Honeymooners in pilgrimage to hallowed ground

Like most newly-weds, Donegal woman Carmel Colhoun should have been lounging in a honeymoon deck chair yesterday.

Instead, she chose to sun herself in the Cusack Stand at Croke Park to watch her home team bring back Sam.

With Carmel was her husband, Tipperary man David Brindle, who had no trouble playing second fiddle to his bride’s first love.

She had a hunch last year that Donegal would be at Croke Park. “We knew roughly when we wanted to get married but I told David that I sensed Donegal would make it to the final,” Carmel told DonegalDaily.com.

“I told him that we would have to postpone a honeymoon until after late September and he agreed. I’m just so glad my hunch turned out to be true.”

Carmel was among the throng of northerners who were last night celebrating Donegal’s first All-Ireland victory in 20 years. The hills were alive with the sound of raucous singing and cheers with beers as, all over the county, tens of thousands celebrated.

Croke Park erupted when the final whistle was blown yesterday, and again when Donegal captain Michael Murphy lifted the Sam Maguire, something even the hardiest supporters would not have predicted two years ago.

While those who managed to get to the final in person were celebrating in Dublin pubs last night, many more were doing the same in Donegal itself. In Ballyshannon, a giant open-air screen broadcast the match from Croke Park, and the entire town centre was a sea of green and gold.

Even the sheep looked cheerful as they sported the county colours, painted by an enterprising farmer.

“The most pleasing aspect is to see so many smiles on so many people’s faces, and long may it continue over the next couple of weeks. I was just delirious,” said Michael Murphy who, as the team’s first goal scorer, was assured of a hero’s welcome home.

“It was just an unbelievable feeling,” he said after the match. “It’s something indescribable. It’s something every Gaelic footballer wants.”