A welcome to remember

It was dark when we landed in Dublin, a fact that was only really of interest to the three of us just off the ice. We hadn't seen the dark or a star since the 8th November 2007 – 69 days.
We were escorted off the plane by an airport official, re-routed off the gangway down on to the tarmac into a waiting limo – it was drizzling and I remember feeling the rain on my face, yet another strange feeling. A few minutes later we were in the VIP lounge at Dublin airport, no security, no passports and certainly no luggage handling – I just handed over the tags and our bags arrived. This must be how the Beckams travel. There were some friends of Pat's in the lounge to welcome us – I wasn't in a very social mood and just wanted to use the shower that was available and change into some of the new clothes I had bought in Madrid airport.

We had an hour or so before Clare's plane landed from Heathrow but with the crash, she was a bit delayed. As soon as she landed we were back into the limo and heading off to a remote part of the airport where a private Learet had been provided to take us down to Cork, this is where most of the Expedition supporters were rumored to be gathered to welcome us home, it was also Pat and Clare's home city, and brought with it copious amounts of family and friends.

I still hadn't slept properly now for nearly four days and I was starting to feel dizzy, was I dreaming, I climbed the 3 or 4 steps up into the 8 seater jet as if it was something I did every day, sat in the plush leather seats and took my champagne that the pilot handed to me as if it was the most natural thing in the world. After what seemed like 2 sips, we were descending into Cork Airport, the 160mile journey had taken only 20 minutes, if I had known what was awaiting us in Cork, I would have insisted on necking the whole bottle of champers.

I'll keep this short, as strangely I feel uncomfortable with this type of attention, I always thought I would lap up my '15 minutes of fame' like a thirsty man lost in the desert, but no, I find it quite difficult to deal with. There were hundreds of people waiting to welcome us home to Cork, screaming kids, cheering parents, scrummaging press, boisterous journos and cameramen, officials and councillors. All I remember was the beaming smiles of my parents, hugging my mother (which made its way onto the front cover of the Irish Examiner paper!) the perfume of Pat's mother as she gave me a hug and said well done my boy. Making our way through the crowd, I was essentially mobbed (we all were – but this is my story!) I was grabbed by so many people wanting to shake my hand or get my autograph, the tricolor flag around my neck was pulled so much it nearly strangled me.

A man in pristine military uniform with shoes so well 'bulled' they were brighter than the flash bulbs, gripped my hand fiercely and said “On behalf of the President, well done and welcome back.” I later found out he was the President's Aide-de-camp, I met him again the following day in Dublin. What, who, when, how – it wasn't me, I didn't do it your honour.....what was he doing shaking my hand. In the cold light of day, I was honoured but then I thought he must have been waiting for someone else like Bono or Sinead O'Connor or the Pope!

I didn't see Pat, Clare or Shaun for what seemed like ages, I just signed a hundred or so autographs and was slowly conveyored upto a stage, where we all seemed to arrive at the same time and then had to “say a few words” I hate that expression, “Jon, will you just say a few words about your achievement?”.....”hmmmm......it was very cold!”

The wonderful thing about this country and why I feel so at home here, is that I only knew 3 or 4 people in the crowd, but I felt like I knew all of them lke family. I must have posed for 50 photos or so with children, telling me I was their “Tom Crean” parents hugging and kissing me, telling me how proud they were. This was wonderful, but I really needed a pint of Murphy's (when in Cork, one doesn't drink Guinness - or so i was told!)

I will never forget the welcome we had in Cork – thank you so much.