Man who gave Ireland's golden rowers lift home from airport was 'shocked' they accepted
Kieran Duggan was on the same flight as Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy that arrived at Dublin Airport from Paris on Tuesday
A man who was on the same flight as gold medallists Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy said he was shocked when they accepted his offer of a lift back to Cork.
Kieran Duggan was on the same flight as the golden rowers that arrived at Dublin Airport from Paris on Tuesday. After overhearing them chatting about getting the Aircoach home to Cork, Kieran said they could ride with him - but he didn't think they'd actually accept the offer.
Speaking to Red FM's The Neil Prendeville Show, Kieran said: "Fintan said he was going to get the Aircoach if it's not booked out, we were surprised and I was in the car on my own so I said he could jump in with me and we got more surprised when Fintan said he'd take me up on it."
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The Cork man said he expected the rowers to be pulled into VIP services and given a limo once they arrived at Dublin Airport - but that wasn't the case.
He gave Paul, Fintan and Women's Fours Rower Natalie Long a lift back to Cork - but they had so much luggage it was a tight squeeze. Kieran added: "They had twice the normal amount of a family of four because they had been away from home for two months I think.
"It was very chilled, very relaxed, I was very conscious of who I had in the car with me getting out on the M50. They were very down-to-earth people, all very normal.
"I didn't want to be asking too many questions, but they spoke about everything and anything like concentrating on rowing and giving up other sports."
Kieran said the golden rowers got "a bag of Tayto and a drink" when they stopped in a petrol station, and even offered to chip in for fuel.
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