HUNDREDS OF people and a dog wrapped in a Tricolour turned out to greet Olympic boxing bronze medallist Paddy Barnes upon his return to his native north Belfast last night.
His first stop, naturally, was at his Holy Family Boxing Club under the shadow of the New Lodge tower blocks where local people, fellow boxing Olympians and his family accorded him a hero's welcome.
The door of the community centre that houses the club was festooned with posters declaring, "Well Done Paddy Barnes - The Pride of North Belfast - Irish Hero." Some club members wore T-shirts stating, "There's only one Paddy Barnes".
His mother Ellen, weary from a long flight back from Beijing, looked on proudly as the local community paid tribute.
"He's very shy, you know," she said as Barnes, wearing his Irish kit, his medal, a black baseball cap and his now trademark beaming smile, thanked the crowd.
Before heading to the upper floor of an open top double-decker bus, Barnes conceded, "I find this harder than fighting in the Olympics."
But as the bus travelled through the streets to his home in Manor Street, the boxer revelled in the applause and shouts of "Well done, Paddy," and even in the small dog who briefly followed the bus while wrapped in the Irish flag.
The celebrations were joined by fellow boxers including former professional world champion Dave "Boy" McAuley, Holy Family medallist from Moscow in 1980 Hugh Russell, and another Holy Family Olympian, the heavyweight boxer Paul Douglas. Douglas travelled from the Shankill for the reception, demonstrating in a quiet way how boxing transcended the sectarianism of the Troubles.
Also there was boxing impresario Barney Eastwood, prompting us to inquire might the 21-year-old turn professional.
"Ah, I don't think so," Barnes said. With a glint in his eye, he added: "But if somebody offered me a million pounds I might change my mind."
Barnes remains undecided about his future, although he appears more focused on London 2012. "I'd still like to get a better medal than the bronze," he said, while stressing that he regretted his Beijing comments about bronzes being for "losers".
That was said in the "heat of the moment", he added. He was proud of his achievement and so was his community.