The rain may be falling in Skibbereen today but it hasn’t dampened spirits in the town where flags, bunting and signs celebrating ‘West Cork’s heroes’ are proudly on display.
The town is still on a high after local rowers Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy took Ireland’s first ever rowing gold in the men’s lightweight double sculls final in the early hours of this morning.
Homes across Cork and the entire country were tuned in to see the pair overtake Germany in the final 500 metres and now thoughts are turning to welcoming them back.
Skibbereen has long been considered the home of Irish rowing, with Paul and Fintan cementing that reputation with their win.
Speaking to RedFM News in Skibbereen in the past few minutes, Vice-Chair of Skibbereen Rowing Club Violet Hayes says it takes a huge sacrifice to win gold:
"I would be sacrificing nights out, it would be sacrificing time away, leisure time, different parties on, places you want to be, but the training always came first, and that's the commitment but it also gives a single mindedness and a resolution, which develops a whole strength of character and personality. And for all the rowing team. You can see it in them, they're a fantastic group of athletes."
Vice-Chair of Skibbereen Rowing Club Violet Hayes says the town is still on a high after Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy secured Gold for Ireland @skibbrowing @SkibbereenIRL pic.twitter.com/WNvC6mmCcc
— RedFM News (@RedFMNews) July 29, 2021
