Ireland's success in getting to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1990 – to be beaten 1-0 by the Italian hosts – led to an extraordinary outpouring of pride, according to this lead story which introduced five pages of news coverage and a further four of sports coverage. – JOE JOYCE
AT LEAST half a million people are estimated to have taken to the streets of Dublin to welcome the returning World Cup team last night.
The Garda, normally reliable at estimating crowd numbers, declined on this occasion, saying that numbers were so enormous they were impossible to calculate.
Most observers agreed, however that the team was greeted by the biggest and most joyous public reception the city has ever seen. Perhaps half of the city’s population, joined by tens of thousands from other parts of the country, took to the streets to greet their football heroes.
The city ground to a halt, with traffic jams miles long on roads near the route from the airport to the civic ceremonies which awaited them at the Bank of Ireland in College Green.
The motorcade, with the team on an open-topped bus, took more than three hours to travel the seven miles from Dublin airport to College Green, after a huge welcome at the airport, led by the Taoiseach, Mr Haughey.
“I want to thank you all for being wonderful, wonderful supporters and also a credit to Ireland,” Mr Jack Charlton, the team manager, told the thousands who filled College Green, where the official reception was given by the Lord Mayor, Alderman Sean Haughey.
Charlton urged people to “please go away quietly” at the end of the formal ceremonies. During the long wait for the team, with some people standing for up to six hours in the city centre, there was a steady stream of casualties, mostly women, suffering from the effects of hypothermia and exhaustion.
At Dublin airport, and again at every vantage point from Whitehall church to the Bank of Ireland, where the civic reception was held, countless thousands gathered at every vantage-point to see their heroes. Despite the long wait the crowds remained remarkably good-humoured.
Music by Paddy Cole and the Gerry O’Connor Allstars at Clery’s in O’Connell Street and platform at College Green helped sustain spirits and keep masses of younger supporters entertained.
The Aer Lingus 737, the “St. Jack”, specially dedicated for the day, landed shortly after six o’clock. Wives, girlfriends and family members were joined by Mr Haughey and several government ministers in welcoming the team. Jack Charlton, hands in pockets, attempted to look relaxed, but was clearly moved by the emotional power of the crowd.
“It’s absolutely staggering for me to see this welcome,” he told the crowd. “The Irish players have been a credit to Ireland and I feel very proud of the job they’ve done,” he added. “I hope we’ll do better in the future, when maybe instead of coming back with nothing, again, we’ll bring something home to you.”
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