Watch: Irish fans on Coogee Beach cheer on girls in green ahead of World Cup opener

Almost 500 Irish fans gathered for sunrise at Coogee Beach outside Sydney to show their support for the Republic of Ireland team ahead of their Women's World Cup debut against host nation Australia at 11am Irish time on Thursday. Picture: Dermot Judge

Almost 500 Irish soccer fans gathered on Coogee Beach just outside Sydney on Wednesday morning to show their support for the girls in green ahead of their World Cup opener on Thursday.

The Irish abroad created a human #COYGIG sign on the popular beach at sunrise and on hand to capture the special moment was Westmeath man, Dermot Judge, who moved down under almost five years ago.