SHE might be only 11-years-old and not tall enough for a good view from Hill 16 but Niamh Tobin from Mulhuddart is still officially the truest blue of all.
That’s because Niamh has been voted Dublin’s finest supporter in a competition run by Dublin GAA sponsors Vodafone Ireland that gives recognition to the extraordinary support from thousands of fans across the city and county.
The award was presented to her last week by Dublin legend Paddy Cullen and former dual player and GAA All Star Shane Ryan at Croke Park after Niamh came out tops from a shortlist of five fans nominated for the accolade.
Niamh proved most popular of the candidates in a three-week online vote after being earlier shortlisted from over 100 entries for the competition on the basis of her quite remarkable support for Dublin.
Such is her devotion to the Dubs that Niamh has only one code of dress other than her school uniform, and that’s the official Dublin kit and she has two of each kit item to allow her do this.
The young Dublin fan has also turned her bedroom into a shrine to the Dubs, adorning it with signed jerseys, match tickets and pretty much any memorabilia she can get her hands on.
Announcing the winner, Vodafone Sponsorship Manager Robert Hyland said:
“The objective of this competition is to find a fan each year that epitomises what it means to be a ‘Dub’ and Niamh certainly fits the bill. She really has a devotion to the Dubs and deserves this recognition.
“In fact, each of the five shortlisted candidates illustrate how much the Dubs mean to their fans as they all have quite exceptional stories about the lengths they go to follow Dublin.
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Speaking at the event, Dublin great Paddy Cullen said that the role of the supporter in Dublin’s success over the years cannot be underestimated.
“It’s only right that we acknowledge the role of the supporter as fans like the five people here today are collectively as important to Dublin as Dublin are to them,
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“I truly believe that there are no fans out there like the Dubs fans.
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Speaking after receiving her award, Niamh said:
“I am thrilled. I just love Dublin and this is a dream come true for me.
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Niamh’s proud mum Elaine echoed her daughter’s mood.
“She really is a Dubs fanatic and that’s why Glen (husband) and I nominated her,
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“She has loved every minute of the competition and was delighted to have been shortlisted, but winning this is beyond our wildest dreams and we would like to thank everyone who voted for her.”