County Tyrone is under a canopy of red and white flags tonight as it welcomes home the county's first All-Ireland Football Champions.
Up to 20,000 fans gathered in the tiny village of Aughnacloy as the famous Sam Maguire cup was brought across the border, earlier this evening.
Thousands more gathered in Ballygawley and county capital Omagh as the team made the emotional journey home.
The team's route home today was lined with thousands of well-wishers as the triumphant convoy slowly meandered north.
Towns and villages across Tyrone were bedecked with red and white bunting as flags flew from homes, businesses and vehicles.
A local youth marching band led the open-top bus carrying the victorious team as it entered Aughnacloy on its first stop in Co Tyrone.
The evident delirium rose further when the crowd finally got first sight of the trophy carried aloft from the bus by team manager Mickey Harte and captain Peter Canavan.
After all, it was the first time in the 119 years of the GAA that Tyrone had were, officially, the best team in Ireland.
"We could only begin to imagine what it would be like here in Aughnacloy and it has surpassed all our expectations, just to see so many of you out there," Mickey Harte said.
"We've been here before with other cups and there was always this great longing to be back with the real one and I think today you've come here to see the real thing, the real thing is here."
He paid tribute to his side's skipper, Peter Canavan - generally regarded as the best forward in the game - who soldiered through yesterday's match despite an ankle injury.
"We spoke of him last night and he said at the start of the year he didn't want to be a great captain, he wanted to be the captain of a great team.
"Somebody pushed that around again and said he is a 'great captain of a great team', what more can you ask for?"
Canavan told the crowd he would never forget the feeling of lifting the Sam Maguire cup.
"I must say, I never saw Aughnacloy looking as well," he told the red and white sea of banners and flags.
"For this past six or seven years, I've known that the Tyrone supporters have been the best supporters in the land, well now you've got the best team in the land as well."
The crowd cheered as the players returned to their tour bus to continue their journey through their home county.
Kevin Scullion and his wife Helena from Coalisland, were among the thousands of people who had travelled to greet the team as it entered Co Tyrone.
They had managed to get two much sought after tickets for the big match, and had brought their four children, Rachel, Mealla, Elise and James, to Aughnacloy to welcome the new All-Ireland champions home.
"It is some occasion to take Sam Maguire back here after we've waited so long," said Kevin.
"Now we just hope we can do what Armagh hoped they could and retain the title.
Martin Hughes of Derrylaghin, just outside Coalisland, and his Co Down-born wife Una also brought their two children, Clare and Paul, to the event.
"Tonight means everything, we've waited a life-time for it," said Martin.
Car horns blared loud into the night and as darkness fell, men, woman and children continued to hang out the windows and sunroofs of cars waving their red and white flags.
PA