WATCH: Hundreds turn out to welcome home the O'Rourke sisters

The O’Rourke sisters Aoife and Lisa, fresh from their gold medal wins at the European Boxing Championships in Sofia, were greeted by hundreds of well-wishers when they arrived back in their home town of Castlerea earlier this evening, Saturday.

At Castlerea Boxing Club, where it all began for them, Aoife and Lisa were joined by family, friends, and neighbours as the community stood proud with them and their boxing coach Paddy Sharkey.

With younger members of the Castlerea club out in force, the sisters said that hopefully they could inspire the next generation of young boxers and hopefully there would be plenty more gold medals coming to Castlerea over the next few years.

Delighted with the welcome home they received from young and old, both were quick to thank the people of the community for coming out in such huge numbers and for always being behind them supporting them. “We really do appreciate it,” they said.

Chairman of Castlerea Boxing Club and head coach Paddy Sharkey spoke of the “passion” both boxers had and referred to their huge training schedule day-in-day out. “They give it their all,” he said.

He also spoke of how the support of the community meant to such to them and to the club.

Both Aoife and Lisa thanked Paddy  and told the gathering how they had come in to the club the Saturday morning before they flew out for the European Championships in Bulgaria and he did a few hours of non-stop continuous work with them. They said that without his help they would not be where they are today. “We are so, so thankful to him, he is always by our side and he is just a massive part of this whole journey,” they said.

*Watch below as Aoife and Lisa enter Castlerea Boxing Club to loud cheers

On the evening Aoife and Lisa were interviewed live for the Six One News (watch below)