Only in Ireland.
Today's All-Ireland hurling semifinal between Waterford and Limerick was hotly anticipated. It was also due to start at the exact time as the decisive Lions test and the Community Shield, creating a quandary for fans watching at home.
Unfortunately, the match was delayed because of a massive traffic jam that was caused when a truck carrying A LOT of hay collided with a bridge around Naas. Hay spread everywhere, causing complete traffic chaos. The Limerick bus was ensnared in the traffic - as were many supporters bound for Croker - and throw-in was delayed by thirty minutes.
As far as we know, it's the first All-Ireland semifinal to be delayed by hay.
Be careful if driving on the #N7 before the new exit at Kerry Group in Naas. Truck carrying hay hit the bridge and hay everywhere on the road and bits of the bridge fell also. Traffic is mental pic.twitter.com/nqMsVg6Kaj
— Jamie 🏳️🌈🇪🇺🇮🇪 (@jamie051209) August 7, 2021
Great way to spend a Saturday🙈🙈 pic.twitter.com/5vIcuEhAl1
— Sarah-Jayne Tobin (@TheSJTobin) August 7, 2021
Waterford were in Croke Park before the hay incident and it remains to be seen how it will affect the result of today's match.
Agricultural experts were quick to point out that it's actually straw - not hay - that has spilled all over the N7.
Not to be all Pedantic Pete but it's straw lads, not hay#M7
— Peter Farrell (@PeterFarr_) August 7, 2021
Here's how Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna explained the decision to delay the match to reporters
"There was a lot of water on the road and that reduced the motorway to two lanes.
“Then there was a truck carrying hay and it shed its load and that just created bedlam, it brought everything down to one lane.
“So we talked it through with the Gardai, just to see how quickly that gets to clear or doesn’t clear. We met again at four o’clock, we felt the traffic was still heavy, there was a three or four mile tailback.
There was a lot of water on the road and that reduced the motorway to two lanes.
“Then there was a truck carrying hay and it shed its load and that just created bedlam, it brought everything down to one lane.
“So we talked it through with the Gardai, just to see how quickly that gets to clear or doesn’t clear. We met again at four o’clock, we felt the traffic was still heavy, there was a three or four mile tailback.
(Photos via Jamie Moore on Twitter)
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