World champion hurdler Derval O'Rourke received a tumultuous welcome when she arrived at Dublin airport last night, writes Marie O'Halloran.
To cheers and applause the emotional 24-year-old smiled, waved and hugged her family when she came through arrivals. Supporters and well-wishers joined her parents Terry and Eva O'Rourke, her sister Clodagh (26), and her boyfriend Kris Stewart to welcome her home.
She told reporters she was a "bit emotional".
She did not realise that she was Ireland's first female indoor hurdles champion until she read it in the paper, "so it's pretty exciting". She said "I think I've slept eight hours since last Saturday".
Her plans now were to relax, have a couple of weeks off and then get ready for the European Championships in Gottenburg.
