Chicago Irish immigrant John Hunt had a lifetime dream realized when his native Limerick won the All Ireland hurling final for the first time in 45 years. But what happened on live TV in Ireland since was even more incredible.
John made the eight hour trip from Chicago, a near-4,000 mile journey and got to see his hurling heroes lift the Liam McCarthy cup.
Read More: Legendary founder of Limerick Hurling Club Chicago (98) flies home for All-Ireland win
John, the founding member of Limerick Hurling Club Chicago and honorary president of Chicago GAA, was the talk of Croke Park.
Then came a special treat when he was invited to appear in the audience for The Late Late Show, Ireland’s top talk show.
98 years young and #HomeForTheMatch! This is John Hunt who’s flown from Chicago to support his native Limerick this Sunday! #BeThereAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/xflp8E2gt0
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 17, 2018
He was presented with the legendary Liam McCarthy Cup, the trophy for the winning All Ireland hurling team.
The 98-year-old was the only one in the packed stadium who witnessed Limerick take home the All Ireland title back in 1940 and in 1973, and now in 2018 for the first time in 45 years.
He emigrated to America as a youth, where he set up the Limerick Hurling Club in Chicago in 1959.
A touching video shows the community stalwart explaining how he went to the heart specialist before boarding his Aer Lingus flight to Dublin. "They fly near Heaven don't they," the doctor joked.
According to the Limerick Leader, Hunt, who is also an honorary president of Chicago GAA, experienced a six-hour delay on his flight back home, but the nonagenarian was still in top spirits.
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