Ireland fan Jamie Monaghan was presented with the Médaille de la Ville de Paris by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo on Thursday evening in the Parisian Fan Park under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
Jamie represented the Irish fans at the event, and was joined by Northern Ireland fan Jim Spratt, who recerived the award on behalf of the Northern Irish fans.
The teenager has a rare genetic condition called Trisomy 9 mosaicism (T9M), which means he cannot walk or talk, and is wheelchair-bound. The Drogheda United fan went to all four Ireland games in France with his parents and sister.
Jamie's father Philip spoke to The Pat Kenny Show on Friday morning, on Jamie's behalf about receiving the award on behalf of the Irish fans.
"We were given the VIP treatment by the Mayor of Paris. We were also in the Irish Embassy with the Irish Ambassador. We had a great day. We were in an area, cordoned off from the Fan Zone. Jamie enjoyed himself. It was a tremendous honour to receive this on behalf of the Irish supporters.
The Monaghan family were based in France throughout the group stages, but returned to Ireland before travelling back to Lyon for the loss to France. Philip said the level of transportation in France, made life easy for the family.
"France is very, very transport orientated. Most cities have a metro system, a tram system, a bus system. Getting around France in a wheelchair is no problem at all."
And here it is #IRL fans, the 'Médaille de la Ville de Paris'! You are the pride of our nation! #COYBIG ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ™ŒðŸ»ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ª pic.twitter.com/Jgi7cCf66e
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) July 8, 2016
"The only lifting we had to do was last night. We had to lift (Jamie) on to the stage for the photograph with the Mayor of Paris."
Despite the easiness of travelling around the country, Philip said the kindness of the French public is what he will remember from the tournament.
"I had a big flag made before we went over with 'Jamie On Tour'. It went missing in the campsite in Bordeaux. A French lady actually had a replica made and couriered up to us in Calais... The French were very, very generous."
Despite not winning on the field, the Irish fans were very successful off it.
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