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Irish Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Home are the heroines: thousands turn out for Dublin ladies All-Ireland homecoming
You would think the victorious Dublin ladies football team would be used to triumphant homecomings, having won seven senior All-Irelands since 2010. Yet Tuesday night's reception in Smithfield was the first time the All-Ireland champions have had a dedicated homecoming all to themselves. Not before time, admitted Dublin Lord Mayor Ray McAdam. 'They have made our city and county proud once again. It's about time and it is a fitting way to celebrate every member of this squad,' he told a crowd of several thousand mostly young people gathered in Smithfield square. 'They are inspiring the young girls and the young boys before us.' READ MORE Dublin City Council lit the Samuel Beckett bridge blue in honour of the team. The homecoming had been due to take place on Monday night but was postponed because of high winds. What's another day when you've been waiting 15 years as a team for an occasion like this? There were happy faces all around at Dublin's homecoming celebration on Tuesday following their All-Ireland triumph. Photograph: Inpho Dublin's Niamh Donlon and Caoimhe O'Connor lift the Brendan Martin Cup. Photograph: Inpho They went to the Castleknock Hotel on Sunday night to celebrate and then it was – to quote Dublin captain Bryan Cullen from 2011 – 'back to Coppers' for a long night of celebrations into the early morning. Their latest All-Ireland triumph, a thumping win over provincial rivals Meath on Sunday, was the most emphatic to date after the Jackeens steamrolled their rivals in the first quarter. [ Dublin emerge as deserving champions Opens in new window ] They had been within 60 seconds of an exit at the semi-final stage but drew level with Galway thanks to a heart-stopping 40-metre free from Hannah Tyrrell. . Tyrrell turned up to the homecoming with a crutch in one hand and her daughter Aoife (2) in the other. She came off in the final with a bad knee injury with about five minutes left, the game long having been won. It is the end of an incredible sporting career for the 34-year-old who finishes with two All-Ireland titles, having only joined the Dubs senior ladies back in 2021. She was part of the Ireland rugby team that won the Six Nations in 2015 and played at the Rugby World Cup in 2017. She also played rugby sevens. 'It was worth it for the win. It doesn't matter now, I'm retired,' she said of her injury. Her daughter appeared on stage with the cup, a future Jackeen heroine perhaps in the making. Hannah Tyrrell with her daughter Aoife in Smithfield Square, Dublin, on Tuesday. Photograph: Collins Team captain Carla Rowe, winning her fourth All-Ireland, was 'overwhelmed' by the honour. 'There was a moment this morning when I was meeting the girls to go into town and I thought, 'we're All-Ireland champions'. Those little moments are really cool,' she said. 'It's the first homecoming for a ladies team, which is amazing, so whatever comes after that, we are going to enjoy it. We are enjoying every moment while we can. It is these days you always remember with the group.'
BreakingNews.ie
08-06-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Dublin's Niamh Donlon keen to inspire the next generation
From growing up watching her idols to playing alongside them in a Dublin jersey, it has been quite the journey for Niamh Donlon. The first woman from St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh to play for Dublin, the club was best known for producing Bernard and Alan Brogan, two of Dublin's greatest players. Advertisement The 21-year-old, who won her first All-Ireland title in 2023, is keen to be a role model for the next generation at her club and be the first of many in the blue of Dublin. "It is good just to have someone representing the club. I know it is me, but if it was anyone else I would have been just as happy for someone from Plunkett's to be on the senior team. "If you can't see it, you can't be it, and the younger girls really love seeing me down at the club. It is to inspire them and keep the club going as well. "In their first All-Ireland in 2017 of the four-in-a-row, I was only under 13s with development squads. Seeing the likes of Goldie (Sinéad Goldrick) still playing and playing with them, it is kind of surreal. Advertisement "It is having those role models for younger kids to drive on and keep Dublin ladies football on the map." A student at DCU, Donlon has quickly became an important part of Dublin's defence at a young age. In this Dublin side is a mix of experienced players who were part of the four in-a-row, alongside the likes of Donlon who is continuing to grow, a mix which she thinks could be key in the weeks to come. "The knowledge that they bring those older players is insane. They say a lot of the younger players bring a lot of enthusiasm, bring a lot of energy, we all go thriving for the same goals. Advertisement "That altogether gels it really nicely." After a difficult league campaign, Dublin got back on track by winning the Leinster championship, defeating Meath in the final. Sport Cáit Lynch thought Kerry days were over before ret... Read More Having won the All-Ireland in 2023, the Dublin ladies suffered the same faith as the men, by being defeated by Galway in the quarter-finals. This would turn out to be the last game Mick Bohan had in charge of Dublin. Despite changes, Donlon says the squad is determined to be back in Croke Park in August. "I think it is the fact people want to redeem themselves. They have such a will to win that they wouldn't want to leave on such a low. If people are going to go, they are going to it on a high and in the right way. "Our main goal as a team is to get to that final on the third of August. The job should be done on the day if we get there."
