Galway is celebrating the success of several sporting stars on this summer's international stage
Most attention is turned to the Tokyo Olympics where athletes from Galway have produced sterling performances in the biggest sporting arena, led by the Irish rowing crew that includes Galway's Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh who claimed bronze in the women's coxless fours.
The women, along with Eimear Lambe and Emily Hegarty, returned to Ireland last week to a deserved heroes' welcome, having created history as the first Irish women's heavyweight rowers to make an Olympic final, and deliver medal winning performance.
It is a real reward too for city schools, the Jes and Taylor's Hill where the two women were educated, and NUIG and Galway rowing clubs which have nurtured and encouraged thousands of budding sports people down through the years.
Cillin Greene on the track
This week Galway City Harriers Club has taken centre stage in Tokyo where Cillin Greene celebrated his part in making Irish sporting history
The Galway City Harrier was a key member of Ireland's 4X 400m mixed relay team - the first Irish relay team to make an Olympic final.
The 23-years-old ran a storming first leg of the event, posting a strong time of 45.1 - a time that was quicker than any athlete from the heats. And with Phil Healy running 51.4, Sophie Becker 51.58, and anchor man Chris O'Donnell with a last leg time of 44.74, the quartet finished a superb eighth in the final behind runaway winners Poland who set a new Olympic record.
"We gave it our all and left absolutely nothing on the track," said Greene. "It's been an incredible couple of days and we've made history - the first Irish relay team to make an Olympic final - and with a national record."
The team had qualified courtesy of huge effort in their heat when, for the first time, Greene had run the opening leg of a relay.
The national 400m champion posted a personal best in that race - his flying start also helping the quartet to shatter Ireland's national record. Having gone into the event looking to run a time of 3:14, the team posted a time of 3:12.18.
Greene, from Cregmore and a law student at DCU, had described that semi-final as "a bit surreal".
"I've been really confident with the way training has been going and I've been racing really well, so I was confident that if we executed our races together we would produce something really special," he said. "Everyone really did that and we all stepped up to the mark."
Also playing his part in the team's success was fellow Galway City Harrier Robert McDonnell.
The youngest member of Ireland's track and field team, McDonnell, who won an U20 national title at 200m and bronze medal in the 400m this year, was also a member of the Olympic team, involved in all preparation and training in Tokyo.
Brian Bruton of Galway City Harriers says the two local runners have been inspiring.
"All at Galway City Harriers are delighted to see two of our clubmates compete at the highest level in sport, the Olympic Games.
"Cillin Greene and Robert McDonnell represented their country with great honour and success over the past two weeks in Tokyo, and have inspired many people across the entire country."
Bruton says Cillin's first leg performances in both semi-final and final were outstanding, setting up the Irish team up for two excellent performances.
"Both he and Robert's international success are well deserved and are a testament to GCH as whole, and to all the coaches involved over the last decade with both athletes.
"Their commitment to their sport over many years shows the value of regular training with a club that enables people to both enjoy and excel at athletics.
"We have no doubt that both athletes will continue to achieve great success and hopefully many more will follow in their footsteps in the future."
On the equestrian circuit, however, Galway native Cathal Daniels was forced to withdraw his horse Rioghan Rua, owned by Galway's Margaret and Frank Kinsella just before the start of the dressage competition for veterinary reasons.
