Paris mayor to present Irish fan medal to somebody ‘worthy in every way’

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, will award the city's Grand Vermeil medal to Irish football fans, north and south, in the fan zone under the Eiffel Tower at 8pm (local time) on Thursday evening, just before the semi-final match between France and Germany.

In her letters to President Michael D. Higgins and First Minister Arlene Foster, Ms Hidalgo said the French "were charmed and impressed by (Irish) goodwill, their singing and their good humour . . . Whilst international football is sadly sometimes tarnished by incivilities, misbehaviour, even violence, the supporters of Ireland show to all . . . what supporting a country and a sport truly means."

Before Ireland was eliminated by France in Lyon on June 26th, Irish fans created a sensation through videos posted on the internet. They were seen singing to the police, collecting rubbish, changing a tyre and serenading a young Frenchwoman.

FAI chief John Delaney said the award was the perfect finale for a "hugely positive and inspiration tournament" for fans.

It was Mr Delaney who chose 17-year-old Jamie Monaghan from Co Louth to receive the award from Ms Hidalgo.

Joe McKenna, the chair of the Republic of Ireland Soccer Supporters Clubs, and a representative from Northern Ireland will also attend.

Jamie Monaghan suffers from a rare genetic condition called Trisomy 9 mosaicism (T9M) and cannot walk or talk. His father Philip accompanied him to all four matches played by Ireland in France.

FAI Director of Communications Ian Mallon said Mr Delaney had seen Jamie and Philip Monaghan at many matches over the years, and thought Jamie would be "a great ambassador for all Republic of Ireland supporters."

The FAI “wanted somebody who was worthy in every way. Jamie is known to fans. He overcomes extreme difficulties to go to football matches.”

The Monaghans, father and son, will travel to Paris on Thursday for the award ceremony. Philip said Jamie does not really understand the significance of the prize, “But he’ll go along and there won’t be a bother with him and he’ll shake hands and he’ll enjoy it. If there’s plenty of noise in the fan zone, he’ll like that. The louder the noise the better. He likes the good atmosphere in the stadium, the excitement of it.”

Jamie Monaghan learned to love soccer and rugby through his father, who describes himself as a sports fanatic. He follows the Republic of Ireland, Drogheda United and Liverpool FC.

"On the plane on the way to Paris, he'll watch the 2005 Champions League final," Philip Monaghan said. "He's watched it already 600 or 700 times. He's on his third disc of it. He wore out two DVD discs already. It's the most famous match; the one where Liverpool came back against AC Milan in Istanbul."

Philip’s wife Annette travelled to France with Philip and Jamie for the first three Irish matches. Jamie’s sister Aoife runs his Facebook page. “His big sister loves him to bits,” Philip said.

When Jamie's Irish tricolour with the words "Jamie on Tour" was stolen from outside the wheelchair-equipped chalet where the family stayed in Bordeaux, Aoife Monaghan posted a story about it. A Frenchwoman who was following the Facebook page had a new flag made and sent it by courier service to the Monaghans, in time for Ireland's lucky match against Italy in Lille.

Asked how Irish supporters differ from other fans in the Euros, Philip Monaghan says, “The main difference is Irish fans go out and it’s a party atmosphere. They get drunk, but they go home to bed and there’ll be no trouble. Some other nations where they get a lot of alcohol on them it can lead to a bit of violence.”

Philip Monaghan has been a maintenance technician at a Bristol Myers Squibb pharmaceutical plant for 18 years. Taking care of Jamie is a full time job for Annette. “We have to feed him, dress him, change him,” Philip explains. He says he felt “very proud” when Jamie was selected “because there are thousands and thousands of top supporters in Ireland they could’ve picked. Hopefully it will promote disability issues as well.”

By chance, Philip and Annette Monaghan grew up in the same housing estate as Geraldine Byrne-Nason, Ireland's ambassador to Paris – Balls Grove in Drogheda.

Ms Byrne-Nason said "the reputation of Ireland has been hugely enhanced thanks to Irish fans during the Euro 2016. We expect it will have a big positive knock-on effect for Ireland across the board".

French well-wishers have inundated the Ambassador and Embassy with effusive emails, thanking Ireland for cheering up France.

Irish supporters "give a beautiful lesson to the entire world." – Jean-Noel A.

"It is heart-warming to see people having fun, partying, respecting other people and even helping out when they can." – Bruno M.

"I knew your people had great class, but here I have to bow. Thank you for this beautiful lesson in good behaviour." – Stéphane B.

"Just to say bravo! Your supporters in Bordeaux were amazing." – Patricia P.

Irish supporters "gave us joy with their singing," Annie B wrote. "A little happiness in a bad world..."

"It was good to know there are still people so nice and friendly." – Franck G.

Irish fans have "conquered the heart of the French," wrote Catherine I.

In a page-long open letter to "cher supporter irlandais," Olivier Sauton said he would be equally happy if Ireland or France won the match in Lyon. "If my blood is French, my heart is increasingly Irish, thanks to you and your comrades."

Mr Sauton apologised for having "robbed" Irish fans in 2009. "We were playing badly and Thierry Henry had to use his hand so we could qualify for the World Cup . . . You departed sad but without violence, and you came back to our country with no spirit of vengeance . . . You can be proud, because the Euros aren't over yet, and you've already won."