Dick Spring may have lost his job as Tanaiste, the Rose Dome may have been threatened with extinction by hurricane winds, but last night Sam was in the Kingdom and for Kerry folk from Listowel to Lauragh, all was well with the world.
The last time Kerry won the All-Ireland there was no sign of Farranfore Airport, but last night more than 5,000 delirious fans descended on the small mid-Kerry village and its airport to welcome home their high-flying heroes.
From Farranfore it was blazing bonfires all the way, lighting up the Kerry night right into Tralee where an estimated 20,000 people packed Denny Street to welcome home the men who had restored Kerry footballing fortune.
A forest of green and gold and chequered flags and a cacophony of horns and sirens acclaimed the 1997 All-Ireland champions as their open-topped bus inched its way towards the podium outside the Ashe Memorial Hall.
The players descended and amid a welter of congratulations wended their way to the podium where they were welcomed by Tralee UDC chairman, Cllr Johnny Wall.
But even that cheer paled into significance beside the din that erupted when man of the match, Maurice Fitzgerald, held up the Sam Maguire to the crowd.
Luke Keane from Knocknagoshel - who saw his first All-Ireland final nearly 50 years ago - summed up what Sunday's victory meant for Kerry. "Of course, we never thought it would be so long before we would win an All-Ireland again - 11 years was longer than any other famine, but here tonight with Sam back in the Kingdom, it's heaven on earth."
Bonfires blazed and flags waved for the boys in blue and white in Portlaoise yesterday evening. Almost 10,000 fans turned out to welcome home the triumphant Laois minor team who sensationally won their second All-Ireland football title in succession.
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