Seagull Rescued After Delay at Croke Park During All-Ireland Final

A seagull made an unexpected appearance during the All Ireland Gaelic Football final on Sunday, causing a brief disruption before being safely removed from the pitch. The incident occurred at Croke Park in Dublin, where the match was attended by over 80,000 spectators and watched by more than a million viewers on television. The bird, which spent approximately 24 minutes on the field, was eventually escorted off by a match official and taken to the Kildare Wildlife Rescue centre. Dan Donoher, the manager of the wildlife rescue centre, reported that they received numerous calls from concerned viewers during the game. Initially worried about the possibility of the seagull sustaining injuries, Donoher expressed relief that the bird appeared unharmed. "He’s just resting and we’re feeding him up for a few days," he stated, indicating that the seagull is currently in good condition. Donoher humorously referred to the seagull as their "first celebrity seagull," noting that while they often rescue animals caught in football nets, this was a unique case of a bird landing on the pitch during a live event. He also mentioned that this time of year is particularly busy for the rescue centre due to the influx of orphaned gulls. Plans are in place to release the seagull back into its original habitat, as it is likely to have young nearby. Donoher acknowledged the public's interest in the bird's fate and expressed openness to suggestions regarding its release.