08-05-2025
Football Fever strikes as hundreds of excited fans line Dungannon streets
Dungannon has never witnessed a night quite like Monday's rousing celebration of the Swifts' historic Irish Cup triumph. Hundreds – possibly thousands – of jubilant fans lined the streets and packed Market Square to welcome home their champions.
As the open-top bus carrying the victorious team stopped at the top of the town, the streets exploded with sound and colour. Blue and white flags flew high, flares lit the evening sky, and the voices of young and old rang out in song, as 'Buskerman' provided the soundtrack for a night that will long live in the memory.
Supporters spoke of their pride in a small-town team that has defied the odds, drawing comparisons between the Swifts' footballing community and a tight-knit family.
Lucy Redmond, Captain of Dungannon Hockey Team, said: 'To be here tonight is amazing. It's so good for the Swifts to bring it home. Unbelievable game and Dungannon Hockey team can hopefully do the same this Saturday.'
Ken Harker, who was at the final and out again for the homecoming, added: 'I think it's absolutely brilliant for everybody involved with them. I'm only a blow-in so I'm late in coming to support them but am glad to see them win.'
His wife, Dorothy, reflected on her family's links to the club: 'I couldn't go to the match but watched it on TV. It's really good for the community and has brought everyone together.'
Family ties and lifelong loyalty
The event was a family affair for many, including Kenny McAree, cousin of Swifts' manager Rodney McAree. 'The Swifts are in the McAree blood. I've been a lifelong supporter. It's incredible, it's just hard to believe but I'm so proud for Rodney, Joe and the whole McAree family – as well as the town itself. I've been a follower of the Swifts all my life and never thought I'd see them win an Irish Cup final. It's lovely that the community is out to show their support. It's brilliant that it's properly celebrated and see the town filled tonight and celebrate it the way that it should be.'
Adam Palmer, 26, from Armagh, came to the celebration with his family – including his father, Arnie, who hails from Dungannon. 'I've watched the match about 30 times back and it's magic. Even now, when I see the equaliser going in, my heart still sinks. Deccie Dunne is a legend like – to save two penalties, it's brilliant. The kids didn't get to go to the final on Saturday so we wanted to bring them tonight to see the trophy. You have to support everything the club does. I went to my first Swifts match whenever I was five years old with my dad when they were in B Division. There's no other club for me.'
Arnie added: 'I was at the last cup final when we lost. When it went to penalties this time, I thought, 'No, we've been here before.' It was brilliant to win, I can hardly talk.'
Eight-year-old Ezra Hassin declared the final 'the best day of his life.' His father, Ashley, agreed: 'On Saturday, they kept us on the edge of our seats for a long time! It's important to celebrate events like this. A lot of people have a lot of negative things to say about Dungannon and, to see a wee town like this absolutely punching above its weight in Irish football, and bringing some good energy back to the town has been fantastic.'
Atmosphere, emotion and pride
Bobbie Jo Wilson and Michelle West were among those at both the final and the homecoming. Bobbie Jo said: 'The atmosphere, the noise was amazing. My fiancé has been a fan since he was no age.'
Michelle added: 'Their achievement is unbelievable for the club, especially with not having a big source of funding but it's a community club, it's a family club. We're delighted for all those who have been fans for years. It's great to see Rodney McAree who grew up in my village, do so well. I remember Joe managing the Swifts. Given the small budget they have, it's unbelievable. It's hard to attract players when you're not offering big money. You have all the big Belfast clubs and they were playing one of those on Saturday – they have double the fan base but I don't know that we even heard them. I think our fans were ten times louder and had the backing of the crowd – as well as all the neutrals who were hoping the Swifts would win.'
Terry McQuaid kept it short and sweet: 'Congratulations to the Swifts. I watched the final in the house though could hardly watch it. I was running in and out of the kitchen.'
Sean Paul McAleer, of McAleer's Bar, said: 'We're all delighted for the boys, a great win at the weekend. We showed the match on Saturday and there was a good crew watching it. It was emotional and tense. I had a feeling they were going to do it. Proud of Dungannon and delighted for Joe and Rodney McAree – brilliant people – and all the lads.'
A fitting tribute and a town on the rise
Trevor Boyd, brother of club chairman Keith Boyd, wore a Swifts t-shirt from the 1990s as he reflected on both personal loss and communal pride. 'Every single person involved in the club was amazing. Our club is all about involving everybody, making sure everybody's enjoying themselves, making them feel welcome so it's really good to see so many people supporting us tonight and see Philomena Begley sing – it's amazing.
'My father passed away only four weeks ago and he would have loved it. It's massive. Me and my two brothers have been involved in the club for years and this here is just the icing on the cake. It's a fitting tribute. My father was always in the background and my brother, Keith, who is the Chairman, has put a lot of time and effort into Dungannon Swifts. We volunteer at the club and Keith is the main steering wheel behind it and I do think he's done a massive job, turning the club to where it is today. Yes, you can have a great manager, you can have a great players, but if you haven't got the right captain steering the ship, it's not going anywhere.
'As chairman, he's responsible for the everyday running of the club and he has a good committee behind him. It's a team effort. Everyone turned out on Saturday. It was hard and tough emotionally as a family – but that's football.
'My son Dillon is the head of the supporters club, SO49, which has risen higher and higher. He's been a Swifts fan since he was four or five years old.'
Eddie McCombes, Phillip Cross and Matthew Cross described the final as one of the best days of their lives. Phillip said: 'It was incredible, it's only beginning to sink in now to be honest. A very special day. It's great news for the town. The hockey club are doing well, the rugby club is doing well and the Swifts winning the Irish Cup – sport is really taking off in Dungannon, it's great to see. I'm very proud of all the clubs in the town.'
Eddie added: 'It was a great turnout on Saturday and a great turnout tonight too. We've our passports all ready for going away to Europe. Phillip's buying the suntan oil!'
Dungannon woman Arlene McFarland summed up the emotion of the night: 'It's an amazing day for our boys to have won this. If you know the history of the Swifts, you'll understand why this has been a very emotional moment. It's a very family orientated team, the fan base is absolutely awesome. They're a great bunch of lads and to come this far, the world's their oyster. I've always been a background fan but I really got brought into it this year and I'm so glad I did – the atmosphere when you're at the match, you can't but get emotional. It's fantastic for the town – it puts Dungannon on the map for all the right reasons.'
Dungannon Swifts' Irish Cup-winning Class of 2025 has made history – and now, with Europe ahead, they prepare for the next chapter in a journey that has already united a town.
