Hurling drives Marble City fans stone mad

KILKENNY fans in the Marble City have gone stone mad ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling final against Cork.

Residents in the St Cannice’s community, better known as The Butts, have painted every pillar, post, stone and sidewalk black and amber. They’ve even painted crests on the middle of the road, as well as repainting ramps in their team’s colours. Anyone who stands still long enough could get painted with the same brush.

Joe Phelan, who works in the local Fr McGrath Centre, has painted an old Nissan Micra, which has been parked outside his home at 13 Connolly Street.

“Myself and a few of the lads got a few paint tins and we did a job on her,” he said as he paraded proudly around the car. “We’re all hoping they’ll win. They have a great team. The craic along the road here has been fantastic.” His mother, Bridget Phelan, isn’t quite as impressed with The Cats. “I hope Cork win. I know I’ll be slaughtered on the road for saying it. But I hope they do. I’m a Tipperary town woman. My mother, Maggie McCarthy, came from Tipperary, and my father, Joe Manning, came from Cork City. Tipperary should have beaten Kilkenny, but I still think Cork will win.”

Bridget is definitely in a minority though. Directly across the road, another neighbour is also showing his true colours. He’s got a sign which says “Cats on the Prowl” over his door, his iron railings are painted black and amber and two sets of bunting are draped across the front of the house, along with five flags.

Just down the road, there’s even more black and amber along Pearse Street. Jane Quirke has a Winnie the Pooh hanging out of her window, as well as a doll, three small flags and two large ones.

“The hype this year is even better than before. We can’t get tickets for the match. But we’ll be over there in the local, Kelly’s Corner, and we may as well be in Croke Park.”