Rio 2016: Ireland rowing brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan take Twitter by storm after claiming silver

Paul and Gary O'Donovan are having the time of their lives out in Rio

Gary O'Donovan gives the thumbs up alongside his brother Paul after claiming silver in the men's lightweight double sculls (Getty)

Ireland’s only medallists of the 2016 Rio Olympics have taken the city by storm after brothers Paul and Gary O’Donovan powered to silver in the men’s lightweight double sculls.

Yet it is not their talent that has captured the imagination of fans worldwide, but their desire to say whatever they want in every interview they give along with drifting away on tangents while live on television, all the while giving the impression they are having the time of their lives.

The brothers started to gain attention when they featured on the BBC after they won their heat, but it was a good-humoured conversation with Irish channel RTE that has really caused a stir and led to such reactions as “just magnificent” and “heroes”.

The pair said that the fame and attention they were receiving had been a pleasant surprise, though did concede that they were disappointed not to be joining in with the celebrations back home in Skibbereen, County Cork.

“Hi lads, how are things?” said Gary, before Paul added: “What’s the craic?”

Gary continued: “We’re in Rio. The background might look superimposed but it’s very real.”

The O'Donovan brothers secured Ireland's first medal of the Rio Olympics (Getty)

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They go on to talk about “podium pants”, “urine tests” and all of the other tasks that they had to complete after the race that had left them “a bit tired”, adding “the legs are like jelly”.

Gary and Paul O'Donovan celebrate with their silver medals (Getty)

When they arrived in the rowing mixed zone where Sir Steve Redgrave and John Inverdale were waiting for a BBC interview, Gary quickly quipped “we’ll have to be careful what we say to these lads”, with all four laughing throughout the conversation.

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Twitter users have been praising the brothers for their humour in their interviews.

They will now return home to Ireland after becoming the nation’s first rowing medallists in Olympic history, and could well finish the Games as Ireland’s only medallists unless they enjoy more success in the second week of competition.