‘We are a small nation, but we are a mighty nation’ – Kellie Harrington tells 20,000 people gathered on O’Connell Street for Team Ireland homecoming

Gold medalist Kellie Harrington received a huge round of applause from the crowd. “Kellie, Kellie, Kellie,” they chanted.

“I think it’s only fair we have our coaches up here,” said Kellie, requesting the full boxing team on stage.

Harrington said to win gold at the Paris Olympics after gold in Tokyo was the “stuff of dreams”.

“It hasn’t actually sunk in yet, but it’s the stuff of dreams to be honest with you,” she said.

“I think it’ll only be in a few weeks when I actually sit down and have time on my own to think back over the last 20 years … I’m just looking forward to having that time to myself … to see how far we’ve come.”

She added: “I never underestimate anybody, and I always expect the worst when you’re stepping in there and and I tried to take the pressure off myself by expecting the worst.

“I wasn’t worried. I wasn’t fearful. Sometimes the fear of losing can be greater than the joy of winning and I didn’t let that happen. I just went out…