THERE were congratulations and applause for Michelle Smith from all sides of the Dail at its special sitting yesterday.
And in a television interview, the British Prime Minister, Mr Major, also hailed her achievement as "a superb and magnificent performance". Everyone on the island of Ireland is cheering and she deserves their applause. "She is getting a lot of cheers "from over here," he said.
Leading the tributes in the Dail, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, said she had brought honour to the State in her "truly stupendous" achievement - "a lesson for everyone in showing that if one is determined enough to achieve an objective, single minded enough in pursuing it, it can be done".
He also paid tribute to the dignified way in which she had dealt with the criticisms to which she was subjected outside the swimming pool. The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, described her as the "golden girl" of the Olympics. "The dedication, commitment and courage she has shown, inside and outside the pool, have been outstanding."
The PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, who represents Dublin South West, remarked that there was now "a new golden circle" in the area. Michael Carruth had brought home a boxing gold medal and now Michelle Smith would bring home three, if not four, gold medals.
"I think her success augurs well for next year's general election, I hope for myself in particular, since the women are doing better than the men", she added. The Fianna Fail deputy leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke, remarked: "There's women for you."
The Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, on behalf of the Labour Party, said it would be remiss of the House not to recognise and acclaim her extraordinary achievement.
The leader of Democratic Left, Mr De Rossa, said no Irish person had won three gold medals before. People in Ireland and abroad were proud of her.
