Nigerian Independence Day celebrations come to Ennis next Tuesday, but of more importance to the Clare capital will be the arrival – hopefully – of the Liam MacCarthy Cup after tomorrow's All-Ireland final replay.
Just ask the Omorodion family from Shallee Drive. Fiercely proud of their Nigerian heritage and culture, but they’re part of the new multi-cultural Clare being swept away by the county’s march towards hurling glory.
"We love it and love the game, because following the team and wearing the county colours is now part of what we are," says Felix Omorodion.
“We’re all one big Clare family,” says his wife Faith, pointing to their five children, all of whom were born in Clare and who play hurling with Ennis CBS primary school and the local Banner GAA club.
"The captain Pat Donnellan is my favourite player," says Hope (11). "I go for Henry Shefflin, but in Clare Tony Kelly is my player," says Charity (10). Darling (10) selects Brendan Bugler, but Blessing (9) and Emmanuel (7) both plump for 19-year-old Kelly.
“I want them to win so much,” says Faith. “In the drawn game when Cork were leading, I was crying and saying ‘I don’t want these people to take this cup’. I would love to be there in Croke Park to see it happen.”
Alas, like many, the Omorodions look set to be disappointed, with demand for tickets far out-stripping supply and thousands left disappointed on the eve of the final.
Demand up 100 per cent
"Demand for tickets has gone up 100 per cent from the drawn game," says Clare County Board chairman, Michael McDonagh. "We got around 14,500, but with the cheaper prices and €10 tickets for children there has been unprecedented demand. If we got 35,000 tickets we still wouldn't meet it, so people are left disappointed," he adds
Indeed, hurling fever has caught hold everywhere – even in places like the Clare County Library in Ennis busts of Eamon de Valera and one of the county's famous exports, gold prospector Paddy Hannan, have been touched up with a saffron and blue hue.
"There's All-Ireland gold in them hills," quips librarian Seamus Ryan in a nod to Hannan, who sparked a huge gold rush in Western Australia in the 1890s.