How Twitter reacted: Rowing Olympic gold unites Irish sport and politics

Sporting organisations, stars, politicians and former medal winners alike gathered on Twitter to congratulate Ireland's latest golden boys. 

Ireland's Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy celebrate victory in the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls Final A at Sea Forest Waterway on the sixth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Picture date: Thursday July 29, 2021.

Rebel Gold!!!!

Congratulations to Skibbereen duo Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy have won a historic Olympic gold rowing medal for Ireland in Tokyo. pic.twitter.com/lWdIwllDHY

— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) July 29, 2021

Huge congratulations to the @TeamIreland athletes winning medals at #Tokyo2020 #WeAreOne ☘️ pic.twitter.com/GKWNVJTWMJ

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) July 29, 2021

Congratulations to Cork men Paul O'Donovan & Fintan McCarthy on becoming Ireland's newest Olympic champions! 🤩 💪🏼

The rowers won gold in the Lightweight Men’s Double Final overnight! 🥇

Made the whole country proud! 🇮🇪

@TeamIreland | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/3mP1diUDQQ

— Cork City FC (@CorkCityFC) July 29, 2021

Get in there. Amazing stuff. #Tokyo2020 #Rowing ☘️🇮🇪 https://t.co/AOafNFBpXR

— Kevin Kilbane (@kdkilbane77) July 29, 2021

A mighty bit of rowing by Paul and Fintan to get Ireland’s first gold!

— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) July 29, 2021

Just amazing!! Our Olympic champions!!🥇 https://t.co/R3BR3TtEVv

— Katie Taylor (@KatieTaylor) July 29, 2021

Congratulations @PaulO_Donovan and Fintan McCarthy🎉 What a fantastic achievement!! Welcome to the club 🥇 #Rowing

— Michael Carruth (@michaelcarruth2) July 29, 2021

What these boys have done for our country is phenomenal. We are so proud and in doing so showed all the positive character of Irish people competitive, passionate, hard working ,humble and good craic . Olympic Champions now there is some ring to that 🇮🇪🇮🇪 https://t.co/6Ap33h9OSU

— Rob Heffernan OLY (@RM_Heffernan) July 29, 2021

These are two Lightweights I wouldnt go calling out..🥊

Congratulations Fintan Mccarthy & Paul O'Donovan.

Olympic Champions!

Thank you for making us all so proud.. 🇮🇪 🏅 🔥

@TeamIreland@RTEsport pic.twitter.com/KVubRHfnrG

— Ray Moylette (@raymoylette) July 29, 2021

“After the magnificent success in women’s rowing yesterday, today we celebrate Ireland’s first Olympic gold medal in rowing, won so deservedly by Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy in the lightweight double sculls.”

— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) July 29, 2021

An outstanding gold medal for Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy.

Breathtaking victory in the lightweight double sculls - a race that will live long in history.

A special day for Irish rowing and the Irish people. #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/hzhnFL8SCI

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 29, 2021

 

We couldn't be happier to to be posting a celebratory rowing-themed work from our collection for the second morning in a row, this time (very aptly!) featuring Cork rowers. 🚣‍♂️🚣‍♂️

Congratulations to Olympic gold medalists
Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan!🥇🥇#Olympics pic.twitter.com/ReO9BiZFLy

— National Gallery of Ireland (@NGIreland) July 29, 2021