Big Mullingar welcome for Manchester United legends
Paul Hughes
A huge crowd of Manchester United supporters turned out at the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar on Saturday night, as two members of the club's legendary treble-winning generation stopped by for a meet-and-greet.
Former Republic of Ireland full back Denis Irwin and centre-half David May signed autographs, chatted with fans and reminisced about their time at the club in a no-holds-barred interview with Mullingar Midlands 103 personality Willie Geraghty.
The night, organised by Mullingar Town clubman and sports events promoter Gareth Hayes, drew United fans of all ages, including many young Reds – some of whom weren't even born before United's dramatic European Cup win over Bayern Munich in 1999.
But there were also many with vivid memories of that fateful night in Barcelona who, with childlike excitement, grasped with both hands the opportunity to meet two members of one of football's greatest ever sides.
The event – kindly sponsored by Mullingar businesses The Crossbar, Central Health and Lingi's – featured an auction and raffle for Manchester United memorabilia and other sporting trinkets, all of which was snapped up by the end of the night.
"I've never been to Mullingar before," Corkman Irwin told the Westmeath Examiner. "I might have passed through it once. But it's great to finally be here.
"I think the only time I came near the Midlands before was when I went to Tullamore, playing Gaelic for [Coláiste] Chríost Rí [from Cork]."
David May might have expected Irwin to be mobbed on his native shores, but the laid-back Mancunian – pint of Guinness in hand – drew his fair share of attention.
He came into his own during the hour-and-a-quarter long interview with Willie Geraghty – relaying humorous tales of his billeting with the great Eric Cantona in 1995, and the gory details of his very public spat with then Burnley boss, Stan Ternent, during the twilight of his career.
Irwin was just as open – giving his views on everything from hurling, to the enigma that is Roy Keane, the record of Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, and his own views on Manchester United's progress this year.
"I think they're tired, certainly since the Real Madrid [Champions' League] game," said the former Ireland left back with the cultured right boot. "They've looked physically and mentally wrecked, and with seven games to go, I think they'd like to get it over with."
It's at that point you have to stop and pinch yourself: a lifelong Manchester United fan, talking tactics with one of the club's – and Ireland's – most decorated legends.
I found myself recalling my most vivid memory of Mr Dependable – that hearts-in-mouths spot kick, which Irwin converted against Southampton on the penultimate day of the 1994/95 Premier League season, taking the title race – ultimately lost to Blackburn – right down to the wire.
"I remember that one. I slipped when I took it," said Denis. "It's a pity we didn't get the result [against West Ham] on the last day."
Amen to that, but what's lost is lost.
Both Denis and 'Maysie' are, we understand, togging out in Ibrox on May 6, with a panel of Man Utd legends facing Glasgow Rangers in a UNICEF fundraiser. May, still fit as a fiddle, is a regular fixture on the Masters football circuit.
He divides his time between punditry on MUTV and business; in recent years, he ventured into wine imports, an enterprise which he admits is now well in the past.
But perhaps there's a vintner in Irwin – who pulled a mean pint of the black in The Crossbar on Mount Street, where the United duo were given a warm welcome by owners Kevin Dunlevy and Niall Dunne.
Sure the craic was '91. No – make that '99.