Squad returns to party in Phoenix Park!

[pete]

FAI site


Welcome home the 'Boys in Green' - 17 June 2002

A massive party to welcome home Ireland’s World Cup heroes will take place on Tuesday evening in Phoenix Park and everybody is invited.

A crowd of 100,000 people is expected in Phoenix Park at 6:00 pm when Mick McCarthy and his squad will arrive at the venue. It is sure to be an emotional time for everyone, with players such as Stephen Staunton, Niall Quinn and Alan Kelly waving goodbye to international football.

The free event kicks off at 6:00 pm and will go on long into the night with an entertainment packed show, though organisers are refusing to divulge the exact line-up. Whoever it is, expect a few renditions of Ole, Ole, Come On You Boys in Green, Here Comes The Good Times and possibly even Niall Quinn’s Disco Pants.

The squad will take a chartered flight from Seoul to Dublin, arriving in Dublin airport around 4:30 pm. A private reception for the players, staff and their families will take place in the airport, before the team travels to Phoenix Park. Fans have been kindly asked not to travel to the airport because they will not get a chance to greet the team.

Dublin Bus will have special buses from Georges Quay to Phoenix Park costing €1 for a return trip, with gates opening at 4:00 pm.

John Byrne of the FAI said: "It would have been great to have an open top bus through the city, but that was ruled out for insurance and security purposes."

Phoenix Park will be closed to traffic from noon on Tuesday till 3:00 am on Wednesday.

[pete]

RTE

The event, which will get underway at 6pm, will include performances from Westlife, Six, Bellefire, Aprés Match, Mundy, Kila and Picturehouse. The players are due to arrive on stage at around 7.45pm.

The organisers are urging people to arrive early and not to bring alcohol.