Warm welcome for silver medallist Gillian
The 27-year-old, the only Irish medal winner at the IAAF world championships in Paris, received the warmest reception at a bonfire made by 150 neighbours at Minish, outside Killarney, yesterday and everyone waited their turn to hug her, kiss her and shake the race walker's hand.
"I'm really happy about this," she said. "These are the people who saw me training along the road down the years and they're now sharing my success. My neighbours have always been amongst my best supporters.
"It's on to the Olympics in Athens next year, and I'll be taking a break for a few weeks before getting back to training."
Sarah Courtney, nine, presented her with a bouquet of flowers as she posed for photographs and signed autographs. And everyone got to touch the medal she was so proudly wearing.
Gillian's parents Pat and Alice and brothers Thomas and Michael basked in the reflected glory. All were in Paris for her victory.
"The phone hasn't stopped ringing. We've got hundreds of calls and lots of e-mails, including some from people who stay with us, and cards. It's absolutely fantastic," said a delighted Alice, who runs River Valley Farmhouse.
A neighbour, Cllr Michael Gleeson, winner of two All-Ireland football medals with Kerry, watched Gillian grow from childhood to become a world class athlete.
"It's a magnificent feeling to have a world silver medallist living in our midst. I hope she inspires other young people to become actively involved in sport, now that they see the rewards to be reaped," he said.
On Saturday, Gillian received an emotional welcome back to Ireland. When she landed at Cork Airport, she was greeted by scores of supporters and well wishers. Total strangers also joined in when she showed her medal on coming through arrivals.
Her family travelled from Killarney and joined with friends from Cork to celebrate her success. Gillian studied at UCC and taught for some time at Scoil Barra, Ballincollig, before becoming a full-time athlete.
Later yesterday, she attended a sports meeting run by her club, Farranfore AC, and, last night, Lissivigeen Community Alert presented her with a silver salver, at a function in Darby O'Gill's licensed premises.
There was also a large crowd at a parade through the streets of Killarney, last night, with Mayor of Killarney Michael Courtney being amongst the speakers.
