Mary McAleese: My daughter triggered the Paul McGrath chant at Mandela's visit

The origin of the famous ‘ooh aah’ salute to former Ireland soccer captain Paul McGrath being chanted for Nelson Mandela in Dublin in 1990 has been revealed by former president Mary McAleese.

It began with her youngest daughter, Sarah, who was then five years old.

The team’s triumphant return from Italia ’90 coincided with Mandela’s presence in Dublin, and while the McAleese children wanted to greet the team, their mother persuaded them instead to see Mandela, who was there to receive the Freedom of the City.