Wind with West Cork’s rowing O'Donovan brothers

The hashtag #Medalsforthewest was trending strongly yesterday as the people of West Cork got over one set of celebrations and got down to preparations for the next in the hope that rowing brothers Gary, 23, and Paul, 22, O’Donovan will continue their success today in the men’s lightweight double sculls.

Susan Hosford, Skibbereen Rowing Club, with Catriona O’Driscoll, principal of Lisheen National School, where Gary and Paul O’Donovan went to school.

Skibbereen Credit Union was gearing up to do it all again. Giant screens, set up for yesterday’s semi-final, in which the O’Donovan brothers finished third, remain in place for today’s final, scheduled for 2.44pm. The women’s final of the lightweight double sculls, in which Ireland will be represented by Claire Lambe and Sinead Lynch, takes place in Rio at 2.32pm.

Back in Skibbereen, a Brazilian drummer has been tasked with getting the town in the mood. Schoolkids from Lisheen National School, the Olympians’ alma mater, will watch the race in an upstairs room in the credit union, where staff are decked out in T-shirts proclaiming: “We’re well used to a bit of wind.”