Dublin park erupts with pride as local hero Kellie Harrington wins boxing gold

The parents of Olympic champion Kellie Harrington said they were “super” proud as they celebrated “two golds for the north inner city” with neighbours and friends in Dublin.

Harrington cruised through the women’s 60kg final against Wenlu Yang to retain her Olympic title and take home Ireland’s fourth gold medal at the Paris games.

With tricolours draped around their shoulders, her parents Yvonne and Christy celebrated her win by singing Grace on the steps of their terraced red-brick home on Portland Row.

They said they were very proud of their daughter and that the second Olympic victory would not change who she is.

“I can tell you, nothing will change. Kellie will be the person she always was and always will be. Because she comes from a humble family, a humble community,” her mother said.

Her father, Christy, said he loved the fight and “from the off” he knew she was going to win, before adding: “The Portland Tiger strikes.”

Emphasising Harrington’s working-class background, he said her win was “all about” the community of Portland Row, and that it “brings us all together”.

The success makes Harrington Ireland’s most decorated female Olympian and the only Irish boxer to contest and win back-to-back Olympic finals.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said that Kellie Harrington had “made history” and said the country “could not be prouder of you”.

“You, your family, your coaches, and your community deserve every moment of this victory and celebration. All of Ireland is celebrating with you.”

Up the road from the family home, a small Dublin park erupted with pride after Harrington clinched another gold.

In the streets surrounding the park, several posters from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 were hung up calling Harrington ‘Our Golden