Lovely Leitrim will be lonely Leitrim this weekend when almost the entire county heads to Croke Park for a crunch GAA football final.
Hundreds more have travelled from abroad and some have even cancelled holidays for the side’s biggest match in 25 years when they take on Derry today.
Bus companies have had to bring in coaches from outside the county to take a large chunk of the 32,000 population to the capital, with pubs ready to welcome those left behind.
Excitement over the Division Four final comes as the Shannonsiders secured promotion – their first since 1990 – something many fans thought they’d never see.
Chairman of the Leitrim Supporters Club in Dublin, Mike Feeney said the support has
been “heartwarming”.
Leitrim diaspora gear up for big day out at Croke Park as hundreds travel from US
He added: “It’s what everybody is talking about.
“There’s buses being organised from many parishes throughout Leitrim. The trains were all booked out last week or the week before.”
This has already been a momentous year for the county as a successful Leitrim Wall campaign is helping fund a new centre of excellence outside Carrick-on-Shannon.
Mr Feeney praised the bond the county has with its diaspora, which included a transatlantic trip for last May’s Connacht Championship opener.
He said: “It’s amazing. There’s a very strong Leitrim community in the United States.
“A whole range of Leitrim people are coming in from New York.
“To see this new group of players full of confidence emerging, it’s heartwarming”.
John-Joe McNiffe, from Killargue, has supported Leitrim for more than 60 years and claims today’s match is their biggest in 25 years.
He said: “Everybody seems to be heading for Croke Park. This is one you couldn’t miss, especially when Leitrim are going to win.
“We’re a long time waiting for today and it seems that everywhere I go now there’s only green flags.”
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