WATCH: Limerick Man Documents Epic Journey From Dubai To Witness Hurling History

If you were ever in doubt about what the GAA means to people, just take one look at this video made by Limerick man Paul Carmody.

Paul, originally from Kildimo in the county, is now living in Dubai but a distance of 8,000 kilometres wasn’t going to stop him witnessing history last Sunday.

Paul began his epic journey to Croker at 4.30am the day before the match and after a few drinks, a few nerves and a few minutes of added time, he can always say he was there with his family to see Limerick claim a first All-Ireland hurling title since 1973.

Paul documented his journey in a video and told Lovin.ie all about a weekend he’ll never forget:

“I left at 4.30 on the on the Saturday and I arrived into Dublin around noon. I met up with a few friends and had a few drinks.

“On the Sunday, all my family met up in the morning. We checked into the Airbnb and the nerves and the sickness started to sink in as throw-in approached. We watched the game and all hell broke loose and we had a few drinks afterwards.

“On the Monday, we got the bus down to Limerick and I stayed Monday night to sample the legendary atmosphere in town.

“Unfortunately, on Tuesday morning, I had to go back on the bus and I was back in Dubai on Wednesday at 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning.”

But just what motivates someone to travel so far to witness a hurling match? Allow Paul to explain…

“I’ve been to an awful lot of Limerick games in my time and I’ve been an ex pat for a lot of that. When I looked at the price of the tickets I think my wife was about to divorce me when I said it to her but there’s no way in hell I could have missed that for all the tea in China. No way was I going to be watching it on the television in Dubai.

“Not only that, what makes it so special for me too is that I got to go home and enjoy it all with my family. My mam, my dad, my two brothers, my two sisters and two of my nephews. All of us sharing in that historic day for Limerick.

“I said it afterwards, chatting to the brother, that I’d probably have paid triple that amount of money to have that experience again

“I’m still buzzing to be honest! I’m still watching all the replays and all the listening to the podcasts.”