Trip to the Brazil Match

On Wednesday 6th February 2008 the Club, as part of its TSP integration programme, attended the International Friendly Match between the Republic of Ireland and Brazil. Twenty members braved the cold and later the driving rain to see this match from the heights of the Cusack Stand. Though, the match was a lacklustre affair with an underperforming Brazilian team barely battling it out with an Irish team that only displayed a few moments of flair, enthusiasm and determination. This match was only a little better than the last friendly encounter between these countries which produced a nil all draw. The final score was hardly a surprise with a one goal win for the visitors. The Club's intention in including visits to international matches as part of our TSP integration programme is clearly to expose the programme's participants to the Irish sporting culture, its expression of national solidarity and, of course, the inclusivity of the "New Ireland" especially in the arena of sport. The participants, from many countries (mainly in Africa), had a unique opportunity to join their Irish team-mates at this international match - all supporting "the lads in green" and to personally experience the wonderful stadium at Croke Park - the home of our national games. The group met at Connolly Station and walked the short distance to the cathedral of Gaelic games, Croke Park, experiencing all the buzz and the colour of the occasion right in amongst the fans from both countries en route to the game. Sitting high up in the Cusack Stand and right on the halfway line provided the group with an excellent view of the match and indeed, with the full panoramic view of the stadium. Though, the weather was cold and damp, this did not hamper in anyway whatsoever the participants' fullest enjoyment of this important and wonderful exposure to Irish sporting culture. The organisers are sincerely grateful to the TSP programme for providing the funding to enable this aspect of the Club's integration programme to be so very successful. The participants are now looking forward to the Galway Trip between February 22nd to 24th and indeed, to the next international game against Serbia.