AQUATICS: Ireland's aquatics team topped up their medal haul with more gold and bronze at the National Aquatic Centre on Saturday, on a day the Taoiseach described as one that would "lift your heart".
Gold in the women's 4x50m freestyle relay and bronze in the men's equivalent took Ireland's haul in the pool to 10 gold, nine silver and five bronze.
An 11th gold was added yesterday when Laura Jane Dunne won her third of the games in what head aquatics coach Brenda Pemberton described as a "brilliant" week.
"Everyone has done so well," she said, "including those unlucky to miss out on medals.
"Nearly all the athletes broke their personal bests by two or three seconds and that's a real achievement."
Mr Ahern appeared pool-side to congratulate Dunne, Karina Houlihan, Caitríona Kearney and Bríd Lynch following their pulsating victory in the relay.
Dunne, dripping wet, gave the Taoiseach a hug which soaked his suit.
Chants of "olé, olé, olé" echoed around the arena as spectators raced to the front of the stand to see the elated quartet emerge from the pool. Inflatable hammers and flags donning the Irish colours were waved triumphantly.
Just minutes later, similarly chaotic scenes greeted Stephen Campbell, Peadar Connolly, Tony McManus and Damien O'Donovan as they set a new team best time in their relay to collect bronze.
Connolly, in particular, revelled in the euphoria, thumping the air one-handed as he made his way out of the water.
Mr Ahern told The Irish Times he was taken aback by the energy at all the venues.
"The atmosphere has been unbelievable, everyone is just so happy and the volunteers, many of whom work 14 hour days or more, are largely responsible for that."