Ireland’s Olympic rowing heroes have urged teenagers to have absolute “confidence and belief” in themselves as they pursue their dreams.

Retired astronaut Chris Hadfield has told Irish teenagers to dream big and aim for the stars.

She had what many would have considered the dream job — interning for the senior style director of Elle magazine and living a Devil Wears Prada-style life in New York.

Students with entrepreneurial flair have been firmly assured by Oscar-winning producer-turned-educationalist David Puttnam: “You are the people the world has been waiting for.”