‘You never know if you’ll ever get it back’: John Kiely leads celebrations at Limerick homecoming

More than 15,000 fans lined the Treaty streets to welcome home Limerick players and panel after All-Ireland victory over Galway

Limerick captain Cian Lynch and manager John Kiely with the Liam MacCarthy cup at the homecoming celebration in Pery Square on Monday. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Limerick boss John Kiely said supporters who showed up at the homecoming for the All-Ireland senior hurling championship-winning hurlers should each get “five days of annual leave”.

More than 15,000 fans lined the Treaty streets to welcome home the players and panel as they brought  Liam MacCarthy back to their native city.

For the first time in three years, Limerick became All-Ireland champions on Sunday after victory over Galway in Croke Park.

JP McManus joined supporters in Pery Square on Monday as the players got called on stage, club by club. As player after player stepped up, the cheers got louder.

But the crowd might have roared the loudest for Kiely and captain Cian Lynch, when the pair brought Liam on stage.

Kiely later called on Kyle Hayes to lead a singalong with his own rendition of King of the Road as his teammates clapped along.

Kiely told the Irish Examiner: “We’re very, very happy to be back in Limerick. We’ve had a lovely day, beautiful morning in Dublin, fabulous journey down on the train.” 

Kiely added: “We’re just very proud to be able to bring back Liam McCarthy to the people of Limerick.

“You never know if you’ll ever get it back so it’s really special. They’ve had this opportunity to bring this cup back to their native city and to the people of Limerick.

 “There’s fantastic support every year. But this year in particular, they’ve rallied behind the team. We’re very grateful to them.” 

Alice Clarke shares a joke with Limerick hurlers Dan Morrissey, William O’Donoghue, and Adam English at Crumlin Children's Hospital on Monday. Picture: Tom Maher/Inpho

After visiting Crumlin Children's Hospital on Monday morning, a sea of green and white greeted the players at People’s Park in Limerick, as they chatted with fans and took selfies.

Liam McGraynor was one of many who welcomed the hurlers back to the city with his two sons, Ben and Harry.

“It’s really important, they’ve put in such a massive effort. They’ve given the whole of Limerick such a massive boost,” Liam told the Irish Examiner.

“My two young fellas here are massive Limerick fans. Just for them to come in and see their idols, they’re such good role models for the whole community. We just felt it was really important to come in and show our support to them and everything they’ve done.”

Liam McGraynor welcomed the Limerick hurlers back to the city with his two sons, Ben and Harry.

Mary Keating, from Shanagolden, waited at Colbert Station to give the hurlers the welcome they deserve. Many fans got high-fived before the hurlers stepped on the bus.

"It's a fantastic team. I've been following Limerick since the early 1990s. It's just mighty since 2018 what this team has done, the joy they have brought us. They've been fantastic ambassadors for sport and for human beings on and off the field.

“It’s fantastic to have Liam back in Limerick. We got very used to hosting Liam and having him with us over the last couple of years.

“We’ve missed him. He went away temporarily to Clare and Tipperary, but it's mighty to have him back. And hopefully he’ll stay with us now for a while.”