Troy Parrott mania sweeps Ireland as jubilant fans return home in tears of joy
There have been calls for Ireland’s new footballing hero Troy Parrott to become the country’s next President, while some fans went under the needle in Budapest after the thrilling game to tattoo the hat-trick legend’s name on their legs.
Dublin Airport was thronged with the first of the ecstatic and exhausted fans returning from Hungary at lunchtime on Monday.
Some had lost their voices, while others replayed every second of the historic moment of Parrott’s third goal against Hungary in the final minute on Sunday night.
“We didn’t even know what happened or who scored, it was that tense and fast,” said Shane Halpin from Dublin.
“All we knew was that’s a goal for Ireland and we have won; the place just went mental. Everyone was hugging, screaming and jumping — it was chaos but bloody brilliant.
“Parrott for President please, that’s what we want — the new kid in town on the world stage. He was magnificent. Seamus Coleman is the best captain and the whole team gave us at least ten minutes of their time on the pitch last night. It was the best night of my life.”
“Pecked by the Parrott” was tattooed on the legs of two fans last night. "That’s what happens when you have too many drinks on you,” joked Adam Bollard from Coolock.
“It was a long old day. That was my first away match; I started crying for ages — it was the best moment of my life.”
His friend Derek Byrne said he was in Poznan in 2012, but it was his friend Adam’s first time. “That’s the best away game I’ve ever been to in my life.
“The atmosphere was brilliant. I had never seen anything like it in my life. I was sobbing my heart out.
“We stood there for a half an hour after the game, stunned.”
The plumber joked, “I’ll be charging double,” so he can go to the play-offs.
“We were looking at videos back home — it gives everyone hope and belief. In the 95th minute I thought we were dead and buried. We couldn’t even remember seeing the goal or who scored; we had to keep watching it back.”
Mark Webb from Celbridge, Co Kildare, said, “It was an amazing couple of days. I was with my best friends; Troy Parrott was incredible.
“I have a wife at home, so I went to bed early and had done most of my celebrating. But Troy Parrott for President please. In 7 years’, time he will take over the mantle.
He was joined by his friend Mark Hyland, also from Kildare, who had lost his voice and said he could not “stop screaming” — it was the “best day of my life.”
Mark Webb added, “The one thing about Irish soccer is it brings people together. There were men behind me in their 70s and 80s who were crying.”
The two Marks were joined by their friend Patrick Moore, who was “crying all morning” with the afterthought of what had just happened.
“I couldn’t stop,” he said. “We didn’t give up hope though. We will go to the play-offs if the wives let us. It was absolutely unreal. Everyone just on their feet going mad.”
Finn Keville, aged 9, said, “It was really good.” He said he “jumped up and screamed” and called Troy Parrott a "hero".
His dad Patrick said, “It was brilliant. It was very surreal in the sense that when the Hungarians went ahead and then Troy got a goal.
"The Hungarians struck back in the second goal, we thought we were in trouble again, when Troy scored again there was a long chance" he said.
"Ten minutes is a long time, but when Kelleher launched that up and Troy stole in there it was unbelievable.
"Its great memories, Finn was overwhelmed. He wouldn’t remember the glory years of the 80 and 90s there is hope. There have been some terrible defeats, not to bring it back up we all remember Thierry Henry, but today is a great day".
Meanwhile, over on Portland Row where Troy Parrott’s granny Josie lives, a friend of the family said she was “exhausted” after the events of the night.
“Troys sister will be home today, and he is going back to Amsterdam on Wednesday. It’s just unreal.
“We have Wes Houlihan down the road from us and Kellie Harrington, so this is a street full of famous sports stars.
“We were all in the pub last night, it was just unbelievable, Troy has really done us proud."
She said the talented footballer was a “street footballer” who played on the road when he was living in Mary Mansions flats in the inner city near Sean MacDermott Street.
“The street footballers have so much going for them they are playing in all the conditions.
“The family are just shocked what he has done for the inner city, and the country is unreal. He has spoken to his family and he’s just chuffed."
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