CHILDREN NOT yet born will be weaned on tales of Sunday's heroic deeds. A 31st All-Ireland hurling title had finally secured the fabled "three-in-row" victories for the first time since before the first World War.
There was only one topic in Kilkenny yesterday and conversations were punctuated with the same words: "awesome", "amazing", "brilliant".
Joseph Haire, a fanatical hurling enthusiast and pharmacist in Thomastown, and one of the 20,000 Kilkenny people who had travelled to Dublin to see the game, echoed the feelings of many. "We saw history unfolding before our eyes and savoured it. The likes will never be seen again."
Ominously for other counties and a harbinger of future greatness, the specially requisitioned homecoming train also carried the Kilkenny minor team who had won their All-Ireland clash against Galway.
At 6pm, Iarnród Éireann's public address system at Kilkenny's McDonagh station announced the "imminent arrival of the glorious Cats from Dublin".
First off the train was captain James "Cha" Fitzpatrick (23), carrying the Liam MacCarthy cup, who said: "You'd nearly feel sorry for Waterford."
The players smiled and waved as they started their triumphant journey by open-top bus to an open-air civic reception.
Despite a grey sky and spitting rain, cheering flag-waving, jubilant crowds lined the streets.
Mayor Pat Crotty described Sunday as "a day of days" and said: "People say Kilkenny winning is bad for hurling, but how can excellence be bad for hurling?"
The players needed no introduction - Michael Kavanagh. Eoin Larkin. Eddie Brennan.
Noel Hickey. JJ Delaney. Henry Shefflin.
And on through a roll call of honour.
Young men who are already household names in their native county had been elevated to the pantheon of Irish hurling greats.
Like the players, Kilkenny's "amateur" manager Brian Cody also has a full-time job. He is a teacher at St Patrick's De La Salle primary school.
One of his pupils, Alan Hayes (12), was selected to lead a crowd estimated at up to 25,000 singing the Kilkenny anthem The Rose of Mooncoin.
Afterwards the team headed to Langton's Hotel for "a victory banquet".
The fatted calf had been killed. The prodigal sons had returned.