Reactions pour in after Ireland's victory over Hungary: "Stick that up your bollox Viktor Orbán"

Reactions have poured in after Ireland beat Hungary 3-2 yesterday to secure a spot in the World Cup play-off.

Ireland's victory in Budapest came after a 2-0 defeat of Portugal at the Aviva Stadium last week. Both wins were largely thanks to Troy Parrott's scoring.

Parrott has been praised across the board, including a few tongue-in-cheek name changes. On X, Dublin Airport posted a photo of signage reading "Troy Parrott Airport."

Dublin Airport similarly changed its display name on X to "Troy Parrott International Airport."

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

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

Reposting Ireland Football's announcement of Parrott as Player of the Match, RTÉ's The Late Late Show wrote, "Name change accepted!"

The Late Late Show's X account promptly changed its display name to "The Late Late Troy Show."

Name change accepted 🤝 HERO! https://t.co/vDBT8nlxeF

— The Late Late Troy Show (@RTELateLateShow) November 16, 2025

Tánaiste Simon Harris took to X to react to the game, calling Parrott "a national hero."

"There are no adequate words!!" Harris wrote.

"Playoffs here we come. The World Cup dream lives on!"

There are no adequate words!! What a game! What a result! Troy Parrott - a national hero! Playoffs here we come. The World Cup dream lives on! pic.twitter.com/ht77Vj8ERY

— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) November 16, 2025

Taoiseach Micheál Martin praised Ireland's "heroic and courageous performance" in a post on X.

"Resilience, guts and pride on display," said Martin, adding, "Well done Ireland!"

Heroic and courageous performance by Ireland to secure a World Cup play off in a game that had everything.

Resilience, guts and pride on display. Well done Ireland!

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 16, 2025

KNEECAP celebrated the results on X with a jab at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a common sentiment at their shows after they were banned from Hungary in July.

Stick that up your bollox Viktor Orbán 💚🤍🧡

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) November 16, 2025

On July 24, a Hungarian government spokesperson announced the rap trio were prohibited from entering the country and performing at the Sziget Festival over claims of hate speech.

KNEECAP responded to the ban on social media, calling it "political distraction and a further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people."

KNEECAP wrote a similar post after Ireland's game against Hungary in September, where Irish fans unfurled a banner reading "Show Israel the Red Card" in protest at Orbán's presence at the Aviva Stadium.

Hip-hop artist Wallfella also posted about Sunday's game in an Instagram story, writing, "Sheriff Street stand fuckin up" in reference to his and Parrott's shared north Dublin roots.

Niall McNamee — avid football fan and actor in the upcoming film Saipan about the 2002 World Cup — posted a photo of his father at the game in Budapest on an Instagram story, writing, "Wish I was in Hungary right now with Dad!!!"

Also on an Instagram story, musician and former professional athlete Bressie reposted a photo from the game of Parrott and added the caption, "I pulled my hamstring hopping off the couch."

Aaron Rowe, who sang 'Amhrán na bhFiann' at the Aviva Stadium ahead of Ireland's victory over Portugal last week, posted several clips of the game on his Instagram story.

Ireland will be one of sixteen European teams to compete in the World Cup play-offs in March 2026, with the draw set to take place on Thursday, 20 November. But the fact that we have made it this far – and in such extraordinary circumstances – suggests that this young Irish team may just have the makings of greatness in them.