Ridiculous how emotional I am watcing this 15 years later

Right. I am an old Englishman. What I have to say is not about Ireland because I Have visited a few times and I love the country, It's not about the Irish because I never met an Irishman (Or woman) that I didn't like. It's not about rebublicanism because if I was Irish I would be a republican.
It's about sport and how grateful the rugby community was to the GAA to graciously let us play at one of the greatest stadiums in the world.
Thank you Ireland. x

Sean Kelly deserves an award

I remember watching this live at home in Scotland. I’m not a huge fan of rugby but I knew the significance of it all. I remember being in tears when Amhrán na bhFiann came on. I just wish I was at Croke Park to witness it in person.

Martin Corry is an excellent guy, both on and off the pitch.

Back in the bad old days when other countries such as Wales and Scotland had refused to play in Dublin due to security fears, England did travel in 1973 for the Five Nations Championship, and that was at the height of the 'Troubles' and they deservedly got a standing ovation.  Sport can transcend politics at times.

If I’d have played one game for England it would have been this one. Respect to the Irish and their history. Respect for the victims of my country’s actions. And respect to the crowd on the day. They were the 16th man for their team.

Thank you for respecting our anthem, even despite what our state put yours through throughout periods of history. You're a very welcoming nation.

2 of my siblings were at this game and were surrounded by supporters from both sides. There was 1 English elderly guy who to that point never missed an England game since his first game about 70yrs previously. He was well into his 80's but he was never so emotional as he was on that day, not just because of the respect given to GSTQ but more so after irelands anthems. He was in tears. He found it very hard to control his emotions and though Ireland won the game because they played better, he said it was the only game he was actually wishing Ireland would win. I swear by siblings were convinced the guy was going to drop dead of a heartattack. My siblings were in their late 20's and early 30's at the time, with tears flowing during the anthems and this guy just hugged them. Its a game no one will ever forget.

I'm an England fan and also know a bit of history. When it was announced that we would play Ireland at Croke Park, I thought "Well that's a match we wont win."
The respect shown to the anthems and the passion in the singing still raises goosebumps.
Ireland have always been my second team ever since the days of WJM and Mike Gibson. And I get why GAA people might have been hostile to the idea because I know how I would feel about soccer matches being played at Twickenham.
God bless Ireland.

We've a difficult past with our neighbors but the battle for this was with our selves and we came through with flying colours but once we welcomed England in, we all won as a result

What a great president 👏 and visionary well done sean

hey guys. I'm french but I can't stop thinking about this game and about how great your country and your people was that day. Ireland is a country I want to visit before i pass away. great job and great respect for you guys.

Astonishing Doco! What a visionary Sean Kelly was!

This day did indeed transcend sport. Ireland had been healing for a couple of decades and knew its new place in the world. This game was the moment the Irish, of which I am one, let go of the past and looked forward. It was time to heal, forgive and move on.

So proud of Ireland.

I cannot put into words the emotion and pride I felt when my namesake scored the opening try in this momentous match, and the fact my Uncle Martin had performed at Croke Park during the commemorative pageant Aiseirí 1966 in the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Uprising depicting Daniel O'Connell... an unforgettable experience.

I was at this game with my friends, must have been 14/15. Its stayed with me forever the atmosphere was unbelievable. A young naive friend of mine who was caught up in the occasion tried to shout something fairly unsavoury and was promptly told to shut up and show some respect. That was the tension leading up - how would people react in such an emotional event. My friend in fairness took that lesson and copped on and it was a great example to me of collective dignity.

I was there and weirdly, it was irelands call rather than amhran na bhfiann that I remember more as a moment. I think because the applause after God save the Queen was so loud and long it kind of drowned out the start of our anthem

so proud