Tipperary All-Ireland homecoming: Rain pours as ‘delighted' fans await hurling heroes

Irish Independent

4 days ago

Yvonne Meehan, her children Hanna and Aoife, and husband Donal, made the journey from Borrisoleigh. 'Loving it. We were at the match yesterday so it's fabulous,' said Yvonne.
'It's so great to be able to see all the crowds here. We are delighted to be sitting and not getting wet either,' Yvonne said. The match was 'fabulous'. 'It was such a buzz. They all got together and they were a real team.'
Darragh McCarthy and Oisin O'Donoghue are Hanna's favourite players. 'Darragh is really good for the points and Oisin is great for the goals.'
Fran Curry of Tipp FM is whipping up the crowds: 'It's a sea of blue and gold out there. There are two fellas called the Two Johnnies out there. Give a special welcome to Una Healy from her home town.'
Playing the guitar, singer songwriter Una's set went down a treat with the crowds, kicking off with an old favourite, This is the Life by Amy McDonald. Una's last tune was Guns N' Roses ballad, Sweet Child O' Mine.
Oasis tribute band Acquiesce were earlier on the main stage in Semple Stadium for the big homecoming, and the crowds were getting soaked with rain. Typical Irish weather – the umbrellas are out but the rain can't dampen this party.
It's understood that the main speeches, from Tipperary captain Ronan Maher and manager Liam Cahill, currently scheduled at 8.01pm and 8.15pm respectively, may be later than advertised, and go ahead instead at around 8.30pm.
Excitement was building in Semple Stadium throughout the day for the homecoming of Tipperary's triumphant senior hurling team which put Cork to the sword in Sunday's All-Ireland Hurling Final.
The estimate is that around 30,000 fans from across the Premier County are flooding into the FBD Semple Stadium, with around 15,000 already on the pitch before the main stage at 6.30pm. Queues formed at the front gates from 4pm with Tipperary band Seskin Lane coming on stage to perform first at 4.40pm.
Seskin Lane bass guitarist and band member Shelly Martin is the granddaughter of Paddy Kenny, who won four hurling All Ireland finals with Tipperary. Paddy lived in Thurles, in Croke Street.
Fans and families continued to gather around the main stage, as Tipperary trad band Cailíní Nua took to the stage at 5.20pm – one of the quartet is 2024 Tipperary Rose Tara Brady. The atmosphere is electric and the craic is ninety. Sport at its finest.
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