IT might not have gone Ireland’s way against Croatia but West Belfast bars were packed to the rafters on Sunday night.“It was jumping here on Sunday night,” said Biddy Duffy’s manager Aidy O’Neill. “Tonight against Spain we’re expecting a great crowd through the doors again and all pints are down to £2.80 and we have free burgers on from 6pm until kick-off.
“I have to say a massive thank-you to Larry Teague for helping out with all the organising. We have a cracking wee band on after the match called The Flying Fiddle so everyone is welcome and here’s hoping for a good result.”
Further up the road at Finaghy, Emerald Roadhouse manager Dominic Malone told the Andersonstown News that the complex’s phone “hasn’t stopped ringing with people wanting to know what we had planned for tonight”.
“People were just amazed on Sunday at the size of our HD television screen. We were completely packed to the rafters and had a band playing away in our car park. People started arriving in their colours from 4pm and the atmosphere during the game was just electric.”
The festivities will be continuing at the Glenowen tonight as bar manager Gabriel Megahey told us: “We had a brilliant turn-out on Sunday night to support Ireland and the Glenowen was truly a sea of green.
“The result didn’t go to plan but we can have another crack at turning it around against Spain tonight (Thursday). Our half-time light-bites will once again be available as will complimentary pints during the build-up to the game. Win, lose or draw the Irish supporters know how to enjoy themselves and we will have the fantastic Legacy for post-match entertainment.”
