Arranmore on song as 20% of population leaves for Aviva

A tiny Donegal island will be a lot quieter today after one fifth of its population leaves to attend tonight’s World Cup qualifying game between Ireland and Austria at the Aviva Stadium.

While the residents on Arranmore island are big soccer fans, the main reason why more than 120 islanders are making the trip to Dublin is because the Arranmore Pipe Band have been invited by the FAI to play the national anthem and a selection of other tunes prior to kick-off.

The special invitation was made by FAI chief John Delaney when he and Irish legend Ray Houghton visited the island last summer to open Arranmore Utd’s new ground.