Olympians Homecoming: Ireland's Olympians completed the final leg of their journey home after the Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt landed at Dublin Airport this evening, complete with a tricolour flying from the cockpit window.
The plane carrying the Irish athletes, including the three boxing medal winners, was escorted by three fire and rescue tenders as it taxied to Pier C, where hundreds of friends and family waited to welcome their heroes home.
Medal winners Kenny Egan (silver), Paddy Barnes (bronze) and Darren Sutherland (bronze) came down the front steps of the aircraft to much applause before meeting with family and friends.
There were huge cheers and the chorus of "Olé, Olé, Olé", which filled the Workers' Gymnasium in Beijing for so much of the games, as the team were greeted in the arrivals hall.
Egan, who won silver at the Workers' Gymnasium after losing to home favourite Zhang Xiaoping in a closely fought battle on Sunday, was the main draw and plans are afoot to hold celebrations in his hometown of Neilstown in Clondalkin.
"This is unbelievable," said Egan of the reception he and the Irish team received after arriving at the airport. "I can't wait to meet my family and friends and then I'm just going to chill out for the next few weeks."
The weary boxer, who was still bearing a bruised eye, said his win at the Beijing Games still hasn't hit him.
"I remember all those years ago watching (Michael) Carruth in his Olympic final taking the gold and I really thought in my heart of hearts I had it in me to go out do the same but I just fell short," he said.
"That medal was in my hand at one stage and it just slipped away. It kills me. It's killing me today. Even after the fight I was cursing myself.
"It's still haunting me today. It will always haunt me, but I have a silver medal so I can't be too bad," added Egan who lost 11-7 to his Chinese opponent in the light heavyweight final.
But he was a firm champion on home soil where his biggest embrace came from proud parents Paul and Maura and girlfriend Karen Sullivan.
The team was also welcomed by Minister for Sport Martin Cullen, Chinese Ambassador Liu Biwei and Lord Mayor of Dublin Eibhlin Byrne.
Minister Cullen said that "it was with great pride that he welcomed back Ireland's Olympic team from Beijing and that they had been privileged to take part in the world's greatest festival of sport".
"The Irish Olympic team had a very successful Games," added the Minister. "Pride of place must go to our boxing team who led the way. Only China and Cuba won more boxing medals.
"All five boxers won at least one fight and incredibly each only lost to the eventual gold medal winner. Kenny Egan, Darren Sutherland and Paddy Barnes join a very select group who have won Olympic medals for Ireland."
Olympic Council of Ireland Chef de Mission Dermot Henihan plus John Treacy and Pat Hickey from the Irish Sports Council were also in attendance.
Mr Treacy said it had been a great two weeks for Irish sport. He said he was proud of the athletes "who made achievement after achievement on the toughest stage of all".
"They have laid strong ground work for the future by being the first Irish team in 50 years to return with three medals," he said.
Chinese ambassador Liu Bewei said: "This is a lovely and happy time for the people of Ireland".
He said the games were a great success for China. "Every athlete who competed served as great ambassador for their respective countries," he aded.
Egan, who has been nicknamed the Pride of Clondalkin, remained tight-lipped over his future in the sport.
"I don't know if I'll be in London (Olympics) or if I'll turn professional," said the 26-year-old. "I don't know yet. I'm sure when I have the decision made I'll announce it properly."
The champion fighter said he hoped the Irish team's success will get youngsters all over the country back in to some sort of sport and revealed his success has been a stepping stone.
"When I started boxing all I wanted was to win a Dublin league, then I went on to the Irish titles and senior titles," he added.
"It was just always a stepping stone and then to qualify was everything to me.
"To win the silver medal it was the icing on the cake. But it's killing me today to have the silver medal because the gold was just there. It was on my fingertips. It just slipped for me."
The Egan family will be reunited on Thursday for the first time since Christmas when brother Paul flies home from Germany. Other siblings William, John and Tony are also travelling back from Beijing where they led his strong team of supporters.
Sutherland, who plans to turn pro after a well-earned break, said he was delighted to be back on Irish soil.
"It's great to have something to bring home, it's brilliant," he said. "For five boxers to bring back three medals is amazing.
"Tonight I'm just going to see my family, I haven't seen them in five weeks, and then there'll be a big party in Navan."
A lone piper eventually escorted the team through the airport before Egan was taken to Liffey Valley, where he is expected to board an open top bus that will take him to Neilstown and Clondalkin.
There is also a homecoming party planned at Boomers pub in the Dutch Village in Clondalkin.