Large Tuam crowd welcomes home All Ireland Champions
THOUSANDS of fans descended on Tuam Stadium earlier this evening as the victorious Galway Ladies Footballers made their way home to a hero’s welcome.
Galway took home the Brendan Martin Cup for just the second time in the county’s history on Sunday, overcoming Kerry by 2-7 to 0-12 following a nail-biting finale.
Fans showed the same will and determination as the players did in Croke Park, battling the worsening rainfall and creating an atmosphere and noise the Galway team won’t forget anytime soon.
The gates opened at 4pm ahead of the teams’ arrival and fans were in early to get their place near the front of the stage. The music reverberated as far back as the town square, a lovely backdrop of noise which got louder as you got closer to the stadium.
Sean Slattery and the Connections provided the entertainment, but as good as their repertoire of country music, Irish hits and rock classics was, this was little more than a warmup for the main event.
After two hours of waiting, the crowd was at fever pitch as they finally caught their first glimpses of captain Kate Geraghty and the Brendan Martin Cup. A sea of Maroon and White flags waving around the pitch while the band on stage belted out the iconic anthem Galway are Back.
Each of the players in the panel was called out, as was the management team and backroom staff. Nobody was forgotten amongst a group who had worked so hard to bring home the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football crown for the first time since 2004.
The biggest roar of the evening came for captain Kate Geraghty, who had the honour of leading her team into a homecoming in her native Tuam.
While the rain continued through the numerous speeches given during the event, most supporters braved the elements and were rewarded for their commitment.
The players stayed on for another 45 minutes after the ceremony had ended, signing every autograph, happily posing for pictures with fans young and old, before heading off to enjoy another well-earned night of celebrations with their teammates, family and friends.