The proud dad of boxer Kellie Harrington is ‘still shaking like a leaf’ after his ‘magnificent’ daughter secured a guaranteed bronze in Olympics.
Cars were beeping and drivers were shouting ‘Go on Kellie” as they drove past her parent's house in Dublin’s north inner city on Tuesday.
The tricolour and bunting were plastered all over the street with ‘good luck, Adh more’ messages for Kellie ahead of her next bout against Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee in a semi-final on Thursday.
Almost every home and window were draped with flags.
The prospect of a silver or gold medal lies ahead for the talented Dublin boxer.
Dad Christy Harrington was speaking from the family home in Portland Row, Dublin.
He told the Irish Mirror: “What she has achieved already is magnificent and if she goes on to better that, then so be it.
“We were only on the phone to her. It was a quick hello, goodbye and well done.
“The people from the north inner city are incredible and deserve a round of applause for the massive support they’re giving Kellie.
“It really does feel like we’re all in this together. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing.
“My nerves are still at me, I’m still shaking like a leaf.”
The ritual of staying up to watch boxing reminded dad Christy of when he was a child staying up to watch Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fight.
Meanwhile, he said Kellie is fully focused on her next fight and won’t rest on her laurels.
Christy added: “The minute she finished her fight she was more interested in getting food into her and getting her energy up.
“She’s completely focused, it didn’t just end after that fight, it's right back in it for the next one.”
Kellie, 31, has been hailed as an inspiration to young women throughout Ireland and beaming dad Christy hailed the support saying it brought her through the fight.
He added: “She is so grateful now that she is bringing this home.
“When she brings her bronze medal home, it’s for us.”
Overjoyed mum Yvonne admitted she was over the moon and so proud of her daughter.
Yvonne doesn’t watch her daughter’s fights because she would be too nervous but keeps an eye on her family’s reactions.
Windows at the home of the Dublin boxer’s parents were covered with cards made by local kids from a nearby school.
Close to the family home, neighbours saluted Kellie’s superb display.
Russell Donnigan, 60, lives on the same road.
He said: “It’s great to see Kellie do so well.
“The atmosphere around here reminds me of Italia '90.
“She’s the salt of the earth around here and does wonders for the area.
“She’s the pride of Portland Row and all the kids here look up to her.”
Elated family, friends and neighbours of Kellie Harrington were out in force on Tuesday celebrating her bronze medal, at the very least.
Another neighbour, Sharron Harkins spoke of how proud the people in the area are of Kellie.
She said: “We’re all very proud of her.
“To see her get through to the semi-finals is fabulous.
“We’ve been up since 4am. I had to keep switching channels because I can’t bear to watch her fight.
“She’s an inspiration, I’ve six grandchildren and they all wanted to get up with me at 4am to cheer her on.
“We love her to bits.”
Further up the road from the family home, Joe Cass and Gerry Smithers added: “We’re extremely proud of her.
“We only live across the road and it’s brilliant.
“We’ve been up all morning cheering her on.
“She definitely has the potential to go all the way.
“Everyone is excited in the area and all the kids looking up to her as a role model is brilliant.”
Kellie’s first thoughts were of home after her win to secure bronze, she is immensely proud of her Dublin roots.
"Everything I've achieved I owe to Noel Burke, who is my club's [St Mary's] coach at home.
"I've heard that it's lit back home.
“I'm just so happy and my emotions really come [out] when it comes to this.
“To be able to give them something to be happy about and to sing and dance."
Taoiseach Micheal Martin hailed her win and said: “Superb performance from Kellie Harrington to guarantee Team’s Ireland fourth medal at the Tokyo 2020.
“Well done, you’ve created another piece of history in the boxing ring.”
