Nadine O’Regan: Rowing in behind our Olympic champions

Just this once, we can all give ourselves permission to brag a little, even if our gold medal-winning rowers from Skibbereen are truly modest about their spectacular feat

Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan celebrate winning Olympic gold in the lightweight double sculls final. Picture: Getty

On Thursday morning, I woke up early, way too early. It was that shade of an hour where you groan, and realise the day may already be ruined by your own sleeplessness.

Then I remembered why my body clock was so askew and I went straight to my phone to check Twitter. "We won the rowing!" were the first words out of my mouth. Along with the rest of the country, I started the day ...