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In pictures: home are the Special Olympics heroes

Games stars are welcomed back after a very successful campaign in Greece.
4.54pm, 5 Jul 2011
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OUR SPECIAL OLYMPIANS landed in Dublin Airport with a lot more excess baggage than when they left.

Team Ireland touched down in the capital this afternoon with a medal haul of 107 between 126 athletes.

Unsurprisingly, they were greeted as heroes.

In pictures: home are the Special Olympics heroes
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  • Heroes' welcome

    Team Ireland bowler Joyce Haughian from Warrenpoint Co.Down, with her three medals, is greeted by her mother Catherine (left) and sister Fiona (right).

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Ella Ryan gets to grips with Margaret Dunnigan's medal.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    John Loughnane shows off his bling.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    John Loughnane with his dad John and mother Mary.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Michael Glynn with Eli and Paula Gannon.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Pat Finn and Stephen Nesbitt.

  • Heroes' welcome

    Friends and family of Team Ireland Special Olympic double medal winning kayaker Ruairi O'Toole (centre) welcome him home at Dublin Airport.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Ruairi O'Toole gets a kiss from Amy Frost.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Clodagh Kilcullen and Raedi Higgins at the gate.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Hugh Sweeney, Oliver Boyle and Shaun Bradley with their medals.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Kayaker Ruairi O'Toole makes his entrance.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Amy Quinn and Stephen Deignan enjoy the atmosphere.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Medal haul: Pat Maguire, Teresa Maguire and Collette Maguire.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Jonathan Griffin is greeted by Bridget Goode.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Michael Hardiman takes the crowd's plaudits.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    John Michael Gannon strolls through the terminal after a job well done.

  • Heroes’ welcome

    Ann Hibbit, Christine Kelly and Mary Kelly at Arrivals.

  • Heroes' welcome

    Double gold medal winner Simon Darragh.

  • Heroes' welcome

    Supporters of Special Olympic athletes show their colours in the terminal.

  • Heroes' welcome

    Friends and family of Special Olympic Killarney golfer Micheal O'Leary cheer him home.
  • Team Ireland bowler Joyce Haughian from Warrenpoint Co.Down, with her three medals, is greeted by her mother Catherine (left) and sister Fiona (right).
  • Ella Ryan gets to grips with Margaret Dunnigan's medal.
  • John Loughnane shows off his bling.
  • John Loughnane with his dad John and mother Mary.
  • Michael Glynn with Eli and Paula Gannon.
  • Pat Finn and Stephen Nesbitt.
  • Friends and family of Team Ireland Special Olympic double medal winning kayaker Ruairi O'Toole (centre) welcome him home at Dublin Airport.
  • Ruairi O'Toole gets a kiss from Amy Frost.
  • Clodagh Kilcullen and Raedi Higgins at the gate.
  • Hugh Sweeney, Oliver Boyle and Shaun Bradley with their medals.
  • Kayaker Ruairi O'Toole makes his entrance.
  • Amy Quinn and Stephen Deignan enjoy the atmosphere.
  • Medal haul: Pat Maguire, Teresa Maguire and Collette Maguire.
  • Jonathan Griffin is greeted by Bridget Goode.
  • Michael Hardiman takes the crowd's plaudits.
  • John Michael Gannon strolls through the terminal after a job well done.
  • Ann Hibbit, Christine Kelly and Mary Kelly at Arrivals.
  • Double gold medal winner Simon Darragh.
  • Supporters of Special Olympic athletes show their colours in the terminal.
  • Friends and family of Special Olympic Killarney golfer Micheal O'Leary cheer him home.

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Adrian Russell
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