VIDEO: Travelling fans line out for carnival of rugby

Many Irish travelled to Cardiff in hope rather than expectation this weekend — while some wondered if they would see the game in person at all.

And so, while tens of thousands packed into the Millennium Stadium to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Irish rugby team, hundreds more who couldn’t secure a precious ticket to the crunch match against France found themselves in Cardiff Arms Park.

A large crowd who came to Cardiff, disappointed in their last-minute efforts to get into the game, made their own carnival and celebrated Ireland’s crucial win over France.

The smaller pitch adjacent to the Millennium Stadium was dwarfed by its imposing neighbour, but was converted into a fanzone for those unable to be there.

Its grass covered with white plastic tiles, the pitch hosted big screens under a roof and by the end of the game the floors were jumping to the salutations of a delighted travelling contingent.

Debbie Delane, Wexford at the Ireland v France game.

Seán and Philip Preston flew in from Tallaght yesterday morning.

“We flew into Luton, rented a car and drove through two traffic jams for five hours to get here,” Seán said.

“We’re heading back to Luton later because we’re flying back at 6am, Philip has work in the morning.”

Philip said the price touts were seeking for tickets put them off going into the match.

“It’s been great craic here. Myself and my wife saw videos of what it was like when Japan beat South Africa, so we knew it would be good here.

The fanzone atmosphere fell somewhere between a match and a party. The pre-match recital of Ireland’s Call paved the way for a medley of Ole Oles and The Fields of Athenry, belted out with an underlying baseline from Seven Nation Army.

There was a good-spirited jeering from both sets of fans as their opponents’ kickers lined up their attempts — the sort that would be unthinkable within the stadium — though some Irish still shushed, just in case the 75,000 seater stands and closed roof didn’t offer enough insulation for Johnny and Ian’s ears.

Roy Kane, Cork, declares his love at the Ireland v France RWC match at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

The Green Army’s reach had extended beyond Cardiff over the weekend, across the border into neighbouring Bristol where Irish fans descended en masse to avail of accommodation that was more affordable than the eye-watering prices quoted in the Welsh capital.

Those hoping to catch a handy train across to the match from the English city’s train station were greeted on Sunday morning with lengthy queues that added an hour and a half wait to the estimated 60 minute journey time.

“We WILL get you there,” was the only decipherable line from the message that crackled from the PA system as the crowds passed the time taking pictures of those in fancy dress.

Republic of Ireland supporters Paddy O’Dwyer, Barry O’Reilly, Lorcan Doyle, from Tallaght, cheer on their team in the clash with Poland at Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw

Four lads from Dublin, apparently on the shoulders of leprechauns, grew impatient and left the queue having worked out the cost of a taxi, their heads buried in their phones as they consulted Uber

Much like the match itself, we may have lost a few bodies, but we got there in the end.

Meanwhile, the dreams of Irish soccer fans failed to materialise in Warsaw after the defeat by Poland in the hunt for an automatic qualification spot for Euro ’16. However, the fans will need to up their game again and support the soccer Boys in Green for the two-leg play-off on November 12 and 17.