There was a buzz at the base of Croagh Patrick last Saturday as the masses awaited the arrival Irish soccer manager Giovanni Trapattoni and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
The JOE team had arrived down the night before and over a few pints in the local listened to the punters warn against the national media tipping the Mayo team’s chances against Cork in the Allianz Football League final two days later.
The clouds of despondency that were swirling around the boozer were no where to be seen on the Saturday morning as thousands came out to see Trap and Enda climb the Reek.
Mayo captain Andy Moran was on site to sign up volunteers in the tent as only a few hardened early-risers decided to forget about Trap and get on with the business at hand of climbing up the mountain St. Patrick was reputed to have fasted on for forty days.
With 1,500 expected, local people threw open their fields in the town of Murrisk to let people park.
Giovanni Trapattoni signs Enda Kenny’s replica jersey as Mayo TD Michael Ring and FAI Chief Executive John Delaney look on. The event called ‘Enda’s trek with Trap’s Green Army’ raised money for a number of charities.
One middle-aged volunteer in a high-viz jacket was sceptical that Trap could keep pace with the Taoiseach.
“He’s the typical local boy done good,” said the man of Enda, “he has climbed the Reek hundreds of times. Mr Trapattoni would want to be a fit man to keep up with him.”
Before the ascent of the mountain Kevin Maloney (72) and Leo Sahall (63) were selling walking sticks as a chocolate Labrador sat at their feet.
“Know one knows who owns him, but he comes by everyday and we give him a biscuit,” said Kevin before inquiring when the two VIPs were arriving.
“We have two high quality blackthorn walking sticks to give them, do you know if Trap or Enda is the shorter man? We’ll give him the longer stick.”
JOE’s Mark O’Toole with the blackthorn stick that Kevin Maloney and Leo Sahall (left) were presenting to Giovanni Trapattoni.
Sirens heralded that arrival of Trap and then Enda accompanied by their respective right-hand men, 1982 World Cup winner Marco Tardelli and local deputy and Minster of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring.
Ring was in his element playing to the gallery from the erected stage where all the attending officials sat to talk to the crowds that had gathered.
Ring even told FAI Chief Executive John Delaney that he might consider letting the newly-formed Clew Bay Pipe Band, who were providing the soundtrack to the pre-climb festivities, play the Aviva at some stage.
John Delaney, no stranger to playing to the gallery himself, took the mic from the deputy and invited them to play before Ireland’s World Cup qualifying match against Germany next October.
Enda Kenny and Giovanni Trapattoni both made speeches with Trapattoni thanking those in attendance profusely for the warm welcome he always received in Ireland and speaking about his own deep faith which has led him to coach the Vatican City side on an occasion.
With the speeches out of the way the two men set out the climb the mountain together patting children’s heads and signing autographs along the way, Kenny wearing an Irish jersey with his name emblazoned on the back.
Trap, who has had one or two health scares in recent years, bounded past the statue that was meant to mark the point he returned back to the visitor centre, much to his handler’s chagrin.
Clearly enjoying himself, Trap listened to Kenny as the assembled press quizzed him over the day and his mountain climbing exploits. Kenny confirmed it was indeed hundreds of times he had climbed the reek.
As one journalist remarked he’s not like Putin yet, hunting bears semi-naked, but he is trying to cut a macho-figure.
The optics of the day weren’t lost on the Taoiseach either. Climbing Croagh Patrick would be small fry compared to the mountains both men faced in the coming two months; Trap facing the world champions Spain and Enda trying to pass the Fiscal Treaty.
The Irish manager with the peak of Croagh Patrick looming behind him.
One surreptitious way of gaining popularity for the government that wasn’t ruled out by Michael Ring was associating the government with the team as he told JOE.
As Enda powered on to the summit, Trap had other engagements to make, including a press conference in Mullingar that evening.
When Trap descended from the mount the Irish soccer messiah informed JOE that he didn’t have the squad of twenty-three players carved in stone tablets, but he would be sticking as closely to the squad that qualified him as possible, although he would later reveal in Mullingar that James McClean may very well be going to Poland after all.
Prior to having a quick one-on-one interview with JOE, Trapattoni was led into the visitors centre where he received more gifts from the masses including the blackthorn sticks that Kevin and Leo had lain by earlier.
For all the gifts received, it was the run-of-the-mill turf briquettes that really piqued Trap’s interest. Before the interview began near the fireplace in the centre Trap saw the briquettes in a basket. Picking two out of it he inquired what they were. After an explanation was given Trap asked if he could take two home with him.
With the answer in the affirmative he placed them in the hands of a bemused nearby FAI official.
With Trap and Ireland there has been a mix of that – bemusement and maybe affection. The day had raised a lot of money for charity and the Irish boss had clearly been touched by the reception, but as usual some things got lost in the cultural translation, like the briquettes.
One thing was for certain though, a piece of the ‘ould sod would be going home to Milan with Trap.
You can watch JOE’s exclusive interviews with Giovanni Trapattoni and Enda Kenny here.
