'Pecked by the Parrott': Irish fans return home with fresh hope... and tattoos
Ireland fans Derek Byrne and Adam Bollard both from Coolock who got 'Pecked by the Parrot' tattoos arriving at Dublin Airport after attending the Ireland v Hungary soccer match in Budapest. Pictures: Gareth Chaney
Some Irish soccer fans have already gone "under the needle" to tattoo the name of hattrick hero Troy Parrott on their bodies.
As Parrott mania sweeps the country, with talk of statues and a tilt at the next presidency, the weary Green Army emerged back on home turf on Monday after the epic battle of Budapest.
Dublin Airport was thronged with exhausted boys in green, triumphantly returning from Hungary.
Some had lost their voices, others still had the energy to role-play every second of Parrott's, winner against the Hungarians, a strike that has kept alive hopes of making it to next year's World Cup.
“We didn’t know what happened, or who scored, it was that tense and fast,” said Shane Halpin at Dublin Airport.
“Parrott for president please! That’s what we want. He was magnificent.
"And Seamus Coleman is the best captain. 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' read the fresh tattoo ink on the legs of two fans who returned home after a "heavy" night of celebrations in Budapest.
"That’s what happens when you have too many drinks," 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."
“We stood there for a half an hour afterwards, stunned."
The plumber joked he would be "charging double” to pay for a trip to the playoff match and, hopefully, the World Cup next summer in North America.
“We were looking at videos from back home. It gives everyone hope and belief. The 95th minute, I thought we were dead and buried."
Mark Web from Celbridge, Co Kildare, said: “It was an amazing couple of days. I was with my best friends. Troy Parrott for president! In seven years, he will take over the mantle."
He was joined by his friend Mark Hyland, also from Kildare, who had lost his voice because he could not “stop screaming”.
The two Marks were joined by their friend Patrick Moore, who was still “crying all morning” on Monday.
“I couldn’t stop,” he said.
"We didn’t give up hope. It was absolutely unreal. Everyone just going mad.”
Finn Keville, aged nine, recalled “jumping up and screaming” and said Troy Parrott was a "hero".
His dad Patrick added: “It was brilliant, very surreal. When Kelleher launched that ball up and Troy stole in there, it was unbelievable.
"Great memories, Finn was overwhelmed. He wouldn’t know the glory years of the 1980s and 90s, so there is hope now again. There have been some terrible defeats, but today is a great day".
Meanwhile, on Portland Row in Dublin's north inner city, where Troy Parrott's granny Josie lives, a friend of the family said she was “exhausted” after the events of the night.
“Troy's sister will be home today, and he is going back to Amsterdam on Wednesday. It’s just unreal.
“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 baller”, who played on the road when he was living in the 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 is just shocked at what he has done for the inner city, and for the country. It is unreal."
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