And so, another Olympics in the books. Paris, truly a city sans pareil, opened itself to the world and the world entered its gates.
Over 10,000 athletes, countless officials and, oh, Tom Cruise, made Paris 2024 an unforgettable extravaganza of sporting triumph and heartbreak, excellence and endeavor.
The United States tied China in the gold medal race but easily won the overall medal tally when the silver and bronze totals were added.
Ireland enjoyed the best Olympics ever. A team of 133, from all over the island, took home seven medals in all, four gold and three bronze. There were three fourth place finishes including those of 400 meter star Rhasidat Adeleke and the women's 4 X 100 relay team which included Adeleke in the final.
Daniel Wiffen won gold and bronze in the pool while Mona McSharry won bronze. Rhys McClenaghan captured gold on the pommel horse while the boys from Skibbereen, Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan, rowed themselves into gold medal history. Boxer Kellie Harrington secured gold while rowers Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch added another bronze.
Ireland finished an extraordinary 19th in the medal table out of over 200 participating countries.
Across the broader tableau we witnessed the redemption of Simone Biles, the confirmation that Katie Ledecky is in a swimming realm of her own, and that Noah Lyles is the fastest man in the world by the tiniest of margins.
President Michael D. Higgins summed up well from an Irish perspective, stating: "As President of Ireland, may I extend my congratulations and appreciation to all those Olympians who have represented our country with such distinction over the last two and a half weeks.
"Each of our record-setting medallists has brought enormous joy to all those watching across our island and beyond and has been a source of encouragement.
"All those who achieved so much by qualifying and competing to such a high standard have made Irish people everywhere so immensely proud.
"The Olympics has been the culmination of four years, indeed a lifetime, of hard work and dedicated training by our athletes and I extend my admiration and appreciation to all those who have competed and given their all across so many sporting disciplines, including personal bests, national records and an Olympic record. In every aspect there has been real achievement.
"Our Olympians' efforts are a credit to their coaches, their families and supporters, so many of whom travelled to Paris to cheer them on, and to all those who have helped them on their individual and collective journeys. The Irish people's love of sport has been moved on to a whole new level by these Games.
"As we look to the future, the additional funding which has been promised provides hope that these fantastic results can be built upon in the years ahead. May I again send my best wishes to each of our Olympians as they return to their families and communities and the warm reception which they have so well earned.
"I look forward to welcoming them to an event at Áras an Uachtaráin in the near future where I will have an opportunity to personally recognise all that they have achieved."
And indeed there is more money on the way for the development of Irish sporting prowess and for the expansion of youth participation across a range of disciplines.
And so on to Los Angeles in 2028. We can only hope that the Olympics by the Pacific will take place in a more peaceful and settled world, a world that better reflects the Olympic ideal. Yes, we can only hope.
