Victors and vanquished receive warm welcomes on return home
Champions get turnout to rival the days of Dev
Kilkenny: The Kilkenny hurling team returned home as All-Ireland senior champions for the 29th time last night, receiving the most tumultuous welcome anyone in the crowd could remember for a winning team from the county. Micheál Walsh, wearing the colours he had first worn to the 1946 hurling final as a 12-year-old, said it was "the biggest crowd in Kilkenny since Dev came in '54".
The special train from Dublin pulled in to Kilkenny's MacDonagh Station at 6.25pm. Overhead, a banner read: "Welcome Home Super Cats".
First off was 24-year-old captain Jackie Tyrrell carrying the Liam McCarthy Cup. Despite the steady rain, an open-top bus carried manager Brian Cody and the team through the streets lined with thousands of supporters, many in black-and-amber jerseys.
Leonard Gort, a Dutch tourist visiting Kilkenny for a wedding, who had seen hurling for the first time on television on Sunday, described the players as "tough guys, not crying so much like footballers when they get hurt".
On the High Street the authorities had erected heraldic shields each bearing a picture of one of the hurlers. At the Market Yard, a civic reception and speeches awaited. Having already broadcast Sunday's match to Kilkenny emigrants "around the world", local radio station, KCLR also covered last night's homecoming celebrations via the internet and received messages from delighted Kilkenny supporters in Australia, Britain, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Spain, Thailand and other places. Mayor Martin Brett said that "this Kilkenny team had come of age and answered every rebel charge". He praised "their commitment, dedication and fighting spirit".
Each of the players was introduced to the enthusiastic crowd and the reception concluded with the "county song" - The Rose of Mooncoin.
Earlier in Kilkenny yesterday, many Cats resorted to the "hair-of-the-dog" after the excesses of the previous evening.
Denis O'Brien, who had taken the day off "in advance, on purpose" was in Lanigan's pub on Rose Inn Street at lunchtime watching a replay of the match on a large screen. His drinking companion, a Corkman "from Kanturk", said he was "dying", but declined to be named as his girlfriend didn't know his whereabouts though he agreed she "might have a fair idea".
The 14th century Statutes of Kilkenny tried to outlaw hurling in a vain effort to prevent the Anglo-Norman invaders from assimilating with the "native Irish" - "do not, henceforth, use the plays which men call horlings, with great sticks and a ball upon the ground, from which great evils and maims have arisen.". Six centuries on, judging by the scenes in Kilkenny last night, the game appears to be more popular than ever.
Michael Parsons
Rebels roar even in the aftermath of defeat
Cork: Thousands of fans created a sea of red and white in Cork city centre last night to welcome home the county's hurlers who were narrowly defeated by Kilkenny in Sunday's All-Ireland final in Croke Park.
The official reception took place on a specially erected stage at South Mall at 8pm. The team arrived at Kent Station at 7.30pm and boarded an open-top bus. They were warmly received by the crowds as they made their way up the Lower Glanmire Road on to Brian Boru Bridge to the junction where Clontarf Street meets Lapps Quay, and from there to the reception area.
Dignitaries including the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Michael Ahern, the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, and the team's sponsors greeted them on the podium. Musical entertainment was provided by Jim Riordan and Natural Gas.
Cork boss John Allen and team captain Seán Óg Ó hÁilpín thanked supporters for coming out in the rain to greet the team. Meanwhile, speculation continues as to whether Mr Allen will stay on as Cork manager.
Olivia Kelleher
