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FROM SINGING LULLABIES to French babies and dancing to Westlife in the street, the Irish fans had quite the summer at the Euros in France (and there was the actual football, too).
But there was one act that came to symbolise the travelling Boys in Green more than any other:
It was just after Ireland’s opening draw with Sweden, the Irish fans had gathered in the Montmartre area of the city – and it was here that this small act of kindness took place that would be seen around the world.
First, Irish fan on the ground Enda Bonner tweeted out the above photo that was shared on social media everywhere in the next 48 hours. Then, Newstalk journalist Henry McKean was on hand to take a video of the boys at work and that exploded on the radio station’s Facebook page the next morning.
Although the person at the centre of the action was undoubtedly the Donegal man who speaks to camera:
DailyEdge.ie tracked down the man in question – Shaun Conaghan from Killybegs – to talk to him about how that one moment blew up into an international news story back in June. He took us through what happened that evening:
After the Sweden draw, we were a wee bit deflated because we felt it was a lost opportunity but then when all the fans got back together the buzz got going again in the Moulin Rouge area. We were drinking there when we saw a car get in difficulty driving past us – and the elderly couple looked in a little bit of distress.
So him and a mystery group of Irish fans went over:
I left my friends to go and see if we could help them out. There was another group of lads there too and they were helping to put on the tyre as well. We didn’t even exchange names but we were having the craic and chatted for a while after the couple were on their way.
Naturally enough, by 9pm that night everyone’s phone had died – but the celebrations went on until 5am in the bars of Paris.
It was only when Shaun woke up the next day that he realised something out of the ordinary had gone down the previous night:
When I saw all the notifications coming through, I thought something was wrong with my phone – so much was happening.
But that was only the beginning of it.
And he was starting to get recognised thanks to the millions of views it was generating online – from Channel 4 to ESPN:
During the tournament French people came up to me and said you wouldn’t believe how much it’s been used – chat shows, TV sports shows, it was everywhere. They used it in online news in Italy, Germany, the US and Australia.
I was away in the summer to the Philippines – and Australians recognised me from the video. I couldn’t get over it.
Soon after returning home after the Belgium defeat, the French Ambassador to Ireland got in touch with Shaun to invite him to a function celebrating the fans and all they did during the Euros. He tried to track down the other members of the group, but could only find one to bring along to the ceremony:
It was a massive honour to be there, we felt a little bit embarrassed representing the fans by ourselves though.
But the Ambassador left him with these kind words on the night:
He told us that the Irish fans in general don’t understand what they have done for the French people, following the terrorism before the tournament – the fans brought this energy and positivity that the French people really appreciated.
Other supporters at the tournament weren’t coming across so well – and that’s what was on his mind when the camera presented itself and he uttered the line ”this is the difference between Irish fans and English fans”:
On the day it happened, we hadn’t really had the internet – and someone had just shown us the video of English fans destroying a bar – so it was just what I was thinking at the time the video was shot.
Nothing came of it in the end, but during those first few weeks back home he discovered that Ireland was just as hectic as the streets of France:
For about six weeks to two months after I was being stopped in Dublin. People were coming up to me saying ‘I recognise you from the tyre video.’
It’s such a positive story and I’m proud to be associated with it.
And what about the tiresome cynicism back home by some to the positive news surrounding the Irish fans?
You know what there is enough bad news and negative news around. A couple of lads having a bit of craic out at the Euros – sure what harm?
And one seemingly innocuous act of kindness was a key part of that feelgood factor.
Written by David Elkin and posted on DailyEdge.ie
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When is the film version of this story coming out?
@Alex Falcone: at the rate this story is getting milked, it will be a trilogy
It’s a sad state of affairs when an ordinary good deed gets such media coverage not once but twice. Talk about flogging a story to death.
@Pablo: “and what about the tiresome cynicism back home by Some?”
Welcome to the comment section of the journal
Tyresome I see what you did there
It’s been a GoodYear for these type of stories
Deadly act of kindness completely overcooked and personified by the self praising “we’re better than England” bollox that came with it.
Fairplay lads
Tbh, id like to think if most ordinary joes had come across elderly people trying to change their flat tyre, wouldnt hesitate to help out.
Now fair play but its not exactly jumping on top of a suicide bomber to muffle the bomb blast to save everyone.
More than a bit cringing to bring english fans into it? Best fans in the world, did you know that?
Sat in key West with an Irish family and to be fair it’s a pleasure to be Irish.. They are manic but fun and friendly plus living life.. Proud to be Irish
This is more self congratulatory than the IFTAs.
The difference between Irish and English fans – nobody scapegoats Irish fans for violence even when they suffer uprovoked attacks.
Hardly unprovoked, English fans have a history of violence at these tournaments, the last time they were in Marseille they attacked the locals so violence was predicted. I’d have more respect for them if they took their beatings on the chin but their still shocked and amazed at how a team like Iceland managed to beat them on the pitch and still crying about been beat at their own game of hooliganism off it.
Then you clearly aren’t familiar with how hooliganism is dealt with here. Our ‘ultras’ are all known to the authorities and typically have their passports confiscated before major tournaments. The fans who were left in comas after being beaten with chairs and iron bars were precisely that – ordinary fans. NOT hooligans. Neither were the fans who were attacked by local French gangs in Marseilles – you might react badly too if some local yobs attacked you purely for wearing Ireland shirts. It’s also pretty clear the French authorites were extremely slapdash in their handling – remind us who allowed Russian ultras to smuggle a FLARE GUN into a packed stadium?
Harry… The fact that hooliganism is dealt with says it all…
Does it though? If the UK spent a load of money and effort into dealing with England’s hooliganism, it says more about other countries’ willingness to attribute blame even when the actual evidence suggests England fans were not acting without provocation.
Provocation? They don’t have to fight you know…. They are generally grown adults….
As I said to Phil, think (realistically, mind) how you might react if some local yobbos start attacking you as you were sat outside having a drink with friends/family. I’m sure it’s mighty comfy preaching from that high horse of yours.
I don’t know about you but I’d do a runner
I thought the country was broke ?
We really need to grow up, in this country, all this need to be liked and thought of as `great craic`, and the `best fans in the world`, borefest at best, smacks of inferiority complex and narcissistic navel gazing. Newsflash; The rest of the world do go about thinking and talking about ` how great the Irish soccer fans are because they changed someone`s tyre`. People have important and interesting things to think about.
‘We all had a drink in our hand’ – how typically Irish and further driving home the stereotype….
The behavior of our fans does more for tourism to this country than money ever could.
have your say