Not men, but giants, read the placards which greeted the victorious Kilkenny hurling team as they returned home last night.
An attendance of up to 30,000 proved once again that some people never get used to success. Although the county has now won 27 All-Ireland titles there was no reduction in the amount of noise generated as the team stepped off the train from Dublin. One could have been forgiven for thinking the county had won its first title.
Seasoned observers said they had not heard the Kilkenny anthem The Rose of Mooncoin sung with such gusto in many years.
Thousands of black-and-amber-clad fans streamed into town like bees just before 7 p.m. swamping the main street and bars.
Manager Brian Cody said it must have been the biggest reception ever given to a Kilkenny team.
As the team arrived off the train one name predictably was on everyone's lips. D.J., D.J., D.J., the crowd chanted.
Young girls screamed, young boys hollered and parents waved their flags with enthusiasm. D.J. took the adoration calmly, winking occasionally and waving. Earlier the crowd had been somewhat wrong-footed when the train carrying the minor and senior teams arrived early.
When the players eventually came off the platform the roar which greeted them could be heard all over town.
While the team's performance against Clare on Sunday was not regarded as a classic, it was the manner in which Kilkenny bounced back from two defeats in 1998 and 1999 that appeared to impress even their most ardent doubters.
The size and intensity of the reception for the senior team was matched by an equally warm welcome for the minor team who also won All-Ireland honours on Sunday.
Local GAA officials were delighted at the behaviour of fans and players during the homecoming. While drink flowed liberally in pubs such as Billy Byrnes and Langtons, there were no major incidents reported.
Local TD Mr Liam Aylward said the reason for the size of the homecoming was the quality of hurling played by the team this year. "The tradition of hurling in Kilkenny just grows and grows every year. We are now breeding a new generation of hurlers in the minor ranks. Some of these young lads are only 16 or 17, but already they are pushing for places in the senior team."
The clamour for tickets in Kilkenny over the last few weeks was intense. County secretary Mr Pat Dunphy was constantly under siege. The crowd was told that "he had managed to turn water into wine every day for the last fortnight".
Despite the team's superstar status, the crowd was told money still needed to be raised to send it on a well-earned holiday.
A local race meeting is due to take place this Sunday in the town to raise money for the players' holiday.