Ulster fans appreciation thread

thomond2006

I was at the game yesterday and I just have to give a special mention to the Ulster fans.

The atmosphere at the game was stunning, it was an Ulster invasion of Lansdowne and the Ulsterman were up for the party from the get go. "Stand Up for the Ulstermen" was chanted every 5 minutes with the whole stand getting out of their seats and screaming from the top of their lungs.

I wore my Munster jersey to the game and got a few interesting remarks (:D) but it was all in the name of the fun. A lot of people actually shook my hand when I told them I was supporting Ulster.

Was in the 51 bar after the game and I was stunned by the number of Ulster fans who came up to me saying how they were struck by the welcome they received in Thomond both before and after the match, it was a genuine kind gesture that. These fans didn't have to say that to me, but they did. I could only say to them that the atmosphere in the Aviva was amazing, so much than Leinster vs Munster back in November.

Anyway, just thought I'd give a shout out to the Ulster fans, salt of the earth people. Good luck in the final!

Tox56

Creating an atmosphere in the Aviva isn't easy, it was like a morgue during the 6N. They're my favourite of the Irish fans.

awec

thomond2006 wrote: »

I was at the game yesterday and I just have to give a special mention to the Ulster fans.

The atmosphere at the game was stunning, it was an Ulster invasion of Lansdowne and the Ulsterman were up for the party from the get go. "Stand Up for the Ulstermen" was chanted every 5 minutes with the whole stand getting out of their seats and screaming from the top of their lungs.

I wore my Munster jersey to the game and got a few interesting remarks (:D) but it was all in the name of the fun. A lot of people actually shook my hand when I told them I was supporting Ulster.

Was in the 51 bar after the game and I was stunned by the number of Ulster fans who came up to me saying how they were struck by the welcome they received in Thomond both before and after the match, it was a genuine kind gesture that. These fans didn't have to say that to me, but they did. I could only say to them that the atmosphere in the Aviva was amazing, so much than Leinster vs Munster back in November.

Anyway, just thought I'd give a shout out to the Ulster fans, salt of the earth people. Good luck in the final!

Glad you enjoyed your day, this is what I like about rugby games! No nonsense, everyone just there for the craic.

I know I enjoyed mine!

Another highlight of my day was finding a bar in Dublin that sells Harp!!

durkadurka

Jesus Christ harp! Back up to the north with ye!

awec

durkadurka wrote: »

Jesus Christ harp! Back up to the north with ye!

I live in dublin these days and finding harp in a bar is like finding a leprechauns pot of gold. :pac:

Redsock

Great day yesterday. There was a real carnival atmosphere to the day. I was delighted to see a number of Leinster fans wearing their colours but supporting us, which to my mind is how it should be. I desperately wanted Leinster to win today for the good of Irish rugby even though from a purely ulster perspective I think we had a better chance beating clermont than leinster. Nevertheless it will be a great occasion like yesterday and there will no shame being beaten by the best team European rugby has seen in the professional era if that's what transpires.

andrewdcs

CAnt wait for the final, should be some day and all the ulster fans I known are massive into the rugby and super passionate.

Only one niggling bother,.... booing Isaac Boss the other week at the derby, what the hell was that about? Be very sad if it happens on a truly world stage.

MyKeyG

Tox56 wrote: »

Creating an atmosphere in the Aviva isn't easy, it was like a morgue during the 6N. They're my favourite of the Irish fans.

Oh give me a break. A HC semi final and 30,000 come crawling out of god knows where! Getting a bit busy on that band wagon!

lologram

MyKeyG wrote: »

Oh give me a break. A HC semi final and 30,000 come crawling out of god knows where! Getting a bit busy on that band wagon!

Careful you don't spoil your dinner with those sour grapes, now.

MyKeyG

lologram wrote: »

Careful you don't spoil your dinner with those sour grapes, now.

This from an Ulster fan? You have to love the irony.

BTW you guys really need to come up with a new come back!:p

lologram

MyKeyG wrote: »

This from an Ulster fan? You have to love the irony.

BTW you guys really need to come up with a new come back!:p

No mate, not an Ulster fan. Just happy for them and impressed by their fans.

MyKeyG

lologram wrote: »

No mate, not an Ulster fan. Just happy for them and impressed by their fans.

Did I say I wasn't happy for Ulster? No I didn't! I merely made the point that there seem to be an awful lot more of their fans these days. It's a fact. And that hardly qualifies a group of supporters as the best Irish fans. I've been to every Heineken cup final for the last 8 years. Every time there were Munster and Leinster jerseys even when they weren't involved. Never once did I see an Ulster shirt.

