PICS: Emotional Irish fans pay their respect as Paul O'Connell plays final home game on Irish soil

An Irish hero.

The fairytale ending wasn't to be today, as Paul O'Connell's Ireland team slipped to a 10-16 defeat to Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

The Irish No. 5 was playing his final Test match on Irish soil in a tough World Cup warm-up and, at the end of the game, the home fans were quick to take to social media to show their appreciation for a true Irish sports star.

Thanks, Paulie.

#rugby #irevwal #paulie @irishrugby #legend

A video posted by Osizzler (@osizzler) on Aug 29, 2015 at 8:30am PDT

A gentleman, a team player, a leader, a legend. Thank you Paulie #IRLvWAL

— Gillian Kane-McLoughlin (@gmcloughlin) August 29, 2015

The ovation for Paul O Connell and his little boy was gorgeous. #IREvWAL

— John Sullivan (@nanasthoughts) August 29, 2015

Nice ovation from the crowd and Wales players for Paul O Connell.Measure of the man he is that he'd no interest in a lap of honour👍

— John Des (@1johndes) August 29, 2015

Paul 'No Fuss' O'Connell. #IREvWAL

— Joe Donnelly (@kildarejoe) August 29, 2015

What a day for @Paul_OConnell @AVIVAStadium today - now for the #RWC2015 #TrueLegend #ThanksPaul pic.twitter.com/M1iMMvHnhC

— AVIVA Stadium (@AVIVAStadium) August 29, 2015

Nice send off for Paul O Connell at the end of the match. What a player and class act #ThanksPaul

— Trevor Scanlon (@tscanlon82) August 29, 2015

Paul O'Connell, what can be said. What a hero of the game #IrlvWal

— The Kitchen (@thekitchendub) August 29, 2015

#ThanksPaul 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/8JBpesOaOr

— 𝙰𝚍𝚊𝚖 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚜 (@Adammayes_) August 29, 2015

Cheerio Paul 👋🏼and thanks 🍀💪🏼 #ShoulderToShoulder #ThanksPaul #IREvWAL pic.twitter.com/rcPmzrY8Aj

— Cathrina McGuinness (@Trina_McG90) August 29, 2015

Sad to see Paulie's last home game in an Ireland shirt. Until he's back with Toulon in December to hand Leinster their arses ☺️ #POC #Paulie

— Pats O'Connor (@PatsOConnor) August 29, 2015