It's now unnecessary to preface any story about the O'Donovan brothers by describing how they've 'captured the hearts of a nation'. The Skibbereen lads are now Irish sporting stars. Household names. Legends.
After 22-year-old Paul added a World Championships gold medal to the pair's historic Olympic silver, the brothers finally landed back in Ireland on Sunday night, duly receiving a hero's welcome on their arrival.
Their success arrived as a massive relief as all seemed to crumble around them - Annalise Murphy's silver medal aside, of course - as an August dominated by various scandals continues to shake Irish sport. Unaffected by such bullshit, the O'Donovans announced Ireland as a rowing power on two of the sport's grandest stages twice in the space of a fortnight.
More importantly, of course, they medalled for Cork, and were naturally met by a raucous Rebel reception as they bashfully walked through the gates of Cork Airport.
Home at last! #legends! @RowingIreland pic.twitter.com/I1DL8UrGiR
— JennïeØSullivân (@OSullivanJennie) August 28, 2016
Some men. The celebrations didn't stop there, however, as Paul took to the stage with Cork's RedFM to give his take on an astonishing couple of weeks.
The brothers were even presented with a very special gift from Cork boxer Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan...
O'Sullivan, himself an uber-popular sporting figure in his native county, took to Twitter to explain what Gary said to him as the pair embraced. As it turns out, a doctor in Cork once mistook Gary O'Donovan for Gary O'Sullivan when both men were in hospital at the same time.
he myself and hinself @gary_o_donovan were in hospital together before and the Doc got us mixed up😂
— Gary Spike OSullivan (@spike_osullivan) August 28, 2016
it was obv the names & not the looks Gary's like some1 off baywatch & i'm egghead 😂
— Gary Spike OSullivan (@spike_osullivan) August 28, 2016
The former could surely hold his own in boxing's lightweight division after his excursions on the water this summer.
As they'd say in Cork, Skibbereen will be no more good after tomorrow night.
