The Letterkenny Babies Facebook group, typically frequented by parents seeking advice on childcare matters, found itself faced with an intriguing query on Thursday. This followed the exciting victory of England against the Netherlands, propelling them to the European Championships final against Spain on Sunday. An unidentified member of the group, part of an English family residing in Donegal, posted a somewhat unique request.
They sought advice on a suitable location in Donegal to watch the upcoming England match with fellow England supporters, desiring for their teens to soak up the lively atmosphere typically found in pubs or fan parks. Their plea displayed a sense of urgency and desperation to find a place that would welcome and support England fans.
An English resident, unaware of Irish dynamics, might be puzzled by the energetic and financial investment Irish football fans put towards English clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, or Arsenal. However, the narrative shifts when it comes to international football where the sentiment borders on “anyone but England.”
Despite the anonymity of the post, many assumed it was Belinda Sheridan, an Englishwoman who has been in Donegal for the last 18 years. Originally from Preston, Ms. Sheridan is an ardent fan of England. She displays the St. George flag and a Donegal flag in her garden as Donegal is also competing in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday.
Living in Rathmullen, she frequents all local bars to watch England games. Despite facing occasional shaming, she enjoys being known as a staunch England supporter, and takes it all with good humour. In her opinion, it’s about staying true to your roots. She argues that even if her husband relocated to Switzerland, his allegiance would remain with Ireland. She envisages her own epitaph reading “it’s coming home.”
Pete Reynolds, a native of Manchester who has since relocated to Donegal, Ireland, has had the opportunity to attend two of England’s football matches. About seven years ago, Reynolds shifted residences from England to Ireland where he operates a business that manufactures branded cups.
“Should we emerge victorious on Sunday and I don’t gain the chance to watch it amidst a throng of supporters, I’ll be thoroughly disappointed,” said Reynolds. He found the different perspectives of local Irish and Slovakian supporters fascinating when he watched the Slovakia game with two Slovakian fans.
“In the course of a couple of weeks, I will be united with the same Irish comrades who support Man United, Liverpool and so on. The players will remain constant, with only their jerseys varying,” Reynolds mentioned.
Reynolds confessed he now understands the essence of being English took him some time to decipher. He perceives this as a challenging outcome of England’s history that tends to minimise Ireland’s importance. Consequently, several English folks, including himself, view Ireland as a harmless sibling which isn’t accurate.
Residing in north county Dublin, Jason Javis hails from Birmingham and found it peculiar when he moved to Ireland just before the 1996 Euro tournament took place in England. Considering his home as his usual spot for watching football, an unexpected power outage forced him to look elsewhere when England competed against Iceland in the 2016 Euros’ round of 16.
“When Iceland surprisingly triumphed over England 2-1, the whole pub erupted in cheers. I chose to discreetly leave like Homer Simpson,” Javis recalled.
Renowned film director David Puttnam, one of the most prominent England-born residents of Ireland, recently attended a screening of his 1981 British sports success cinematic interpretation, Chariots of Fire, in the Stella Cinema located in Rathmines. He placed a €50 bet at 9/2 odds earlier that England would win the tournament. “They have fate on their side. Regrettably, their initial games were rather dismal. I fervently hope that [Bukayo] Saka scores the decisive goal. For all those who berated him for the missed 2021 penalty, I hope they regret their words,” stated Puttnam.