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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Irish worldwide flock to see the Boys in Green soccer team - Team draws massive support across the Irish Diaspora

Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 08:26 AM

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20,000 Irish fans have swept overseas to Poland and the Ukraine to support their team in the European soccer championships.

By train, plane and car they flooded across Europe all week like the swallows of Capistrano returning to their natural habitat.

They have been joined by Irish from all over the Diaspora returning to cheer on their Boys in Green in Europe’s most important soccer tournament.

It is deja vu all over again for a new generation of Irish soccer fans in Ireland and abroad. Back in the 1980s, a previous Irish economic depression was lifted in part by a national outpouring of pride and joy in the success of the Irish soccer team, especially in a famous victory over England in those same European championships.

When Ireland defeated England 1-0 in 1988 in Germany, Ireland danced and so did their emigrant children all over the world. In that pre-Internet time I remember watching the game in an Irish pub in Astoria. After Ireland won, we poured out onto the streets on a Sunday morning, confusing the hell out of local residents who had no idea what was going on.

Ironically, the team was managed by an Englishman, Jack Charlton, who remains one of the most popular figures in Irish sporting history.

In 1994, the Irish overseas army marched on America and New York in particular, or should I say New Jersey.

That was when, on a white hot June day the Irish soccer team defeated the mighty Italians 1-0 at Giants Stadium in what may well be the most famous victory in Irish sport.

While Americans can tell you where they were when the ice hockey team defeated the Russians in 1980, the Irish sports fan can do the same for Giants Stadium.

Luckily, I was only a few hundred feet away in the stands, as Ray Houghton --again an Englishman of Irish origin---turned and scooped a long range lob over the Italian goalkeeper’s head to give Ireland a famous victory.

There has been a lull and a drought for many years but now the Boys in Green are back in this major tournament in Europe.

Once again the emigrant clan from all over Europe have gathered while millions back home and around the world will be glued to TV screens when Ireland kicks off against Croatia today.

This time around there is an Italian manager, Giovanni Trapattoni, who is quickly achieving Charlton-like status all across Ireland.

Win or lose, the Irish team will do the country proud and lift spirits at a time when it has never been so badly needed.

So go on you Boys in Green and give us something to cheer for!

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esatdigiwank | Jun 19, 2012, 05:17 AM EDT

Best fans in the world? More like the most drunken fans in the... Would you sing your heart out if you were sober while watching execrable performances from the team?? what Polish women want to be seen with red-faced, easy to manipulate, incoherent p#ssheads??

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ciaradexy | Jun 15, 2012, 08:01 PM EDT

Esat, whats a 'native' woman? A traveller woman? georgie, getting upset that an English man gets more recognition and more respect from the Irish than you ever will? Yep, we like the English more than we like you!! Aw poor you! You even make my American friends cringe when they read your posts, you saddo! Over 30,000 irish went to poland and there were 8 arrests. In the journal today, they was statements from Spanish players and other teams supporters saying that the Irish fans will be missed when they leave as they were inclusive and mix with every countries fans. there are no issues there. Even after the Spanish beat the crap out of us, the irish and Spanish were arm in arm singing together. You dont get that with the US fans and anyone else.

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esatdigiwank | Jun 12, 2012, 10:16 AM EDT

'We' may be the best footie fans in the world as someone here pointed out, but what native women want to be seen with red-faced, easy to manipulate, incoherent p#ssheads??

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citizen69 | Jun 11, 2012, 03:13 PM EDT

@GeorgeDillon: just watched that video you recommended... Seemingly a bunch of Republic fans from the north throwing 'IRA' & 'F*** the Queen' chants into their songs. Sad sectarian behaviour.

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 11, 2012, 11:10 AM EDT

Angrypaddy: If you can take it, you can see more of the consummate stupidity of Irish fans such as ciarabythebay on Youtube if you look for the clip "Irish Fans 'Going Mental' in Krakow, Poland". Makes me wonder if evolution has not gone into reverse in Ireland.

