The Championship is in full swing. It is the centrepiece of the Irish summer.
Our Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons are enlivened by the sound of guttural roars and rousing cheers and the sight of crowds, bedecked in colour, ponding en masse towards the county grounds.
To celebrate the Championship, we have put together a compilation of our favourite 'little things' about the GAA match-day experience...
Hats, flags and headbands manufacturers
The industry endures lean months between October and April. But it is only a multi-billion euro business thanks to the summer months (don't check that out).
The debate about where to park the car
- We will just leave it here and walk, it's hardly that far...
- No, you'll get in closer...
The tannoy announcer referring to the crowd as 'patrons'
Everywhere else you're a 'citizen'. Once you set foot in a GAA ground you become a 'patron'.
Chatting with a stranger from the opposing county who remembers a final from 60 years ago
Chances are, he cycled to the game and there was an attendance of about 130,000.
Lads shielding their head from the sun with programmes
As has been pointed out before here, there is clearly a gap in the market for programme shaped hats.
Fans blaming being 15 points down at half-time to being 'against the wind'
No need to panic yet. We may not have won a ball at midfield but it's the wind's fault.
Hurling fans shouting 'BOOOYYYYY' as a suffix to a players name...
Atta boy Seanie McMahon, boooyyyyy!!
Programmes rolled up and stuffed in arse pockets
Usually two older fellas who are rapt in conversation. Terrace tacticians. They sometimes whip it out to consult the middle page and work out 'who hit that wide?'
Lads not knowing whether to turn around and face the flag when the national anthem is played
The 'patrons' on the side of the ground where the flag stands will have to turn their faces away from the pitch. There's always one lad who is not sure whether to commit to turning around.
Stewards and policemen forgetting themselves and celebrating scores
An on-duty Paul 'Pillar' Caffrey became part of the celebrations after the 2011 All-Ireland Final.
Emigrants asking how to stream the game on social media
This new GAAGO thing has made it a lot more straightforward...
On a sunny evening when everyone in the Hill shields their eyes with their hand
It’s an epic slight to behold. A sea of the colour, a wall of noise, a mound of hope and joy.
Nothing can top the anticipation and buzz of being part of these big days. Tickets on sale now at gaa.ie/tickets, selected Supervalu and Centra stores and usual outlets.
GAA. Be There. All The Way.
