The latest video in Three’s #TheCallUp series focuses on Irish super fan Eddie O’Mahony and his incredible national team football jersey collection including one of the most famous Irish football shirts ever.
In a recent encounter, O’Mahony bravely asked the Republic of Ireland assistant manager if he would sign the garment. The legendary Irish midfielder responded; “If it’s my shirt, how do you have it?” but then proceeded to produce one of those cheeky smiles and signed it, much to O’Mahony’s delight.
Other items in Eddie’s collection include Richard Dunne’s No. 5 jersey from Moscow (2011), Ray Houghton’s shirt when he scored against England (1988) and John Aldridge’s kit when he scored against Mexico (1994) among others.
With a supportive wife by his side, O’Mahony justified passing up on painting his house in order to get Richard Dunne’s jersey. With it “covered in blood, written in marker, created live on the pitch”. O’Mahony claims “there’ll never be another shirt like that ever again”.
Justifying his collection, O’Mahony sums it up poignantly claiming, “the Irish jersey means everything to me. I’ll never be a player but it’s the next best thing”.