HAVING SHOT TO semi-stardom since the start of Euro 2012, the Merkel Flag Crew managed to draw the attention of German ambassador, Dr Eckhardt Lübkemeier.
Whereas most groups of Irish fans traveling to Poland adorned their tricolours with comical phrases from Father Ted or the name of their favourite local; this quintet opted for ‘Angela Merkel thinks we’re at work.’
Dr. Lübkemeier certainly seen the funny side and tracked the boys down through their roots in the University of Limerick.
“The German embassy invited us back and they’re letting us do a bit of fundraising tonight.” Eoin Cantwell, the crew’s reluctant spokesman, told TheScore.ie.
“We were in his company for a couple of hours (on Monday) and went back to his house for a while and they invited us to come to the embassy tonight to watch the game and (he said) ‘bring the buckets, and the flag’ and we’ll see if we can raise another bit for charity if we can.”
The two charities benefiting from the lads’ new-found fame are Crumlin Children’s hospital and Oscar Knox - a three-year-old boy with neuroblastoma who needs treatment in Germany.
“If you told me three weeks ago I’d be heading to Crumlin hospital to collect buckets, I’d have laughed at you,” says Cantwell, but the group are now fully-fledged fundraisers having raised over €20,000 for the causes.
“We’re very new to the charity stuff. I can’t say we’re martyrs or saints and went looking for it, it found us.
“The flag itself has a bit of a short shelf-life, but if we can raise a bit more money for charity then that would be a great result for an auld piece of cloth.”
Good work lads, enjoy the tray full of Ferrero Rochers that are sure to come your way.
