Around 3,000 people are attending the first pilot sporting events this evening.
They will be at a rugby match at the RDS in Dublin, as well as two soccer matches, in Tallaght and Cork City.
I’ve been for pints & dinner twice this week, I’ve plans for Saturday AND...
Drum Roll... 🥁
I’M GOING TO A MATCH TONIGHT!! ACTUAL LIVE FOOTBALL.
Even if it were Utd playing Villa or some such I’d still be screaming my head off & roaring ‘INTO THESE!’
Excitement! 🥰 ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/r1qhz7EEit— Anne-Marie McNally (@amomcnally) June 11, 2021
"Come On You Boys In Green!"
Chanting and cheering might have been the sounds we would have been used to pre-March 2020.
However, that was when our stadiums up and down the nation were full to the brim.
Tonight won't be anywhere near that.
But today's pilot events will represent a hopeful return to some normality for sports fans.
Former Ireland rugby international Alan Quinlan says it's an exciting day:
"Having any number of fans back will be huge for the players."
"The whole belief and their whole enjoyment of the sport as well."
"But it's great to have fans back, it brings an atmosphere and it gives hope to people as well."
Me bolting up to Croke Park like: #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/rslmRRXWVW
— Tom Douglas (@TomDouglas95) August 10, 2019
GAA Clubs Also Welcome Their Fans Back
The three games tonight are:
- Leinster Rugby against the Dragons at the RDS
- Shamrock Rovers playing Finn Harps in Tallaght
- Cork City facing Cabinteely at Turner's Cross.
There will be some restrictions in place at the events.
Organisers are requiring people to wear their masks, there won't be food or drink stalls.
They're also asking spectators to download the COVID tracker app.
Also this weekend, 100 fans are allowed at GAA matches.
200 fans are allowed go to games that are played in stadiums that have room for more than 5,000.
