will address the crowd as will the mayor of Clonmel and a representative of Clonmel Rowing Club.