Liberty Sport

From the Liberties to Lansdowne, Manchester to Munich, is there such a thing as a terrace too far for Ireland’s superfan? Niamh O’Donoghue talks to Davy Keogh about life on the road

The European Championship: Germany 1988. As Jackie’s Army destroys Europe’s finest, a new type of flag is born, begone the John 3:16 model. A tricolour bearing a name unknown in biblical terms, a name which belongs to Ireland’s most famous soccer fan emerges. Ever since that first outing this ultimate footballing icon has remained anonymous, a single face among a crowd of thousands. So who is Davy Keogh and why does he say hello?

Eleven years on and Davy Keogh is still draping his flag over every terrace and stand in the world. How did it all begin? "I just came up with the idea," he laughs, "I was looking at all the blank tricolours around me and I thought I’d make up a slogan. All the boys and myself were trying to come up with something to rhyme with Keogh and that’s where the ‘Davy Keogh says hello’ came from."

To call Davy a dedicated fan is like calling George Best an average footballer. When asked how he manages to get to all the matches, he says that he depends on the Credit union and overtime. "It’s still not enough, I have to take out loans to get away," he laughs.

Old Trafford also features frequently in Davy’s diary, "I am also a big Man Utd fan." In fact he went to see the Red Devils playing Everton at the weekend. "I have been going to football matches since I was eight or nine," he says. My father was a Man Utd and Ireland fan and he used to take me to Dalymount." Not only is he an avid supporter, Davy has amazed onlookers with his skills on the pitch. He has played with Iveagh Celtic, which is based in Kevin Street, for twenty years now and has climbed the ranks to become chairman of the club.

The Republic of Ireland’s number one fan is positive about the prospects for the future of the team. "They are building at the moment but they have a good outfit, a good backbone. The younger players are getting more experienced." There is a sense of disappointment in his voice when he informs the Liberty that he will not be able to make it to the Macedonian match but, he is "looking forward to the Croatia and Malta games".

Between work and football matches Davy’s family must never see him at all. He says that if he had kids he would not be able to go as often, "my wife likes football as well and sometimes she goes with me". Davy has no doubts that he will continue to follow the green army far and wide for as long as he can, "I will keep going until the money runs out," he laughs.