BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) 鈥� Paul O鈥橠onnell was struggling in the marathon on Sunday morning. The Irish fans got him home.
鈥淚t was incredible, to see green and the tricolors all over the course,鈥� the Irishman said. 鈥淭he support kept me going. It was much appreciated. It was just a roar, 鈥楪o Ireland, go Paul.'”
Whether waving flags or roaring for their athletes, Irish fans have made their mark at the European championships in Birmingham. Ireland’s athletes have taken note, as have broadcasters and organizers.
鈥淚t feels like a home championships,鈥� O鈥橠onnell, who finished 43rd, told The Associated Press.
The official Instagram account of the games, Birmingham 2026, posted: 鈥淏eginning to think the Irish fans are the best fans in Europe!” In another post, it added: 鈥淔rom Dublin to Birmingham and everywhere in between, they follow their athletes across the world, and the noise they bring is unmatched.鈥�
Kate O’Connor won the heptathlon on Saturday to double Ireland’s gold tally. Mark English had won the 800-meter final on Thursday, followed minutes later by a silver medal for Rhasidat Adeleke in the 200 meters. Andrew Coscoran picked up a bronze in the 1,500.
Husband-wife duo Eoin Murphy and Emma McNelis of Dublin were in Alexander Stadium to see O鈥機onnor complete her heptathlon victory.
鈥淚t feels like there鈥檚 as many Irish as British here 鈥� at the stadium,鈥� McNelis said as they watched the marathon.
Murphy bought an Irish flag at the Dublin airport for their weekend trip. For him, Coscoran’s bronze was the highlight “because it was so surprising. He was in the middle of the pack for most of it.鈥�
In interviews with Athletics Ireland, Irish competitors marveled at the support they鈥檝e received in Birmingham.
O鈥機onnor described the experience as 鈥減robably the closest we鈥檒l ever get to a home games.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a championships that I鈥檒l obviously never forget for winning gold but also never forget the roars, the cheers, the support,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never experienced anything like that before.鈥�
鈥淪eeing so many kids as well out there that are screaming for autographs and photos,” O鈥機onnor added, “it kind of makes you realize the effect that you have on the country by, I don鈥檛 know, running, jumping, throwing, doing all those events as well as you can.鈥�
Sarah Healy and Sophie O鈥橲ullivan race in the 1,500 final Sunday night in the closing session of the championships.
National pride is a big factor
In an annual survey, champion boxer Katie Taylor regularly tops the list as Ireland鈥檚 鈥渕ost admired athlete鈥� despite boxing not ranking among the favorite sports. Gaelic Games topped the list just ahead of soccer, with rugby third and “athletics/tennis” fourth in the of the Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index.
Athletics stars from this week will likely get some love in the next version.
Adeleke was second to Taylor in the 2024 survey after winning a gold medal and two silver medals at the 2024 European championships in Rome.
This week, the 23-year-old Adeleke said she felt like she was home thanks to the Irish fans.
鈥淒efinitely trumped any other nation that was out there. So loud, so supportive,鈥� she said.
Adeleke’s silver on Thursday came shortly after English’s gold.
鈥淭wenty minutes, two medals. That鈥檚 a great night out for us.鈥�
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