A seagull which invaded the Croke Park pitch during at the All Ireland final is to be returned to the wild after some rest and recuperation.
Images went viral on Sunday after it landed in the middle of the clash between Galway and Armagh.
The cameo appearance ran for more than 20 minutes with the bird seemingly unfazed by the action unfolding around it.
The gull appeared to have an injured wing and fans took to social media calling for the bird to be picked up or for the game to be stopped.
It was eventually removed from the pitch in Dublin by a match official and taken to Kildare Wildlife Rescue centre.
More than one million viewers tuned in on RTÉ to watch Armagh’s All-Ireland victory.
A spokesperson from Kildare Wildlife Centre said it received a large amount of emails from worried viewers.
“This Herring Gull had caused quite the stir online after been spotted on the pitch of the All Ireland GAA game in Croke Park.
Gull rescued from the pitch of the All Ireland game yesterday @officialgaa @Armagh_GAA @Galway_GAA pic.twitter.com/Zc0J7hRvrX
— Kildare Wildlife Rescue (@WildlifeKildare) July 29, 2024
“We received a large amount of emails from worried viewers at home who were watching Armagh go head to head with Galway to win the title of All Ireland champions.
“He was helped off the pitch by Barry Nolan who then transported the adult bird who just had some minor injuries to us.
“They are doing well and will only have a short stay with us before returning to the wild.
“Huge thanks to everyone who got in touch with us.”
