Dublin Airport goes viral with playful name change honouring Troy Parrott’s hat trick

Ireland is celebrating one of its most remarkable football moments in recent memory, and the centre of the jubilation is Troy Parrott. The Irish forward lit up the weekend with an astonishing haul of five goals for the national team, including a dramatic hat trick in Budapest that secured Ireland’s place in the World Cup play-offs. The moment was so powerful that even Dublin Airport joined the celebrations, joking on Instagram that it had temporarily renamed itself Troy Parrott Airport.

“Feck it. Doing it,” the airport wrote in the caption of a post that quickly went viral. The light-hearted tribute reflected a wave of national enthusiasm after Parrott’s extraordinary performance in Hungary. His 96-minute goal, struck deep into stoppage time, sealed a memorable three-two victory and sparked jubilant scenes both inside the stadium and across Ireland.

Feck it. Doing it. 🦜 pic.twitter.com/lMidtjZwnT

— Troy Parrott International Airport 🦜 (@DublinAirport) November 16, 2025

The win ensured Ireland’s passage into the World Cup play-offs. The Boys in Green will discover their next opponents on Thursday, when the draw determines the two matches standing between Ireland and a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Unlike previous tournaments, the play-offs will no longer feature home and away ties. Instead, they will be contested through single-match knockouts, with semi-finals and finals determining which four of the sixteen competing European teams qualify for the World Cup.

The celebrations that followed Sunday’s dramatic finish spread far beyond Budapest. One of the most shared videos of the night came from Dublin Airport, where passengers gathered in a departures lounge bar erupted in joy as Parrott’s late winner hit the net. The clip, posted on X with the caption “Dublin airport pub right now,” captured travellers jumping, embracing and chanting in unison as if they were inside the stadium rather than waiting for flights.

Not to be outdone, Cork Airport also marked the extraordinary weekend with a playful gesture of its own. On Monday morning, the airport shared a photo of a newly installed statue of Parrott seated beside Jack Charlton, the former Ireland manager and World Cup winner with England. “We are pleased to say that as of this morning, Big Jack has company,” the airport wrote, delighting fans who were still revelling in the victory.

Dublin Zoo has also joined the national tribute. The zoo revealed that it has officially named its male citron-crested cockatoo Troy, honouring the Irish forward’s impressive performance. The species is a critically endangered parrot, making the choice both fitting and humorous. Zookeeper Diana Farrell said, “It is not quite the statue many fans were calling for at full time yesterday, but we hope the original Troy sees it as another feather in his cap to go with the match ball he took home.” The zoo is also offering a fifty per cent discount on Saturday, 22 November and Sunday, 23 November for visitors who arrive wearing green.

Ireland’s wider football community has been equally enthusiastic. Speaking after the match, an emotional Parrott said, “This is why we love football, because things like this can happen.” His joy was echoed by former Ireland captain Roy Keane, who praised the team’s determination and resilience. “When you think of the way they started the campaign, a draw and a defeat. To win today on the back of the Portugal result is fantastic. Great boost for the country and the team,” Keane said on ITV.

Parrott’s hat trick and late winner have elevated him to national hero status, offering fresh hope as Ireland looks ahead to the decisive play-offs. The striker’s success has inspired pride across the country and has already become a symbol of ambition for young footballers. His rise also reinforces the growing optimism surrounding the national team, which now carries important momentum into its World Cup qualifying journey.

For now, Dublin Airport’s tongue-in-cheek rebrand reflects the celebratory mood that has swept Ireland. Whether passengers walk through Dublin Airport or Troy Parrott Airport, they do so with renewed belief that the Boys in Green may soon be bound for North America.