Ireland's success at the Paralympic Games will motivate athletes to chase that feeling again, a bronze medalist has said.
Paralympic athletes returned home to a hero's welcome at Dublin Airport last night.
Team Ireland walked away with a total of six medals having 35 athletes competing in nine sports in Paris.
Linda Kelly, who picked up silver and gold in cycling alongside Katie George Dunlevy, told Lunchtime Live it was all very surreal.
"We're both over the moon - just absolutely delighted," she said.
"We both worked so hard - every pedal stroke - and just the moment of standing up on the podium and listening to the national anthem after it was just surreal.
"It was just pure relief after the time trial - we delivered the effort and we're both so happy.
"Standing up there and the medal being placed around [your neck]… it's just amazing and to have the Irish fans in front of you cheering and flags waving - I'll never forget it."
'Dreaming big'
Katie George Dunlevy said it was "a dream" to retain her title.
"We had the pressure going into it and we had tough challenges this year but to actually deliver a performance - to win and to beat Great Britain, which are our big rivals on the road and the track - is a thing of dreams," she said.
"It's kind of dreaming big and going for it and it's a huge relief.
"The first thing you have is exhaustion - you're falling off the bike with the effort that we delivered - it's relief and pure elation.
"Hearing the national anthem, it's all so special, and our family were there and it was just so emotional".
'Gives the country a lift'
Eve McCrystal, who took silver in cycling, said the experience of having family there was amazing.
"The last two games we didn't get the same reception [due to] COVID coming home from Tokyo," she said.
"So it was really nice just having family there - it was great.
"I think it gives the country a lift - the Olympians just started that off really, really well and then a couple of weeks later, for us to do it, it was just brilliant.
"It's great for the country, I think."
Paralympics Ireland athletes Katie-George Dunlevy (centre) with Eve McCrystal (left) and Linda Kelly on arrival into Dublin Airport, 9-9-25. Image: Ramsey Cardy/SportsfileOrla Comerford, who won bronze in the 100 metre sprint, told the show the experience was like a dream.
"It was just so incredibly special to come in and to feel the love all around us," she said.
"I think none of us were sort of feeling that when we were in Paris.
"We were all so lucky to have incredible family and friends around and Irish flags [at] every corner you turned.
"It feels almost like the dream is over because you're coming home [and] leaving Paris - but it feels very much alive when you came into that energy, it was really gorgeous."
Paralympics Ireland athlete Orla Comerford with her grand-uncle Eamonn and grand-aunt Loretta on arrival into Dublin Airport, 9-9-25. Image: David Fitzgerald/SportsfileMs Comerford said she's only processing the games now.
"I feel like I've been walking around on clouds for the last week and some of the others can attest to [that] as well, I feel like I've not slept in days or weeks," she said.
"I had a full night's sleep last night and woke up this morning to just think, 'I can only start now to begin to process what's going on in the last week'".
Ms Comerford said the games will inspire her to keep going.
"To have had that moment myself just makes me so excited to dive back into training," she said.
"When it's a tough, cold morning and I need to get up - [or] you're having a tough time in the gym - to think about how special this feeling has been and that chase to have this feeling again is something I think is really going to keep the fire lit in me," she added.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has said Ireland is "incredibly proud" of all the athletes.
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