Cork rugby fans face tough test before take-off
Irish rugby supporters (from left) Aidan Clarke, Peter Graef, Andrew Kelly, Seán Murphy, Shane Dwyer, and Jeff McCarthy at Cork Airport prior to departure for Paris for the Irish Rugby World Cup game against South Africa. Picture: Denis Minihane
Irish rugby fans at Cork Airport faced a tough South African test even before being cleared for take-off to attend Saturday’s World Cup crunch match against the Springboks in Paris.
Johannesburg-born Tony Stacey, a member of the airport’s search unit, was on passenger screening duty as the first of the estimated 30,000 Irish fans who are expected to travel for the game began arriving for the first of four flights departing Cork for Paris on Friday.
“I’ve been having a good bit of banter with them and making sure that everything is safe and well before they board,” Tony said.
“We’ve been talking about the score, and who’s going to win, and my prediction is 25-22 to the winning team.”
Surrounding by green jerseys, and with his security colleagues looking on, he declined to state publicly who the winner might be.
“But it’s going to be a great game,” he said with a grin.
“With the new formation that South Africa is putting out, it's going to be good, it’s going to be an interesting game.
“I’m working on Sunday morning too, and might not have to come to work, depending on who wins!”
Passport, check.
— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) September 22, 2023
Boarding passes, check.
Quick blast of Ireland’s Call, check.
It was early, but everyone’s in fine voice #Ire #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/lmSjwhgbPO
Airside, fans were in high spirits as Aer Lingus staff gave out free berets to passengers on the airline’s first flight from Cork to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris since covid.
The temporary Cork to Paris route will operate until October 30. The airline also reestablished its Shannon Paris route after 12 years on Friday.
The flight schedules have been planned to coincide with the Ireland matches and most weekends will see outbound flights on Fridays and returns on Sundays.
Three Air France services, all operated by Embraer E90s, followed from Cork later.
Captain Gilles Gineste, who was at the controls of the first Air France flight, said he was delighted to fly fans to the game.
“It is mixed weather with rain today in Paris, and a temperature of around 15C. I hope it will be a good match and I hope the best team will win,” he said.
Kinsale RFC member, Andrew Kelly, who was travelling with a group of pals, said they had been planning their World Cup trips for two years.
“It was always a tournament we planned to go to because it’s so near," he said.
“I was in Bordeaux for the game two weeks ago and we’re doing the Scotland game as well. That’s all we’ve planned so far, so if they go further, we’ll look at the quarters, semis, and even the final.
“The stamina is pretty — not as good as what it might have been a few years ago, but relatively good.
"I’d say there will only be a kick of a ball in it really. We’ll enjoy the weekend regardless."
Pals David Cronin, from Beara, and Stephen Sinclair, from Conna, were taking a different route — flying Ryanair to Manchester, and from there to Paris Beauvais.
“We might get in a romantic trip to the Eiffel Tower, we’ll see the Arc de Triomphe and then to the pub, and then the match,” David joked.
They are travelling again for the game against Scotland — Ryanair again but to Stanstead and then the train to France.
Marc Ó Riain flew with Air France with his daughter, Abhilína.
“We’re looking forward to a great match but we hope to catch a lot of culture in Paris over the next three days. It’s Abhilína’s first time in Paris and she’s looking forward to hitting the shops and flea markets,” he said.
Tom and Trish Hickey from Ballincollig, were flying with their son Daire, to meet their London-based daughter, Sarah Jane, in Paris for the match.
“It’s my first Rugby World Cup match. I think we’ll win by about five points,” Tom said.
Paralympic sailing legend John Twomey was also on board.
“It’s going to be a tight match. It’s going to be one of the matches of the tournament. I reckon Ireland by two points,” he said.
Cork Airport’s Barry Holland said the airport has seen a huge bounce in passenger numbers since the start of the World Cup.
“These are very special days and we’ve had a significant amount of passengers travelling to all parts of France for the games,” he said.
“There is a great atmosphere around the airport and we’re delighted to see them. Cork Airport now has the most access into France outside Dublin Airport for the World Cup.”
Ireland, who have 15 straight wins under their belts, take on the defending world champions in Stade de France at 8pm on Saturday in a game that is likely to decide the ultimate pool B winner.
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