Ireland’s Olympic gold medal-winning rowers Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy may have returned home as heroes – but they had an unusual trip back to their native Skibbereen.

Although there are plans for a “magnificent homecoming” for Kellie Harrington after she won a gold medal in boxing yesterday, the pair from Skibbereen arrived at Dublin Airport to minimal fuss.

The Cork men appeared to find themselves stuck in the capital without a lift from the airport – having originally planned to get a bus.

According to Dublin Airport, however, it wasn’t long before they found a solution – hopping in the car with a man named Ciaran they had just met on the plane.

Private jet? Limo? How would you travel home if you’d just won Olympic gold?!

Rowing champs Paul O’Donovan & Fintan McCarthy landed @DublinAirport today & planned to get the bus to Cork.

Then the guy they’d sat next to on the plane offered them - & their gold medals - a lift.. pic.twitter.com/5ue1BShOJZ

— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) August 6, 2024

After their win, O’Donovan said "no one believed" they could win gold in Paris.

"We saw the odds and stuck with it," he said.

"We… have proven the doubters wrong."

Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy on their way to receive their gold medal for Olympic Men's Lightweight Rowing Double Sculls. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

President Higgins congratulated the pair on their "brilliant achievement" and described them as “phenomenal sportsmen who have represented the country with immense distinction”.

Team Ireland has already won a record breaking haul of medals this year with four golds and three bronzes so far.

Rhasidat Adeleke is also tipped to have a strong chance of adding to the tally when she competes in the women’s 400 metre race.

Main image: Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan celebrate winning gold in the Rowing Lightweight Men's Double Sculls, 02/08/2024. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo