Ireland

Fans welcome world boxing champion Conlan back to Ireland

Boxers Michael O'Reilly, left, Michael Conlan and Joe Ward return to Dublin Airport  
Boxers Michael O'Reilly, left, Michael Conlan and Joe Ward return to Dublin Airport   Boxers Michael O'Reilly, left, Michael Conlan and Joe Ward return to Dublin Airport  

WORLD champion boxer Michael Conlan has been reunited with his baby daughter Luisne on Friday after he flew back to Ireland.

The 23-year-old, from Belfast, arrived at Dublin airport on Friday evening along with his other Irish boxing teammates.

He proudly displayed the gold medal he won at the World Championships in Doha on Wednesday, making him the first Irish male boxer to win a senior world title.

But his medal was quickly confiscated by Luisne.

The young baby also reached out to have a look at light-heavyweight Joe Ward's silver medal.

Conlan joked that he could not stop his baby daughter from taking his gold. 

"It is going to be in her hands from now on, she has all my medals," he said. "I said I was going to do it for her."

In July, the newly-engaged boxer enlisted Luisne's help in proposing to his partner Shauna Olali.

He attached a note to the top of her baby chair asking: "Mummy will you marry my Daddy please?" and gave her an engagement ring to hold.

On Friday night, Conlan, who was Ireland's team captain, praised his Dublin-born father and coach John, and the rest of his family for their support over the years.

He said he was looking forward to the Olympics in Rio next year.

"I'm a very confident person person and I do believe I will take the gold medal in Rio," he said.

"I don't see why not. I'm the World champion, the European champion, the Commonwealth champion.

"To cap it all off as an Olympic champion would be the perfect finish. I enjoyed my boxing in Doha because I had already qualified (for the Olympics).

"I was happy enough. It was fantastic to have qualified as I was going in there with no pressure on me to qualify.

"I said I was going to do it (win gold) but I don't think it has fully sunk in. "It's fantastic and I can't wait for Rio now," he said.

Conlan is due to talk about his boxing victory on RTÉ's Ray D’Arcy Show on Saturday night.