Pic: John Walsh
The Wexford camogie team are welcomed into Oylegate by a bonfire and a rapturous welcome from the fans.

THOUSANDS OF people lined the streets in towns across Wexford last night to welcome home the most successful GAA team since the footballers who won four-in-a-row back in the 1910s.

A strict schedule was left slightly to the side as the team celebrated with the fans in Gorey, Camolin, Ferns, Enniscorthy, Oylegate and finally, Wexford Town.

In Enniscorthy, presentations were made to team captain Karen Atkinson and manager J.J. Doyle by Co. Council Chairperson Kathleen Codd-Nolan and Town Chairman Keith Doyle.

After some brief festivities on stage, which included showing off a few well coordinated dance moves the team were back on their open-top bus, kindly borrowed from a sight seeing tour in Dublin, and heading down the road for Oylegate.

Pic: John Walsh
A happy young fan waves his flag for the homecoming All Ireland Champions.

Motorists were hit by traffic tailbacks in the village as the team commandeered the public road, dispersing from the bus on arrival and scattering to greet and thank fans for their support and sign the odd jersey and hurl here and there for the budding, young backs and forwards.

Indeed, there was a touch of history about the scene as the first sight to greet them entering Oylegate was a towering bonfire, burning brightly in the night.

From there, it was on to a Civic Reception in Wexford Town, greeted by thousands of cheering fans and Town Mayor, Cllr. Jim Allen who couldn’t hide his pride at welcoming home the camogie heroines.

The team will visit New Ross later in the week.

For extensive coverage, match report, analysis and more, pick up this week’s Echo newspaper. 

Pic: John Walsh
Midfielder Kate Kelly is mobbed by young fans in Oylegate. The St. Ibars player scored two points in Sunday’s match.