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A complete history of GAA jerseys popping up at unlikely sporting events

Kerry people love The Masters.

EVERY YEAR, IN the Centre Court crowd at Wimbledon, one Offaly fan takes his place in his customary county jersey and inevitably gets spotted by Irish people watching on TV.

He’s something of a cult hero at this stage:

Tweet by @Richie McCormåck Richie McCormåck / Twitter Richie McCormåck / Twitter / Twitter

But he’s not alone.

Wearing GAA jerseys to major international sporting events is a rite of passage for Irish fans abroad. The possibility of getting spotted on TV and representing your county abroad are some obvious advantages.

So – as much as the internet will allow – here are some notable examples of this noble practice from down the years.

First, we have to talk about Kerry’s obsession with the Masters

Tweet by @Mick kelly Mick kelly / Twitter Mick kelly / Twitter / Twitter

Every year in amongst the azaleas at Augusta, the “Kerry Group” logo can be seen

Tweet by @Ivan Lehane Ivan Lehane / Twitter Ivan Lehane / Twitter / Twitter

Sported by proud Kerry GAA fans, optimistic about the summer ahead

tigerinsert @AaronMcAllorum @AaronMcAllorum

Basically, it boils down to: if you’re from Kerry and attending the Masters, it’s your *duty* to wear the jersey

Tweet by @Darragh Costelloe Darragh Costelloe / Twitter Darragh Costelloe / Twitter / Twitter

No other golf tournament/GAA jersey combination comes close

Tweet by @GAA Scores Podcast GAA Scores Podcast / Twitter GAA Scores Podcast / Twitter / Twitter

A proud tradition

Tweet by @Fearghal Ó'hAirt Fearghal Ó'hAirt / Twitter Fearghal Ó'hAirt / Twitter / Twitter

Moving on.

The true beauty of this phenomenon is the contrast of the humble GAA top and the ridiculously glam sporting event.

And that contrast doesn’t come much bigger than a Cavan jersey at the Superbowl

Tweet by @Sean O Neill Sean O Neill / Twitter Sean O Neill / Twitter / Twitter

Worlds collided that fateful night. But American sport is a perfect setting for such contrast:

Like when this pair were interviewed live on Fox at a baseball game in Texas in 2015

jersey deadspin deadspin

They didn’t understand what they were on about.

Or this guy in a Galway jersey popping up on Canadian telly to discuss ice hockey

Expert analysis.

You can’t even turn on WWE without someone in the front row wearing a Mayo jersey

PastedImage-72476 WWE Facebook WWE Facebook

Wimbledon isn’t the sole preserve of Offaly GAA fans though, Kilkenny have staked a claim in recent years

Tweet by @Daragh Ó Conchúir Daragh Ó Conchúir / Twitter Daragh Ó Conchúir / Twitter / Twitter

Feels like 1998 all over again.

An event like the Tour de France has seen its fair share of GAA-themed fandom. Like this Clare jersey in 2013

Tweet by @Enda Lynch Enda Lynch / Twitter Enda Lynch / Twitter / Twitter

And some Mayo “artwork” spotted later that same summer

Tweet by @Nigel Nigel / Twitter Nigel / Twitter / Twitter

Better than Dave Grohl holding a sign.

Last but not least, a mention for the World Snooker Championships and a pattern that’s emerged

Tweet by @David Kelly David Kelly / Twitter David Kelly / Twitter / Twitter

In the quiet, austere library-like theatre, Irish fans stand out with their garish GAA colours

Tweet by @Johnny O'Keeffe Johnny O'Keeffe / Twitter Johnny O'Keeffe / Twitter / Twitter

Because they know they’re bound to get on telly

Tweet by @Mark Kent Mark Kent / Twitter Mark Kent / Twitter / Twitter

And that faint hope of county representation drives them on

Tweet by @Gerard Magee Gerard Magee / Twitter Gerard Magee / Twitter / Twitter

Keep up the good work, everyone

Tweet by @Eoin Cunningham Eoin Cunningham / Twitter Eoin Cunningham / Twitter / Twitter

Written by David Elkin and originally posted on DailyEdge.ie

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17 Comments
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    Mute Mr Scientist
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    Jul 10th 2017, 1:17 PM

    Where ever you go in the world your guaranteed to see a flute in a Mayo jersey.

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    Mute Marcas Ó Callanáin
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    Jul 10th 2017, 1:19 PM

    Saw a kid in a Man Utd jersey at the Munster Final yesterday. Couldn’t help but wonder if the English media get as excited about it as the Irish do…

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    Mute Ned Flanders
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    Jul 10th 2017, 1:21 PM

    @Marcas Ó Callanáin: you’re no craic at all.

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    Mute Anton Friendo
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    Jul 10th 2017, 1:49 PM

    @Marcas Ó Callanáin: Yeah, I don’t know what the big deal is.
    Same way they worry if other countries love the GAA too.
    I do know someone who swapped his GAA jersey with Ronaldo (Real Madrid) in 2003.
    It wasnt splashed all over the news though.
    He met Ronaldo during a training session at the bernabeu, got his training top
    in exchange for the GAA top. The guy was from Roscommon.

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    Mute Ollie Watson
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    Jul 10th 2017, 3:21 PM

    @Marcas Ó Callanáin: I was wearing a Dublin jersey at it I never got any mention

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    Mute Marcas Ó Callanáin
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    Jul 10th 2017, 3:26 PM

    @Ned Flanders: If getting a hard-on when seeing a GAA jersey in a foreign country is “craic”, then I’m quite happy to be no craic.

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    Mute Shimmy Shammy
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    Jul 10th 2017, 12:59 PM

    the Carlow jersey in the snoop dogg video is my favourite

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    Mute John
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    Jul 10th 2017, 2:22 PM

    @Shimmy Shammy: it was Offaly but a Carlow jersey would make more sense

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    Mute Seán
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    Jul 10th 2017, 5:09 PM

    @Shimmy Shammy: which video is it in?

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    Mute Shimmy Shammy
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    Jul 10th 2017, 9:38 PM

    @John: Ah that’s right is offaly, can’t remember the name of the song but it’s with Pharrell Williams

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    Mute Deaglán MacThóirdealbaigh
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    Jul 12th 2017, 8:11 PM

    @Shimmy Shammy: the songs is called ‘Beautiful’ with Pharrell and Snoop Dogg

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    Mute Summer Bay Devil
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    Jul 10th 2017, 3:34 PM

    Poor Leitrim not getting the recognition it deserves at the snooker next to the Kerry lad

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    Mute Cathal
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    Jul 10th 2017, 1:40 PM

    Love the GAA but its cringeworthy every time I see it

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    Mute Paul Farrell
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    Jul 10th 2017, 5:46 PM

    Don’t think this Bebeto goal celebration would have become as famous as it did without the obligatory Offaly jersey

    https://youtu.be/sbhaDnd-5kg

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    Mute Ted Striker
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    Jul 10th 2017, 4:34 PM

    How did you miss the guy in the limerick Jersey at the, I believe, Vancouver hockey riots a few years back????

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    Mute shirtsVskins
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    Jul 10th 2017, 5:35 PM

    Sitting next to the Kerrt shirt in the last and fifth last photos is a Leitrim jersey.

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    Mute Eoin Nolan
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    Jul 10th 2017, 11:48 PM

    Dont forget the hero in the limerick jersey posing beside the burnt out car.
    Vancouver riots after Canucks lose playoffs. Apparently its a bit of a tradition!!!
    Limerick ‘eh?!

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