Updated at 20.00
ALMOST HALF A million people flooded the streets of the capital to welcome the Irish football team home from the World Cup but 1 July 1990 was a significant day for an another reason too.
As Jack Charlton’s side – who had reached the quarter-finals at Italia 90 – paraded through Dublin, Nelson Mandela arrived in Ireland – just months after he’d been released from prison.
The future South Africa president came to these shores to accept the freedom of Dublin two years after being awarded it in absentia.
As it happened, both Mandela and Jackie’s Army were touching down within hours of each other with Dublin airport crammed with football fans and Mandela’s well-wishers.
During his speech at the Mansion House, Mandela famously made reference to the Irish football team.
Would be a great choice it might be just what mayo need to finally get their overdue all-ireland. St brigids where like the mayo of the club championship winning connachts but not quite able to win the all-ireland he came in and brought it to them in his 1st year which shows his credentials and maybe he can do the same for mayo.
By what stretch are Mayo a “race of people”?
it was just a figure of speech to be fair
McStay also gave a shrewd and castigating review of the awful refereeing performance on Saturday – highlighting an utterly abject display by Mr Reilly.
I’m surprised you are admitting that! I met a Meath man yesterday said he is a terrible ref but they seem to love him gets all the big games.
Fair play to him, ’twas refreshing to hear a bit of straight talk, when asked if he was interested , he didn’t fudge , straight yes, and I hope he gets it .
Looks to be the obvious candidate…
Kevin and Noel Connelly as a selector ?
2 great Mayo players
hI – aside from the dismal refereeing, Mayo beat themselves in the end by loosing to much possession -compare them to Donegal, in that respect,where there was all for one and one for all passing of the ball and that made the difference.In simple terms better just kick the ball, even wide than give away the ball to the goalie or opposition players.Mayo team needs to get some savvy into them -no killer instinct and that’s the eternal problem with them also.