Irish fans stand out in Birmingham games

Paul O’Donnell was struggling in the marathon on Sunday morning. The Irish fans got him home.

“It was incredible, to see green and the tricolors all over the course,” the Irishman said. “The support kept me going. It was much appreciated. It was just a roar, ‘Go Ireland, go Paul.’”

Whether waving flags or roaring for their athletes, Irish fans have made their mark at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Ireland’s athletes have noticed, as have broadcasters and organizers.

Ireland’s Kate O’Connor kisses her gold medal after winning the heptathlon competition at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, on Saturday.

Photo: AP

“It feels like a home championships,” said O’Donnell, who finished 43rd.

The Games’ official social media account posted: “Beginning to think the Irish fans are the best fans in Europe!” In another post, it said “From Dublin to Birmingham and everywhere in between, they follow their athletes across the world and the noise they bring is unmatched.”

Kate O’Connor won the heptathlon on Saturday to double Ireland’s gold tally. Mark English won the 800m final on Thursday, followed minutes later by a silver medal for Rhasidat Adeleke in the 200m. Andrew Coscoran picked up a bronze in the 1,500m.

Married couple Eoin Murphy and Emma McNelis of Dublin were in Alexander Stadium to see O’Connor complete her heptathlon victory.

“It feels like there’s as many Irish as British here — at the stadium,” McNelis said as they watched the marathon.

Murphy bought an Irish flag at the Dublin airport for their weekend trip. For him, Coscoran’s bronze was the highlight “because it was so surprising. He was in the middle of the pack for most of it.”

Irish competitors marveled at the support they have received in Birmingham in interviews.

O’Connor said the experience was “probably the closest we’ll ever get to a home games.”

“It’s a championships that I’ll obviously never forget for winning gold but also never forget the roars, the cheers, the support,” she said. “I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”

“Seeing so many kids as well out there that are screaming for autographs and photos,” O’Connor said, “it kind of makes you realize the effect that you have on the country by, I don’t know, running, jumping, throwing, doing all those events as well as you can.”

Ireland’s medal count stayed at four. Sarah Healy and Sophie O’Sullivan competed in the 1,500m final Sunday night but finished outside the top three.

National pride is a big factor

In an annual survey, champion boxer Katie Taylor regularly tops the list as Ireland’s “most admired athlete” despite boxing not ranking among the favorite sports. Gaelic Games topped the list ahead of soccer, with rugby third and “athletics/tennis” fourth in the last year’s Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index.

Athletics stars from this week should get some love in the next survey.

Adeleke was second to Taylor in the 2024 survey after winning a gold medal and two silver medals at the 2024 European championships in Rome.

This week, Adeleke said she felt like she was home thanks to the Irish fans.

“Definitely trumped any other nation that was out there. So loud, so supportive,” she said.

Adeleke’s silver on Thursday came shortly after English’s gold.

“Twenty minutes, two medals. That’s a great night out for us.”