Giovanni Trapattoni opens St. Nicholas' new Pitch

Trap's merry band enjoy trip to Tipp

By Conor Kane - © Independent.ie
Tuesday August 11 2009

THE last time Solohead got this much attention, Dan Breen was firing the first shots of the War of Independence.

Giovanni Trapattoni dropped in to cut the ribbon on a new soccer pitch and dressingrooms for the St Nicholas club in the west Tipperary village last night.

For the people of Solohead, it was the sort of evening they won't forget in a hurry, with few complaining about the star attraction turning up almost an hour late.

Most smiled at the incongruity of it all: this legend of world football fetching up in the heart of west Tipp.

Not to mention Marco Tardelli, he of the famous World Cup final goal celebration, along with Ray Houghton, Alan Kelly and Liam Brady. All in Solohead.

It was that sort of "who'd have thunk it" evening. FAI boss John Delaney, who grew up a few miles out the road, remembered games against the St Nicholas club in Solohead, "and I've still got the bruises to prove it".

Mr Trapattoni himself, in his improving English, pointed out that he and Marco had come from similar clubs. "Maybe one day you will produce a young Tardelli or a young Trapattoni."

Since Saturday, and until after tomorrow night's friendly against Australia in Thomond Park, the Ballykisteen Hotel and Golf Resort has been home to Ireland's soccer squad.

And the Irish team are on a major charm offensive. After the Solohead festivities were done, Trap was given a civic reception in Tipperary town where huge crowds turned out to greet the genial Italian.

It's an honour previously accorded to the likes of the Munster rugby team, British ambassador Stewart Eldon, Packie Bonner and Timothy Dalton (the Tipperary footballer, not the former James Bond).

The honour of officially welcoming the FAI bigwigs to Tipperary fell to the mayor, Cllr Mary Swords, who made presentations to Mr Trapattoni. It's been quite a trip for Trap.