EVERY YEAR, IN the Centre Court crowd at Wimbledon, one Offaly fan takes his place in his customary county jersey and inevitably gets spotted by Irish people watching on TV.
He’s something of a cult hero at this stage:
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But he’s not alone.
Wearing GAA jerseys to major international sporting events is a rite of passage for Irish fans abroad. The possibility of getting spotted on TV and representing your county abroad are some obvious advantages.
So – as much as the internet will allow – here’s some notable examples of this noble practice from down the years.
First, we have to talk about Kerry’s obsession with the Masters
Every year in amongst the azaleas at Augusta, the “Kerry Group” logo can be seen
Sported by proud Kerry GAA fans, optimistic about the summer ahead
Basically, it boils down to: if you’re from Kerry and attending the Masters, it’s your *duty* to wear the jersey
No other golf tournament/GAA jersey combination comes close
A proud tradition
Moving on.
The true beauty of this phenomenon is the contrast of the humble GAA top and the ridiculously glam sporting event.
And that contrast doesn’t come much bigger than a Cavan jersey at the Superbowl
Worlds collided that fateful night. But American sport is a perfect setting for such contrast:
Like when this pair were interviewed live on Fox at a baseball game in Texas in 2015
They didn’t understand what they were on about.
Or this guy in a Galway jersey popping up on Canadian telly to discuss ice hockey
Expert analysis.
You can’t even turn on WWE without someone in the front row wearing a Mayo jersey
Wimbledon isn’t the sole preserve of Offaly GAA fans though, Kilkenny have staked a claim in recent years
Feels like 1998 all over again.
An event like the Tour de France has seen its fair share of GAA-themed fandom. Like this Clare jersey in 2013
And some Mayo “artwork” spotted later that same summer
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Better than Dave Grohl holding a sign.
Last but not least, a mention for the World Snooker Championships and a pattern that’s emerged
In the quiet, austere library-like theatre, Irish fans stand out with their garish GAA colours
Because they know they’re bound to get on telly
And that faint hope of county representation drives them on
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