VIDEO & GALLERY: Fan frenzy fuels Irish invasion of Cardiff

And so, back to reality. Irish fans returned home yesterday, some bleary-eyes and a little bedraggled, but all filled with optimism after a thumping World Cup win against Canada.

As more than one supporter remarked, “it was like a home game” — a fitting description for an encounter which resulted in a handsome win in front of a 68,000 plus crowd, most of whom were in green. Ahead of the game, every type of costume seemed to be in play — a gathering of bishops holding beer cans here, a group of leprechauns there, even one pair who dressed up as the Super Mario brothers.

The Canadians added to the sense of festival with bear trap hats and plenty of Mounties on show.