Even before Olympic silver medalists Gary and Paul O'Donovan got in the water on Sunday morning at the European Rowing Championships, it was a brilliant morning for both Ireland and Skibbereen.
Mark O'Donovan and Shane O'Driscoll won gold in the men's lightweight pair with an incredible, dominant performance which saw them lead from start to finish.
That was followed up by their clubmate Denise Walsh who took silver in the lightweight women's single sculls.
Speaking to David Gillick for RTÉ after the race, the pair were ecstatic.
Dominic Casey wanted to make us hungry for the rowing. He kept us away from the sport there for a day or two. He only made us train once a week so we'd be hungry today, by God we had a hunger.
Along with that silver medal-winning performance in Rio, the O'Donovans won hearts with some special post-race interviews. It appears they are not the only Skibbereen rowers who perform on the water and on camera.
The drop of whiskey they gave us before the race, I just threw up there now.
"The drop of whiskey they gave us before the race... I threw up just now!” - *warning, colourful language #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/tUL1aLAZAN
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 28, 2017
They also gatecrashed Denise Walsh's interview, telling her:
Fuck it, fair play to ya, that's brilliant. I suppose we'd better not be swearing.
She's wearing her lucky socks and all. Get them in the photo.
'She's wearing her lucky socks!' - Shane O'Driscoll & Mark O'Donovan get involved in Denise Walsh's silver medal celebrations! pic.twitter.com/zi3YjjcAOo
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 28, 2017
