HUNDREDS cheered on Ireland’s rugby team to victory in the Six Nations at the weekend.
But how many of the revellers at the Irish Centre on Fitzwilliam Street realised the Huddersfield connection to the team in green?
As Ronan O’Gara kicked the winning drop-goal against Wales on Saturday, he took his place alongside former Fartown player John Daly as the only men to clinch a grand slam win for Ireland.
It was another game against Wales – back in 1948 in Belfast – when Daly took his place in Irish sporting history. With minutes to go the prop dived across the try line to give his team a 6-3 victory, and win the Grand Slam for Ireland for the first time.
Daly later switched codes and helped Fartown win the championship in 1949. He settled in Linthwaite and passed away in the 1990s.
Meanwhile, the Irish Centre enjoyed a bumper crowd of 200 for the match on Saturday.
Manager Jim Ennis said: “It was absolutely fantastic. Ireland didn’t play well in the first half but it was brilliant the way they came back into it in the second half.”
But all was quiet as Welshman Stephen Jones lined up the last minute penalty which could have denied Ireland victory.
Jim said: “There was total silence for the penalty. When he missed, the place erupted.
“Then we made a night of it. We had a great party afterwards.”
John McLoughlin, who organises Huddersfield’s St Patrick’s Day parade, decided not to watch the game at the Irish Centre.
He said: “I couldn’t bear the tension so I watched the game at home in Edgerton. To win it after 61 years – and in such thrilling style – was amazing.
“I went down to the centre after the game to relive the thrills and spills. The celebrations went long into the evening. Everyone was in good spirits and we were all singing along.”
However, John did manage to watch Ireland’s earlier victories in the Six Nations at the centre.
He said: “They show all the games on a big screen. I was there for the Ireland-England game. There were lots of English fans there and the craic was great.”
