Paddy Power takes a pop at England

As Ireland gears up to face England for the first time since fans tore up Lansdowne Road 20 years ago, Paddy Power is battening down the hatches at its closest shop to the ground — by bubble wrapping it.

The bookmaker is covering the exterior of its Baggot St outlet with bubble wrap in hope of avoiding any damage from “violent yobs and hooligans who may infiltrate the Three Lions’ well-meaning travelling support”.

“It’s not that I’m anti-English,” said a spokesman.

“Some of my best friends are English. But you can’t deny they have sent us some bad eggs over time. Cromwell, for example. He would have smashed up The Aviva if it was around in the 1600s.

“Us Irish wage war in a more subtle way. We just pillage their players and send them Louis Walsh.”

With England playing Ireland in Dublin this Sunday, we've decided to #YobProof our Baggot St branch with bubble wrap! pic.twitter.com/YIltdxAymA

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) June 5, 2015