Irish celebrate 'day to remember'

By Shane Harrison
BBC NI Dublin Correspondent

Who could be surprised if Irish rugby fans left Croke Park on Saturday night humming Van Morrison's words, "Mama never told me there'd be days like this"?

An Irish fan raises a flag in support of Brian O'Driscoll

All afternoon, a river of colour flowed from Dublin's city centre towards the Gaelic Athletic Association's Croke Park headquarters aware that the Ireland - England Six Nations rugby encounter had been billed as "a collision between hype and history".

Hype, because the English anthem, God Save the Queen, was being played at Croke Park; and history, because British forces fired into a crowd there 87 years ago and were responsible for the deaths of 14 people.

But the controversy over the anthem was the last thing fans from both countries had on their minds as they passed the security check points on their way into the 82,500-capacity stadium.

"Ireland is now a modern country and we've got to move on", one Irish fan said.

"Forget the past" and "Come on, it's only a game," others added.

Those views were endorsed by their English counterparts, many of whom thought Land of Hope and Glory or Jerusalem should be their anthem anyway.

And what colour!

Isaac Boss and Marcus Horan celebrate

There was a St Patrick preparing to banish the English dragons; he had already taken care of the snakes.

English fans were doing Riverdance impersonations; children had their faces painted and many donned funny spiky hats and false leprechaun beards - it was all there.

When God Save the Queen was eventually played, there was no booing or hissing; it was politely received and applauded.

If anything, the anthems inspired the Irish team, many of whom appeared to have tears in their eyes.

They made score after score after score, on their way to a 43-13 victory.

After the game, the fans cheered, team members embraced and the English looked shell-shocked.

As the supporters left it was clear that for many it was a very special occasion.

"I'm absolutely gutted that we only won by 30 points. And my English Rose over there she's absolutely gutted too, but for different reasons," one Irish fan said with a wicked smile on his face.

Bunting decorates the streets near Croke Park

The English fans, many of them hoarse from singing, said they had been beaten by a much better team.

"Credit where it's due", said one, "We still have a lot of work to do ahead of the World Cup in the autumn."

So it is Ireland who remain on course for the Triple Crown, not that anyone is taking victory over a disappointing Scotland for granted.

That is because many suspect after all the coverage about playing England at Croke Park, there is bound to be a reaction and the players won't be able to reach the same standards.

The ghosts of history were not disturbed on Saturday night, but I can't help wondering what they would have made of the occasion that was in it.