THIS WAS the moment Portland Row in the centre of Dublin exploded with joy as local lass Kellie Harrington secured an Olympic Gold medal.
Family, friends and neighbours of the Harrington family gathered on the street where Kellie grew up in the early hours of Sunday morning to watch the historic fight.
The 31-year-old toppled Brazil's Beatriz Ferreira by unanimous decision following three rounds of sensational boxing during the final of the women's lightweight competition.
Despite struggling in the first, Kellie kept her composure and roared back in the second, before dominating again in the third to take home the Gold.
The moment the judges' decision was announced on Portland Row was captured on film, and what a moment it was.
Ireland flags, sparklers and confetti were thrown into the air as RTÉ commentators announced: "She's done it!"
The moment Portland Row saw Kellie Harrington take gold @Kelly64kg @rtenews @RTEsport pic.twitter.com/PAnsC6aiJK
— Samantha Libreri (@SamanthaLibreri) August 8, 2021
Kellie's immediate family, who were watching inside their house, quickly emerged to join in with the celebrations.
Yvonne, Kellie's mum, was right in the thick of it, despite previously admitting she couldn't watch her daughter's fights because they made her too nervous.
From Portland Row to Tokyo.
The Harrington family celebrate a GOLD MEDAL. #Olympics pic.twitter.com/ky5RPbyRab— Rob O'Hanrahan (@RobOHanrahan) August 8, 2021
It's just the 11th Gold medal Ireland has ever secured at the Olympic Games, and Harrington follows in the footsteps of Katie Taylor, who secured Olympic Gold in the boxing back in 2012.
