Kellie Harrington's mother Yvonne leads sing-song after boxer's Olympic gold medal win
The Dublin fighter beat China's Wenlu Yang at Roland Garros in the women’s 60kg final to become Ireland's first ever back to back Olympic boxing champion
There were joyous scenes in Portland Row on Tuesday night as Kellie Harrington made history in Paris.
The Dublin fighter beat China's Wenlu Yang at Roland Garros in the women’s 60kg final to become Ireland's first ever back to back Olympic boxing champion.
Kellie led Irish fans in Paris in a rendition of popular ballad Grace, with her mother Yvonne singing the same song outside her house in Dublin 1.
READ MORE:Kellie Harrington becomes double Olympic champion with performance of a lifetime in Paris
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The parents of the Olympic champion said they were “super” proud as they celebrated “two golds for the north inner city” with neighbours and friends.
Yvonne and Christy Harrington, wearing tricolours around their shoulders, sang Grace on the steps of their terraced red-brick home on Portland Row to celebrate her win.
They said they were very proud of their daughter and that the second Olympic victory would not change who she is.
“I can tell you, nothing will change. Kellie will be the person she always was and always will be. Because she comes from a humble family, a humble community,” her mother said.
Her father Christy said he loved the fight and that her win was “all about the community” and “brings us all together”.
The success makes Harrington Ireland’s most decorated female Olympian and the only Irish boxer to contest, and win, back to back Olympic finals.
Only three other Irish athletes have won back to back Olympics gold medals; hammer thrower Pat O’Callaghan in 1928 and 1932; and rowers Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan in 2020 and 2024.
Up the road from the family home, a small Dublin park erupted with pride after Harrington clinched another gold.
In the streets surrounding the park, several posters from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 were hung up calling Harrington ‘Our Golden Girl’.
Cheers went up as Dubliners packed into the park to cheer on the local woman who had risen to become a world-class boxer.
Children wore Ireland football jerseys, tied their hair up with green, white and orange ribbons, and had shamrocks painted on their faces.
Ellie May Fetherston, 12, from Blanchardstown, said she took up boxing after Harrington won gold in the Tokyo Games.
She told the PA news agency she admires Harrington’s ability to switch boxing styles during bouts.
Children crowded in front of the big screen in Diamond Park and punched the air as the boxer weaved and jabbed in the ring at the Roland-Garros tennis stadium in front of an audience of 15,000.
Locals praised Harrington’s work in the local community, putting on sports fun days for children and working as a carer.
They said that while her champion homecoming last year saw her travel through Dublin on top of a bus, this time Harrington wants to travel by foot so that she can greet her friends and neighbours.
Gillian Collins said the fighter was bringing a positive focus on the north inner city.
“When people stop her on the street she stops for a chat. She high fives all the kids, they love her,” she said.
Patricia Byrne, from Portland Row, also said Harrington is great for Dublin’s inner city.
“She’s made us all proud. It brings everybody together,” she said.
“She’s real down to earth. Never changed.”
Asked about whether Portland Row would put on another big homecoming for Harrington, Ms Byrne said this one would be “better and bigger”.
Local man Joe Dowland said the gold-medal fight was “fantastic”.
“She wouldn’t let us down. That’s two golds for the north east inner city. Where would you see it? Look at the crowd here tonight? Unbelievable.
“She’s the most humble woman you’d ever meet. We love her to bits.”
Councillor Christy Burke, a former Dublin mayor, said Harrington “brings the community together” and represents “no ego”.
“Humility oozes out of her. She’s one of our own. At the end of the day, it won’t be long now before you see the shakes she throws coming out, that’s going to be known as the Kellie dance. And maybe August 7 next year should be a bank holiday in honour of Kellie Harrington.”
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