By: Sarah Cooney and Helena Mullins
Over 10’000 people are expected to welcome the return of Olympic Medalists, Gary and Paul O’Donovan.
Preparations have begun in the West Cork town of Skibbereen where an open top bus parade will draw thousands of well-wishers tonight.
Cork airport was flooded with over 1,000 fans last night, who turned up to cheer them on.
According to RTE.ie the two brothers, from Lisheen near Skibbereen in west Cork, joined the plane’s captain and co-pilot in the cockpit as the airport’s fire and rescue service provided the plane with a water cannon salute.
Teddy O’Donovan, father of @PaulO_Donovan and @gary_o_donovan joins #TodaySOR on their #Skibbereen homecoming #Rio pic.twitter.com/1oD8S4cfFf
— RTÉ Radio 1 (@RTERadio1) August 29, 2016
This is the first time the brothers have touched down in Cork since winning a Silver Olympic medal in Rio.
“We got messages from the lads in the club telling us there were buses coming up from Skibbereen and it was going to be insane”, Gary told the Irish Times.
The sports men also revealed they were invited into the cockpit on their way home.
“After we landed the pilot invited us into the cockpit as we were going through the water cannons on the tarmac at Cork Airport and he told us that as he was landing.
“He could see the crowds at the other side of the airport and he said ‘Lads, it’s going to be huge’ and really it is overwhelming.”
Even on their drive home the champs were greeted by hundreds of Cork people, who were out to greet and congratulate them.
The lads have become a viral hit after THIS interview was shared all over the world and Skibbereen has been trending all day.