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 11, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT

IrelandNorth: I think that's a bit unfair. As someone who believes in an historic Irish nation I have a soft spot for the children of Irish emigrants overseas. It's great to see the working-class English of Irish ancestry perform in Irish Dancing competitions, for example. Like the Anglo-Irish soccer players, they are no more plastic Paddies than some of the Irish fools who post here, ciara by the bay comes to mind for example. And I'd bet 50 bucks on Jack Charlton to win any Irish history contest against Ciara by the bay.

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IrelandNorth | Jun 11, 2012, 06:44 AM EDT

We shouldn't forget that its the Irish State soccer team rather than the Irish National. That Jack Charlton was dubbed "Ireland's favorite Englishman." That preoccupation with defeating the 'old enemy' is a form of inverted colonialism. (We should be indifferent!) That many of the Irish State team are plastic Paddies (i.e. born in England of Irish emigrant parents), sounding English when interviewed. And that they are probably as historically illiterate of Ireland's history as any Irish nationals of their age group. That the Irish tricolour represents a laudible political aspiration rather than just the state team of the national sport of a neighbouring island, and should never be defaced in any way.

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EamonnDublin | Jun 11, 2012, 06:29 AM EDT

"GeorgeDillon" - George, nobody rained on my parade. It was a football match - not life and death. The fact that I said (and still say) "Come on Ireland" before the match does not indicate that I will be suicidal or violent after the match, just because we lost. In fact, the loss didn't surprise me at all - we do not have a good team at present, so just being at the finals is a bonus. Move on. Now, who's on tonight .... France v England .... sounds good, I'll enjoy that one as well. Oh, and George, you really should try to cool it - you're sounding more and more like that awful "ByTheBay" every day. Not good for you! Looking forward to Thursday night, probably won't get a result, but ..... COME ON IRELAND!! Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.

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ciaradexy | Jun 11, 2012, 05:32 AM EDT

Awful match, had great potential at the start but ended up conceding 2 terrible goals.Having been to many irish matches both here and abroad, we ARE the best fans in the world. We mix well with the opposing teams fans, we do not start fights or riots and by the end of tournaments, we leave with our reputations in tact and lots of phone numbers from our new friends. Unlike the yanks who just bomb everyone.

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 11, 2012, 04:14 AM EDT

Forgot to mention that Fitzpatrick is staying in a $700 a nite hotel in Poland. Who's paying the tab? The dopey Irish?

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 11, 2012, 03:59 AM EDT

I had to laugh when I read that one of the Irish "fans" who wound up in Poland, dressed in a leprechaun suit no doubt, was Sean Fitzpatrick. For those not au fait with Irish affairs, this is the guy whose bank lending practices bankrupted Ireland. Anyone remind me how much the Germans are forcing the Irish taxpayer to pay to make up for Fitzpatrick's bank loans? 20 billion euros maybe? How many hospitals, schools, universities etc. is that? This jerk should be in jail, not squatting on the bleachers at some soccer match in Poland. The Irish--the biggest dopes on the planet. The Romans offered the plebs panis et circenses --bread and circuses. Today's Irish are fed a diet of booze and soccer, and they swill it up.

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 11, 2012, 03:48 AM EDT

Some good posts below. For me the final step to absurdity csme jus

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bogsidebunny | Jun 11, 2012, 01:16 AM EDT

3-1 FAIL (HEH)! The Irish are broke. Many on Social welfare. However, the Irish will NEVER let the lack of money stop them from having a party. And this party started off with a bang Sunday evening. Enjoy the beating by the Spanish lads.

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misneac | Jun 10, 2012, 06:51 PM EDT

This hype about Irish soccer is the greatest load of horse manure .These overpaid sissies do not represent me , nor does "the nation hold its breath " as the orgasmic George Hamilton continuously tells us have any relevance for me or most of my friends . The famous social welfare green army drinks its way across Europe while their "partners " collect the dole in the best haven for dossers in Europe . Well done Croatia !

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 10, 2012, 05:51 PM EDT

Sorry to rain on the parade, Eamonn, but I hear "Ireland" (26 Counties of it) were trashed by Croatia today. The Irish fans will really hit the booze tonite, to drown their sorrow! But they pride themselves on not attacking people when they're drunk, that's why they claim they're the Best Fans In The World.

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