The game was sooooo awesome! It was at Croke Park in Dublin which is just massive. We were 2 of about 78,000 people in attendance at the game and it was crazy!
Those seats in front of us filled up pretty quick by kick off.
Those seats in front of us filled up pretty quick by kick off.
I will give you some background on the game for those of you who do not know why it was such a big deal. First of, Italy was the world cup champion in 2006, beating France in the final. They are perennially a good team and make it to the World Cup most all of the time. Ireland was definitely the underdog in this game, they have a decent soccer team, but being such a small country population wise doesn't leave a very big pool to choose from meaning that playing Italy and tying or beating them is huge. Next, the match was a World Cup Qualifier game and Ireland needed to score some points to have a better chance to qualify and stay ahead of Bulgaria in keeping second place. The whole qualifying situation is complicated, so if you wanna check it out, go here. Last, sports in Ireland are huge, as I have described before, it is the tribal thing so needless to say the game was a big deal.
We arrived early thinking it started at 7, when it really started at 8. We passed through at least 4 security checkpoints and ticket checks before even entering the stadium and as I walked through the tunnel into the stands, the hairs on my arms stood up and I got chills because of the immensity of the stadium and the already electric feel in the air. The game was awesome to watch. Ireland scored within the first ten minutes and the stadium went wild, fans, including myself, were dancing in the aisles, chanting "IRELAND!", and celebrating immensely, but not too much later Italy tied it up and the stadium want silent, except for the Italian fans.
The best photo I could get of the Irish players celebrating their first goal.
After those 2 goals there was a long, long break in the scoring, but the game was still very exciting, we were up and down, cheering, holding our breath, and feeling very Irish along with the rest of the nation! Eventually late in the second period Ireland scored on a corner kick to go up 2-1 and again, the 78,000+ went wild! Italy scored once more and tied the game up for good in the 89th minute and the crowd was silent, it was demoralizing to be so close to victory. The refs added 2 minutes but it proved insignificant and the game ended in a draw. Although a draw was disappointing, it was also a good thing for Ireland because it secured them a spot in the playoffs.All in all the game was definitely the highlight, it was worth every second we spent all day searching for tickets and trying to find someone to buy the Ireland v. Montenegro tickets we had to buy ( you could not buy just the tickets for the Italy match, you Had to buy them as a package and the Montenegro game is on Wednesday), but we sold the Montenegro tickets, got some Irish colors and headed to the game. Although we missed the Guinness Brewery and the National Art Gallery (containing 2 Picasso's), both of which I wanted to see, going to that game has been one of the best experiences of the trip by far!!! It was awesome, plus there is talk of going back to Dublin again later in the trip. I still can't get over how amazing the game was and hearing 78,000 people cheer at once! I am still saying wow!
Another highlight of Dublin was Newgrange, a 5,000 year old burial passage just outside of Dublin. This burial passage is a huge mound of stone and earth, decorated with ancient art and topped off with grass. The actual burial chamber is quite small compared to what the outside looks like. We were lucky enough to be able to go into the tomb and witness the inside and it really was breathtaking, I was IN a FIVE THOUSAND YEAR OLD burial chamber, it blew my mind... The very interesting thing about Newgrange is that during the Winter Solstice, due to the specific way the tomb was built, as the sun rises over the horizon, natural light floods into the chamber from a small, square opening above the entrance of the tomb. Scientists say this occurrence is far to precise to be a coincidence. We were shown a fake version of the solstice event, but you can apply for a lottery to see the real thing on December 21st, they choose 20 people every year out of over 20,000 people... Your odds don't seem so great, add onto that the fact the clouds covering the sun will ruin the event, it is by all means a lottery! Newgrange was a big highlight though, despite the wind and rain, it was very cool and rather mind blowing being at a 5,000 year old monument, I am 20....I was in a tomb built before the pyramids... Wow...
Newgrange from a distance
Overall Dublin was amazing, the best excursion yet! Like I said, because I went to the game I missed a few things, but I am ok with that because the game was extraordinary and I plan on going back anyway! What a great weekend! I am dragging this on, but I had an excellent time in Dublin. This week is our last week of class before Fall Break, which is crazily upon us already.... Thursday we are taking a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher and then on Monday Pat McLoone, Khris Grant, and myself are off to London for the week! Should be another fun adventure, maybe a little expensive, but well worth it!
I hope all is well back home in the snow! I'd like to see some pictures of that, snow before Halloween? Brings me back to that one snowy Halloween as a clown in my youth....
I well leave you with some more pictures and hopefully update you again before London!
The cemetary and Celtic crosses at Clonmacnoise
Pat and I excited before the game.
The famous East Wing of Kilmainham Gaol. Political prisoners were kept here and it has been in over 100 movies including the Italian job.
0 comments:
Post a Comment