A State reception is planned for Olympic gold medal winner Cian O'Connor on his return from Athens next week.
Tributes to O'Connor were led last night by the President, Mrs McAleese, who said the whole country could take pride in his "tremendous achievement". President McAleese is to hold a reception at Áras an Úachtaráin this week.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, who watched O'Connor's final clear round on TV at his home in Drumcondra, said he had shown "enormous courage".
Speaking on her return from Athens today, Avril Doyle, President of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland paid tribute to Cian O'Connor and Waterford Crystal on winning the gold in Athens.
Mrs Doyle said; "I would like to thank both Cian O'Connor and Waterford Crystal for the honour they have brought to Equestrian Sport in Ireland and Irish sport in general.
This has been a truly historic occassion for Irish sport and Ireland now has the honour of having an Olympic showjumping champion in Cian and a world champion in Dermot Lennon. We are all extremely proud."
Cian O'Connor will arrive in Dublin Airport at 2.20pm on Monday with members of the Irish Olympic team.