15 August 2012 Last updated at 12:10 ET

Ireland welcomes its team home from London 2012

Boxing champion Katie Taylor at the Team Ireland homecoming in Dublin

Thousands of people braved a heavy downpour in Dublin to welcome home Team Ireland from the London Olympics.

The team won five medals making it Ireland's most successful Olympic performance for almost 60 years.

There was a noisy reception for boxing gold-medallist Katie Taylor and her team mates.

Thirty-one athletes, about half of the Irish Olympic squad, attended the event at Dawson Street in the city centre.

Katie, who won gold in the women's lightweight division, admitted to feeling rather nervous in front of the massive crowd.

She said she hoped her success would inspire future Irish women boxers, but was now due for a well-deserved rest.

Reception

"I'm going to Ibiza with the lads," the Olympic champion quipped.

Belfast's bronze medal-winning boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan arrived fresh from an open-top bus reception in their home town on Tuesday.

"Belfast was amazing. So is Dublin," said Michael.

A large crowd of well-wishers came out to welcome the Irish team home

Showjumper Cian O'Connor took time out from preparations for the Dublin Horse Show to display his bronze medal.

He said London 2012 represented, "a big turning-point for equestrian sport".

Some of the athletes were looking forward to a second chance for Olympic success in Rio de Janeiro.

21 year-old Natalya Coyle, who finished ninth in the women's modern pentathlon, said she hoped to make her mark in 2016.

She said ensuring funding for sports would be "a key part for the next four years".

After the public welcome, the team members were congratulated by the Irish prime minister, Enda Kenny.

Earlier, the people of Coleraine welcomed home their Olympic medal-winning rowers.

Team GB oarsmen Richard and Peter Chambers took silver in the lightweight fours, while Alan Campbell won a bronze in the single sculls.