More than 15,000 people packed the Athletic Grounds in Armagh City as the victorious county team returned north with the Sam Maguire.
The team - the players, management and the rest of the back room staff - made its slow way to the Dalton Road venue after spending the night just over the border in the Carrickdale Hotel.
Some of the team, with manager Kieran McGeeney, had made an earlier detour to visit the children being cared for by staff at Craigavon Area Hospital.
Mr McGeeney, an All Ireland winner as a player the last time the country clinched Sam in 2002, was hoarse as he took to the stage before a sea of orange, but he was still full of praise and fighting talk.
“We’re absolutely blown away by this. We expected something big but nothing like this,” ‘Geezer’ told the crowd. “It has to be said, when Armagh does something, Armagh does it in style.”
He shouted: “It was after the Kerry game a lot of players I played with were saying the atmosphere in the stadium was unbelievable, that they’d never experienced anything like it.
“You surpassed it again in the final, on the way home last night, this morning and this afternoon, you have taken things to a new level for this team and for that we’re entirely grateful.”
Mr McGeeney focused on the players: “They’re the ones that have to go for the blocks, they’re the ones that have to make the blocks...thanks Joey...no matter what was said about them, they were knocked down time and time again.”
He added: “They were told they couldn’t beat teams above them...they beat teams above them. “They were told they’d never get out of the ‘Group of Death’...they topped the ‘Group of Death’. They were told they couldn’t win tight games...they won tight games.
“Everybody said they wouldn’t win the All-Ireland and they won the All-Ireland.”
Armagh captain Aidan Forker said: “Geezer always puts it’s back to the players, but like I said yesterday without this management team, I promise you this doesn’t happen.
“To the fans, this orange wave that follows us everywhere up and down the country, there’s nobody like us. Look around you here today, unbelievable.
“From the bottoms of everyone’s’ hearts, thank you so much. We’re living our dreams here today.”
Celebrations began after the Orchard County defeated Galway by a single point to win only their second All-Ireland.
There was a party into the early hours at the Carrickdale Hotel, which was also swamped by supporters after the team managed to exit Croke Park for the journey north.
In the Carrickdale was a goal scorer from 2002, Oisin McConville, celebrating along with his nephews, Oisin O’Neill, brother Rian and Cian McConville.
“Oisin was with us in the Carrickdale,” said Oisin O’Neill.
“He says he now he has the worst WhatsApp group in history, him and Aaron McKay, the only people to score goals in (winning) All-Ireland finals for Armagh.
“It’s magic. But it’s not just our family, it’s every family in Armagh.
“I don’t think there’s another county in Ireland that would get 20,000 people at a homecoming.”
