Paddy finishes day 3 with amount raised now more than £2.5 million

Boxing legend's sponsored walk nears end

Fighting Irish return home tomorrow after mammoth trek

Knocked down but not out, that's how Barney Eastwood described Paddy Barnes as he crossed the finish line in Carrickmore having walked 130 miles in just three days. The Olympic medalist's mammoth trek comes to an end tomorrow when he returns to his native Belfast after walking from his boxing club in the Markets to GAA headquarters in Croke Park.

The walk was initially intended to raise £250,000 for the building of a new state-of-the-art boxing gym in the Markets but by the time he arrives back home he is expected to have topped £2.5 million.

Today the Irish boxing legend was joined by his two children and his former Olympic teammate Michael Conlan, who ran the last five miles with him, to Carrickmore where he was met by a jubilant crowd.

A clearly delighted but exhausted Barnes said: "It's an incredible feeling to think that this idea, which we only really started thinking about seriously around six weeks ago, has captured the imagination of people all over the world and raised so much money for a cause so close to my heart.

"The physical pain and tiredness has been tough at times but honestly that's nothing compared to the pain and hurt that so many families have suffered, and continue to suffer, because of the Troubles."

Barnes added: "The welcome we have received since setting out from Belfast has been truly amazing and I can't thank people enough for the generosity they have shown.

"But we're not finished and I would urge people to continue to donate because every penny will make a real difference."

With thousands expected to line the streets of Belfast tomorrow as the two-time Olympic medalist makes his way back to the Markets donations are expected to flood in before the total is announced at a special homecoming event in the city centre.