Mayo fans’ bus broken into at All-Ireland

Edwin McGreal

One group of Mayo fans who emerged disappointed after watching the Mayo Ladies lose their All-Ireland Final to Dublin had their day compounded when they returned to find their bus had been broken into and ransacked.
The bus, which left from Westport and picked up other fans along the route, was parked just off the North Circular Road.
Westport woman Bernie Walsh organises the bus for Mayo men’s games in league and championship. Demand from supporters saw Bernie book the bus for the ladies final against Dublin.
“We were disappointed with the result but people were looking forward to the journey home as we made our way back to the bus,” Bernie Walsh told The Mayo News. “I had entertainment planned for the journey and we were going to stop off to get food along the way.”
However, as they returned to the bus, it emerged it had been broken into. Two bags, some jackets, a make-up bag and a kid’s Nintendo DS were taken. Most frustrating was the theft of a teddy belonging to a five-year-old girl.

‘Sickening feeling’
“It was a sickening feeling. One of the bags belonged to a father and his five-year-old daughter’s comfort teddy was in there. The teddy was taken and that was the most upsetting part of it to me. It was worth so much more to that little girl than to anyone who stole it. Fortunately the teddy was found by a passerby a short time later,” said Ms Walsh.  
 “It was strange, there were bags on seats left untouched and then someone took a Cairde Maigheo jacket. What would anyone in Dublin want with that?
“There were a good few kids with us and it was very distressing for them, to be going to a game with parents or grandparents and to be exposed to this. It leaves a sour taste. I’d like to highlight it so people would know about being aware of the dangers, that you can’t be too careful, even at such a special occasion. It is a lesson to always be aware of such dangers.
“I think it is also time for the GAA to address the lack of secure parking for buses bringing supporters to Croke Park. Any other stadium we go to in the country, there is no such problem and yet in the biggest and most-funded stadium in the country, we have to park in areas not considered safe,” said Bernie.