On Sunday 17 May myself and my Dad were among thousands of Westmeath GAA supporters in Croke Park, Dublin for the Leinster GAA Senior Football Championship Final. It was such a great privilege to be present at the home of Ireland’s Gaelic Games to witness Westmeath’s wonderful triumph in the Leinster decider. The Dubs had been the overwhelming favourites to win the Delaney Cup again this year, having claimed nineteen Leinster titles in the past twenty-one years [the only exceptions being when Meath defeated Louth with a controversial late goal in 2010, and Louth’s well deserved win in the 2025 final, gaining revenge over Meath and ending their sixty-eight year wait for the Delaney Cup].
After heavy defeats in the 2015 and 2016 finals to a Dublin side who were at the start of their historic feat of winning six consecutive All-Ireland titles, Westmeath, buoyed by impressive wins over Longford, Meath and Kildare, were determined to win their first Leinster title since 2004, when the team was managed by the late great Paidà Ó Sé. A huge following of supporters travelled to GAA headquarters and made up the greater majority of the official attendance of 36,536.
It was fantastic to see such a mutual loyalty between the team and the supporters who backed the Lake County unceasingly, showing unwavering support throughout the seventy minutes of regulation time and twenty minutes of extra-time. The atmosphere was electric especially in extra-time when the Westmeath support knew victory was assured. A great outpouring of emotion followed the final hooter. After captain Ronan Wallace and the team lifted the cup all the players and management ran to celebrate the victory in front of Hill 16, the famous terrace in the stadium which Dublin fans traditionally occupy for their matches.
It was due reward for this dedicated and committed Westmeath team who are fantastic role models and ambassadors for the county. After all, these are amateur athletes who put in a phenomenal amount of training and make incredible sacrifices to be in peak fitness and conditioning for this Leinster and All-Ireland GAA football championship. The pride in the team was witnessed again later that evening when the victorious team and management returned to Mullingar to celebrate this great win and huge crowds turned out in rainy weather conditions to welcome their heroes home.
The GAA is the heart and soul of many communities throughout Ireland and it is all about belonging, identity, and coming together on match day. That is why it was great to go to the match with my Dad. Croke Park has been at the heart of the GAA for a long time and I have had many memorable visits to the famous stadium with Dad over the past 35 years. I was also delighted to meet my cousin and uncle after the match and to celebrate the Westmeath victory with them. I was particularly struck by the motto on the match-day programme for the Leinster final which was ‘Experience the Unforgettable’. For all Westmeath GAA followers it definitely was an unforgettable experience that will be treasured for many years to come.
There was also a spiritual surprise to the day. Dad and I took shelter from the rain by dropping into St. Laurence O’Toole’s Catholic Church at Seville Place on our way to Croke Park, where 12.30 Sunday Mass had just begun. It was great to see the harmony among worshippers in this tight knit north inner city parish community and to take part in a moving liturgy animated with uplifting worship music. During his homily the priest said that our hearts are primarily created to be filled with love for Jesus, and then to offer ourselves up to God, as a sacrifice, in order to be partakers in the redemption of the world. I felt it was good to be reminded of this, and that during every Mass our “praise, sufferings, prayer, and work, are united with those of Christ and with his total offering, and so acquire a new value.” [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1368]
