Northern Ireland

The hills are alive, with the cry of ‘Up Armagh!’

Supporting the Orchard County is a family affair for this Silverbridge couple

Gerard Loye , Who made a sign in support of Armagh. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
The scene of 2002 recreated. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
By Clayton Taylor

With less than a week to go before Armagh take to the field against Galway in the All-Ireland final, the local GAA fanatics aren’t sticking to the same old ‘tyred’ methods of showing their support.

Outside the sleepy village of Silverbridge, a family wishes to spread their message far and wide.

‘Up Armagh’ is the battle cry displayed on a solitary field.

This isn’t the first time that message has been sounded from that solitary hill, for it’s a case of like father like son for Gerard Loye, who’s following in the footsteps of his late father, Raymond, by writing this message of support.

‘My father was an Armagh fanatic,’ says Gerard, ‘he travelled the length and breadth of the country, through good times and bad times to see Armagh play.

“When they reached the final back in 2002, he wanted to create some buzz and excitement in the community, so he came up with the idea of placing tyres in the field, it became a great talking point across in south Armagh.’

The iconic ‘Up Armagh’ image was featured on the front page of The Irish News the day before Armagh defeated Kerry in September 2002.

Up Armagh, September 2002
The original display on the front page of the Irish News, September 2002. PICTURE: BRENDAN MURPHY (EditorialDR1)

‘It gave everyone a boost to see it on the front page,’ he said. “The phone was ringing off the hook.”

Raymond sadly passed away four months after Armagh’s victory against Kerry.

But Gerard said Armagh’s success has brought back “all the good memories of my father. I always said, if Armagh were ever to make it to a final again, I would re-enact the tyres in daddy’s memory.

“After the match (semi-final), I phoned my brother, my sisters and and all their kids to come over and help lift and paint the tyres.’

Gerard Loye with his wife Niamh and daughter Molly , Who made a sign in support of Armagh. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
It's a family affair. Gerard Loye with his wife Niamh and daughter Molly, who made a sign in support of their beloved Armagh. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN

Gerard and his wife Niamh, a niece of GAA President, Jarlath Burns, invited members of their family to join them in creating the tyre message.

Niamh said they worked on “for hours”.

“When we finished placing the tyres at 10 oclock, we thought we would paint them in the morning but my niece and nephews were adamant that we do it then and there. It was pitch black by the time we finished,” she said.

Gerard added: “It’s magic to have the next generation there to create new memories in the very same field and share stories of my father with them.

“While it seems like it’s just a farmer’s way of celebrating Armagh reaching the final, it is also keeping the memory of my father alive for so many people.”