Maybe the problem is less sour grapes and more touched nerves. Besides this is an appreciation thread and I don't intend it to descend into petty squabbling. I made my point. Take it as you will!

Grimebox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QtPnsggRto

lologram

lologram wrote: »

No mate, not an Ulster fan. Just happy for them and impressed by their fans.

MyKeyG wrote: »

Did I say I wasn't happy for Ulster? No I didn't! I merely made the point that there seem to be an awful lot more of their fans these days. It's a fact. And that hardly qualifies a group of supporters as the best Irish fans. I've been to every Heineken cup final for the last 8 years. Every time there were Munster and Leinster jerseys even when they weren't involved. Never once did I see an Ulster shirt.

Maybe the problem is less sour grapes and more touched nerves. Besides this is an appreciation thread and I don't intend it to descend into petty squabbling. I made my point. Take it as you will!

I don't think you read my post very closely. You asked if I was an Ulster fan and I responded that I wasn't. I wrote 15 words in that response and none of them referred to you.

Goodbye now.

irishbucsfan

MyKeyG wrote: »

Did I say I wasn't happy for Ulster? No I didn't! I merely made the point that there seem to be an awful lot more of their fans these days. It's a fact. And that hardly qualifies a group of supporters as the best Irish fans. I've been to every Heineken cup final for the last 8 years. Every time there were Munster and Leinster jerseys even when they weren't involved. Never once did I see an Ulster shirt.

Maybe the problem is less sour grapes and more touched nerves. Besides this is an appreciation thread and I don't intend it to descend into petty squabbling. I made my point. Take it as you will!

It's not a fact. I've been to most of those finals as well and have seen plenty of ulster jerseys, spent all night drinking with two ulster men when we won in 2009. They've had great support for a long long time, thanks to their early success in the professional era. You must be looking to see something different.

ongarite

Back on track..

I was at the game in Ravenhill last week. Had a great time for my first trip to the ground.
The crowd were fantastic, best support for a home team I've heard for any of the Irish provinces & the locals were pure gents.
Great crack to talk too and wishing us well for the SF.

chupacabra

Aye, was at the game with Thomond and the Ulster fans made it an immense occasion. Friendliest bunch of people on this ever more cynical island ive ever met. Myself and the lad who came up with me even got the entire bar to break into the fields of athenry and like thomond they were telling me how amazing Thomond park is and how much they love coming down to Munster. Not sure Thomonds choice of Jersey was the smartest one but sure, the Ulster boys saw the humor in it.

My name is Mud

Thought I would echo thomond's comments. I went with my bro, pretty much to have a bit of a night out. We are Leinster supporters, but did not wear the jerseys! Sat in amongst the Ulster crowd was great craic all the same! C'mon 19th May!

CoDy1

I agree with the OP regarding the Ulster fans, they were well able to make a noise and we had great craic in the Curragower with a few Ulster lads after the QF in Thomond Park, but in saying that, I've had the same if not better craic plenty of times with the Leinster lads both in Limerick and Dublin. Not entirely sure they need their own appreciation thread tbh!!

Shelflife

I went to the match with my son, we both wore our Connacht jersies and got plenty of looks and good humoured banter, we cheered on ulster (vested interested i know) and really enjoyed the cracking atmosphere, havent had an atmosphere like that at the aviva for a long time.

The Ulster supporters around us were delighted that we cheered on Ulster.

We saw plenty of flags of all different colours, as was said above they can support their team however they like as far as im concerned.

Cracking day, cracking atmosphere.

RuggieBear

posts deleted. please read the charter. no politics and no sectarian discussions.

JustinDee

Good noise from them as with most fans in a big game when things are going their way. The kids in seats around tunnel were good fun. Great to see this kind of buzz.
Super atmosphere out on Shelbourne and Lansdowne roads beforehand too.

bilston

Just to say I know as a fact that i was at Munster's final in '06 in Cardiff and I wore my Ulster jersey, nobody batted an eyelid from what i can remember but had some good chat with the Munster fans that day. I was also delighted Munster won and cheered for them. Great to see most rugby fans will do the same.

As for the 30,000 strong bandwagon...well there were people there who didn't know a lot about rugby alright...but that's the point we have an 18,000 seater stadium to fill week in week out in the next two or three years so days like Saturday will go a long way to ensuring we can do that or at least get close to it.

Anyway it was a great day, shame my memories of the match are fairly hazy but I'm looking forward to watching it back tonight! Can't wait for the 19th...really cannot wait...

jano6

As a Munster fan I'm not used to shouting on other teams but I was delighted for the Ulster fans, the atmosphere looked amazing. looking forward to the final now. My money is on Ulster, just because they're the underdog!