Galway native John Ward has crossed enemy territory and is helping Armagh build up to the All-Ireland final. Shaun Casey writes…

HATS, scarves and headbands. Flags and bunting of all shapes and sizes. Crest or no crest. As long as it’s orange and white, the people of Armagh will fire it up on a lamppost or a window ledge to support their team this week.

Armagh fans have been asked to bring the orange to Croke Park this Sunday, just as they have done for their previous two visits there, and it’s a Galway man that is helping them to do just that.

John Ward has been standing at the bottom of Irish Street in Armagh City, just across from St Malachy’s Chapel, for the best part of two weeks. His stall is awash with all things orange and white and supporters have come from far and wide to get their hands on his merchandise.

He’s travelled a fair bit himself. A Galway native, Ward has crossed into enemy territory to set up camp, but it’s just another day at the office for him. For 20 years now, he’s trekked the length and breadth of the country to help counties build up to the All-Ireland final.

Stationed roughly a ten-minute walk from the home of Armagh GAA, the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Ward is playing an important role in helping the Orchard County prepare for their first All-Ireland final since 2003.

“I started this about 20 years ago all on my own and I’ve been doing it ever since,” explains Ward of how a Galway man came to be selling Armagh flags in the heart of the Orchard County.

“Whatever county gets into the All-Ireland final, whether it be the hurling final or the football final, I travel up to that county the week before the game and sell flags and merchandise and car flags, hats and everything.

“It helps to decorate the town and county that I go to and now this year obviously it’s Armagh who are in the All-Ireland final. Armagh are very decent people to be honest and I’ve had good fun with them.

“My own native Galway are in the final as well, and I’ll probably head back down to them towards the weekend. I was down selling flags and everything two years ago in Galway (for the 2022 All-Ireland final), so I thought I’d try something different this time around.

“I’m up here for a few days now, I’ve been here since the semi-final. I did go back home last weekend and then onto Dublin to work for the All-Ireland hurling final and then I was back in Armagh on Monday.

“I have friends who live up here and they let me pitch up on the ground. They provide me with accommodation and stuff like that too so there’s no issues that way.”

Grabbing a word with Ward is as difficult as getting a ticket to the All-Ireland final these days. The county has gone mad for flags, bunting, hats and airhorns over the past two weeks and Ward is more than happy to help.

“You’ll have to haggle the customers the odd bit but sure that’s all part of it too,” he laughs when asked about the Armagh crowd he’s dealing with.

“I don’t mind it, this is all about a bit of banter and sure I wouldn’t do anything different with it. It’s all good craic. Armagh people are very accommodating, they are decent, decent people.”

Ward comes from a very famous part of Galway, Tuam, with Tuam Stars being his local football club. He grew up in a small village just outside the town, but Tuam is where he now calls home.

There’s a rich GAA history in the town of Tuam and Ward is quick to point out a few of the notable players that they have produced down through the years.

“Tuam Stars would be my local GAA club back home,” he explains. “Where the great Jarlath Fallon comes from and the terrible twins (Sean Purcell and Frank Stockwell who won an All-Ireland title with Galway back in 1956).

“I actually grew up in a village just outside of Tuam, I wouldn’t have played with Tuam Stars but that’s where I live at the minute. I have family in Tuam, but sure they don’t mind me coming up here and selling my merchandise, they’re well used to it at this stage.”

Tuam reflects the entire county of Galway, and everything out west has been painted maroon and white as the Tribesmen hope to capture the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time since 2001, when manager Padraic Joyce was a player.

While the people of Galway are enjoying the build-up, like they did two years ago when they lost to Kerry on the biggest day of all, Ward believes that Armagh have done that wee bit extra.

“It’s all maroon and white down there in Galway, I left the other day to come up here and when I came back last Saturday night, there were plenty of flags and everything else that were all put up during the week,” he added.

“They’re all up now, flags and bunting and stuff like that and I’ll be sending a few more bits and pieces out during the week as well to make sure we can match these guys up here, but I don’t think we’re going to match Armagh now, to be honest.

“There’s a lot going on up here and there’s flags and bunting and everything else hanging off every pole coming into Armagh City, it’s all decked out in orange and white. Windows, gables of houses, everything has been turned orange and white up here.”

Like every other All-Ireland final, Ward will travel to Jones’ Road, Dublin and although it’s Galway who will run out onto the famous tuft just before 3pm, Ward will only be an onlooker from the TV.

All-Ireland final day is the biggest and busiest day in his calendar and no matter who the two teams that will battle it out for Ireland’s biggest sporting prize are, he’ll be out on the street, selling flags, scarves and headbands.

“I was in Croke Park last Sunday for the hurling and I’ll be going to Croke Park next Sunday again,” Ward continued. “I’m working for the game, selling flags and everything else on matchday, so I don’t need to worry about a ticket.

“Even if I have a ticket, I’d be passing it onto someone else that actually needs it. I’d be interested in going to the game of course but I can’t make it when I’m doing this, it’s impossible to do both.

“I don’t mind who wins, if Galway win, they win and that’ll be great but if Armagh do win it then that’ll be great too, at least they’re not losing to Kerry or the Dubs.

“Both teams probably deserve it because they’ve waited so long. I’d like to see both doing well so I’m on the fence.”