Murphy returns to hero's welcome

Swimming:European swimming silver medallist Gráinne Murphy arrived back into Dublin airport this afternoon to a tumultuous welcome.

About 40 friends and families were there to greet the 17-year-old who surpassed her own expectations by winning a medal in the 1,500 metres final at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest. She also finished just outside the medals in the 800 metres.

Gráinne was accompanied by her parents Brendan and Mary and by her sister Niamh, whose example she emulated when she first started swimming as a child.

Many of Gráinne's extended family, including her grandmother Mary Colfer, her uncle Dermot Murphy and numerous cousins, were there to greet her on her return.

She posed for photographers and seemed unfazed by the buzz that her success has created. “The support here is amazing. I wasn’t expecting it. I’m delighted,” she said.

She confessed to not really caring about her Leaving Certificate results this week. Her school, Castletroy College in Co Limerick, have allowed her to take her exams over two years because of her heavy training schedule. She is studying English, business and German.

She intends to take two weeks off before resuming her gruelling training schedule. "I’m going to relax and enjoy it as much as I can,” she said.

She and her family have immediately moved to dampen expectations about a possible medal at the London 2012 Olympics. “I don’t have any expectation on myself. I’m just here to swim to the best of my ability and enjoy the support.”

Mary Murphy said her daughter was determined to keep focused on her swimming and her studies. “She’s quite calm and quite relaxed. I’m sure she will stay that way. It won’t change her as a person anyway,” she said.

“Gráinne was always determined and willing to put in the work. Whatever was asked, she was willing to give it. She’s enjoying it, that’s the main thing.”

Gráinne’s dedication is such that she moved from her native Wexford where her parents run the Horse and Hound pub in Ballinaboola to Limerick to be close to the University of Limerick’s 50 metre pool.

She is splitting her Leaving Certificate over two years because of the demands of her swimming, which involves three hours of training in the morning between 5.15am and 8.30am and a further session in the afternoon between 2.30pm and 5.30pm.

A reception for her will be held today at the family pub.