Is Paul O'Donovan the greatest Irish sportsperson of all time?

08/28/24 • 33 min

PAUL O'Donovan might have chosen to take some time off after winning his third Olympic – and second gold – medal in Paris during the summer. He would have been well within his rights to rest, recover and let everything sink in.

Instead, he travelled to Canada just a couple of weeks later and won his seventh World Rowing title. He also started working as a doctor in the interim.

His recent achievements, along with his European and national titles got us thinking, at Star Sport HQ, is Paul O'Donovan the greatest Irish sportsperson of all time?

There are plenty of contenders to the title: Roy Keane, Katie Taylor, Henry Shefflin to name but a few.

O'Donovan has dominated a sport like no other Irish person has, and has raised the profile of a sport in a way perhaps only Katie Taylor can match.

We're obviously biased down here in West Cork, but spoke about why he just might be Ireland's greatest sportsperson of all time on this week's podcast.

All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.

Follow our hosts on Twitter: @dyldonot & @KieranMcC_SS

Produced by Dylan Mangan.

Paul O'Donovan's medal haul – the highlights

Olympics

Gold medal (Lightweight double sculls, Tokyo 2020)

Gold Medal (Lightweight double sculls, Paris 2024)

Silver medal (Lightweight double sculls, Rio de Janeiro 2016)

World Rowing

O'Donovan has seven World titles, four in the double (2018, ’19, ’22 and ’23) and now three in the single (2016, ’17 and ’24).

Olympic rowers' homecoming

Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy will be joined by thousands of fans, who are expected to descend on Skibbereen this Sunday afternoon for the homecoming that

will celebrate the incredible exploits of Skibbereen Rowing Club’s Olympians at the Paris Games.

For the second Olympics in a row, four Skibb rowers – Paul O’Donovan, Fintan McCarthy, Emily Hegarty and Aoife Casey – flew the West Cork flag on the world stage, and again they wowed.

Olympic champs Paul and Fintan won back-to-back gold medals with their victory in the lightweight men’s double in Paris, Aoife finished fifth in the lightweight women’s double sculls and Tokyo bronze medallist Emily was part of the Irish women’s four that won the B final.

Since then, Paul has added a seventh World title to his collection with his latest success at the World Rowing Championships last weekend adding another reason to celebrate this Sunday.

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Instead, he travelled to Canada just a couple of weeks later and won his seventh World Rowing title. He also started working as a doctor in the interim.

His recent achievements, along with his European and national titles got us thinking, at Star Sport HQ, is Paul O'Donovan the greatest Irish sportsperson of all time?

There are plenty of contenders to the title: Roy Keane, Katie Taylor, Henry Shefflin to name but a few.

O'Donovan has dominated a sport like no other Irish person has, and has raised the profile of a sport in a way perhaps only Katie Taylor can match.

We're obviously biased down here in West Cork, but spoke about why he just might be Ireland's greatest sportsperson of all time on this week's podcast.

All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.

Follow our hosts on Twitter: @dyldonot & @KieranMcC_SS

Produced by Dylan Mangan.

Paul O'Donovan's medal haul – the highlights

Olympics

Gold medal (Lightweight double sculls, Tokyo 2020)

Gold Medal (Lightweight double sculls, Paris 2024)

Silver medal (Lightweight double sculls, Rio de Janeiro 2016)

World Rowing

O'Donovan has seven World titles, four in the double (2018, ’19, ’22 and ’23) and now three in the single (2016, ’17 and ’24).

Olympic rowers' homecoming

Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy will be joined by thousands of fans, who are expected to descend on Skibbereen this Sunday afternoon for the homecoming that

will celebrate the incredible exploits of Skibbereen Rowing Club’s Olympians at the Paris Games.

For the second Olympics in a row, four Skibb rowers – Paul O’Donovan, Fintan McCarthy, Emily Hegarty and Aoife Casey – flew the West Cork flag on the world stage, and again they wowed.

Since then, Paul has added a seventh World title to his collection with his latest success at the World Rowing Championships last weekend adding another reason to celebrate this Sunday.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Fiona Keating & Saoirse McCarthy on winning a second All-Ireland title

CELEBRATIONS raged across Cork last week as the All-Ireland winning senior camogie team returned from Dublin with a second O'Duffy Cup in as many years.

The Rebels’ reign is well underway. That’s now back-to-back All-Ireland senior camogie titles. With Cork also winning the All-Ireland intermediate crown, the first leg of the double, at Croke Park last week.

Courcey Rovers stars Fiona Keating and Saoirse McCarthy played important roles in this year's triumph, and join the podcast this week to chat about the win, camogie in West Cork and the difference in feeling between the first and second titles.

Elsewhere, we look at a busy weekend of club championship action, with defending premier senior champions Castlehaven in good form, while Carbery Rangers fought back from six points down to salvage a draw against rivals Clonakilty.

All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.

Follow our hosts on Twitter: @dyldonot & @seanholland_15

Produced by Dylan Mangan.

***

The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.

Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose the Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community.

For more visit www.accesscu.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Previewing the final round of the Cork football championship group stage

THIS week's podcast is a preview special as we look ahead to this weekend's Cork football championship matches as the final round of the group stage takes place.

It looks set to be an exciting couple of days of football as there is still plenty to be decided across the different divisions, with a number of West Cork clubs looking to either qualify for the next round or avoid the dreaded relegation playoff.

In Premier Senior, Castlehaven and Carbery Rangers clash in a West Cork derby. Ross know they will need a win to get into the next round, while Castlehaven are already through. Clonakilty are also in action and know a win over St Michaels will qualify them.

Newcestown are in a funny position ahead of the weekend, where they could potentially lose and qualify or win and not qualify. They could finish anywhere from 1st to 4th in their group – one to watch this weekend.

West Cork has lots of teams in action this weekend, and we take you through the permutations for each one on this week's Star Sport Podcast.

We also hear about an exciting charity event taking place this October, and look back at last weekend's hurling action as well.

All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.

Follow our hosts on Twitter: @dyldonot & @seanholland_15

Produced by Dylan Mangan.

***

The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.

Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose the Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community.

For more visit www.accesscu.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.