The verdict from the fans, if it was ever needed, was unanimous: Munster have now joined the pantheon of rugby greats following this evening's victory.

For some, like 69-year-old Patrick Hastings from St Mary's Park in Limerick City, the moment was wrought with raw emotion.

"This was everything we hoped for - and more," said Hastings, a former rugby player who emigrated to the UK more than 30 years ago. "I thought I was going to cry when I realised they were going to do it. I often have dreams of scoring tries for Munster - despite my age - and this was almost like a dream come true. Unbelievable."

His friend Joe Flanagan (64) from Ballincurra-Weston, in the heart of Limerick City, agreed: "If there is a heaven, then this is what it must be like to be there. It's just simply magnificent - I'm lost for words"

As fans poured out of the Millennium Stadium this evening, and the streets of Cardiff turned into heaving mass of red flags and singing crowds, it was reminiscent of two years ago when Munster lifted their first Heineken Cup. However, many felt this evening's victory outshone even that momentous day.

Among them was Brian McCarthy, who was involved in a passionate discussion with his friends outside the ground over which day won out. There was no competition in the end.

"This felt more much more satisfying because of the tough route we had to reach the final, the quality of Toulouse and the pressure to prove ourselves once again," said McCarthy (33) from Gurranabraher in Cork City.

"It was on a knife-edge all the way through. It was only when Toulouse knocked on with a minute to go that we knew we were safe. We could have lost it any stage before that."

His friend Michael O'Leary from Ballydesmond, Co Cork, put it succinctly. "They were a good team before - but now they're truly great."

Munster's nervy start, however, had many fearing the worst. At one stage the small crowd of Toulouse fans even began to out-sing the estimated 50,000 Munster supporters in the stadium.

In the wheelchair section of the stadium, James Clarke from Adare, Co Limerick, almost found it too much to take.

"I wasn't able to make the 2006 final because I was having surgery," he said. "This time around, when we couldn't get our hands on the ball, I almost had a heart attack. But we got there in the end. It'll take a while to recover from the shock of all this."

Even those from outside the Munster hinterland got swept up in the emotion of it. Among the hordes of fans were three Ulster men, decked out in red jerseys, joining in the singing on the streets of Cardiff.

"You can't help but admire Munster and the supporters," said Trevor Sturgess from Belfast. "It was such an incredible atmosphere. We're all able to share in that. It's a superb feeling."

Some fans, meanwhile, were wiping their brows after narrowly making it to the game as chronic traffic jams held up traffic coming from London.

Among them was Rory O'Brien, originally from Glounthaune, Co Cork, who had just flown in this morning from San Francisco for the game. After travelling more than 5,000 miles, he made it with just 20 minutes to go.

"I was going to hop out and run along the motorway if I had to," he said. "But we made it, it's been a magnificent game, and Munster are European champions again. It doesn't get much better than this."