Super fan Deirdre travelled from NZ
The loneliness of the long distance fan prompted Dundalk woman Deirdre Moran to book tickets home to see her beloved Dundalk FC play in the FAI Cup Final in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday. And while the result left the Pearse Park native speechless for the wrong reason after the game, she had no regrets about flying home to watch the game with her family.
Deirdre, a daughter of Dominic and Pat Keating, has been a life long fan, going to Oriel Park with her Dad during the good times and bad times. ‘I’ve a huge love for the club and have been following them since I was a wee girl.’
Having emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand, with her Dublin-born husband Cormac nine years ago, she has been following the rising fortunes of Dundalk over the internet.
‘I don’t get home very often and listen to games on Dundalk FM where John Murphy does great coverage,’ she says.
‘Although we had just come back from a long family holiday to Ireland in June, when I just got to see one match at Oriel because the fixture list had been changed due to the Euros, I was feeling very sad that I was missing out on all the excitement back home. I was also feeling homesick and thinking that I wouldn’t be getting home for another two years.’
With the support of her husband, who remained at home minding their young daughters Caoimhe and Aisling, Deirdre decided to book flights home and tickets for the cup final.
‘It was all done at the last minute,’ she explained. ‘I phoned my best friend in Dundalk, Sabrina Maguire and asked her to collect me at the airport and to get match tickets for me.’
‘My parents didn’t even know I was coming home and Sabrina got an extra ticket for my Mum so that she could come too.’
Deirdre arrived home on Friday morning and all the family, including her parents, brother Gary and his wife and their seven year old, and her uncle, travelled to the game together as they are all big supporters of the club.
Even though the result was naturally a huge disappointment for the fan who had travelled around the globe to see the game. Deirdre says it was worth it.
‘Of course it was very disappointing. I couldn’t speak for ten minutes after the game, not just because I was hoarse but because I was so disappointed. But I’m also so pleased that I came home. It was such an emotional occasion. Dundalk fans are wonderful, so friendly.’
She is adamant that the four days in the sky were worth it for spending just three and a half day’s at home to see her beloved Lilywhites during their history-making season.
‘Everyone I talked to was shocked by my story of how far I had travelled,’ she said. ‘I don’t think anyone had travelled further for the game.