Ellen Walshe and Kate O’Connor given a hero’s welcome at Dublin Airport

Ellen Walshe's double gold in Paris

Walshe came home with two golds from the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, O'Connor with European heptathlon gold from Birmingham.

Walshe won both the 200m and 400m individual medley in Paris, a major step forward in her career, and admitted she was floored by the reception waiting for her.

"I'm absolutely shocked. Coming through that door, it just hit me, I'm really shocked hearing everyone cheering.

"It was a very special week and it's definitely going to be one for me to remember and the Irish team," Walshe said.

Swim Ireland high performance director Andy Reid said he was “delighted for Ellen”, noting that “she's been working hard for 11 or 12 years plus”.

Mona McSharry has opted to stay in France for part of this week to rest, leaving Walshe to lead the accolades for the swimming team.

O'Connor, the 25-year-old from Dundalk, has now medalled at seven championships in the past 18 months.

“I don't think I could ever get used to this,” she said, speaking to RTE Sport.

“It's a little bit different now coming back with a gold medal wrapped around my neck. I think that this one is probably the most special that I've experienced so far.”

She was one of four Irish athletes on the podium in Birmingham, with Mark English taking 800m gold, Rhasidat Adeleke silver in the 200m and Andrew Coscoran bronze in the 1500m, a haul that has reframed expectations for Ireland's European Athletics Championships team.

It is the best showing by Ireland at the European Championships in years.