By Róise Collins

ALL-IRELAND fever has gripped Donegal and shops across the county are in a scramble to keep their shelves stocked with flags and green and yellow bunting.

Many local businesses are updating their social media daily, letting fans know that new merchandise has arrived.

In response to the final frenzy, a wave of pop-up stalls selling everything from flags and cowboy hats, to car number plates and vuvuzelas has begun cropping up across Donegal.

The dedicated sellers have travelled in merch-loaded vans from across Ireland to meet the ever-growing demand.

The Donegal News took to the streets of Letterkenny to learn more about the sellers and where they’ve come from.

Parked along the Paddy Harte Road were Kevin Ward and his 14-year-old son Patrick. They had travelled from their native Galway City, and their stall boasted a huge selection of Donegal merchandise.

“If they come to me there will be no shortage. I’ll look after them,” Kevin laughed.

The family-run operation travels across Ireland with county colours, religiously following the GAA matches every year.

“We’ve done this all our life,” Kevin said proudly.

The pair shared that they were in Croke Park at the weekend and had set-up stalls in both Tipperary and Cork in the lead-up to the All-Ireland hurling final.

A competing stall parked just a few hundred feet away was manned by a young lad who had also travelled from the west of Ireland. He’s been selling GAA merch since the age of four.

This weekend as the population of Donegal migrates to Croker, so will the stalls. Then after the final their next stop is the county hosting the winning homecoming.

“So hopefully we will be back here in Donegal,” the young man added.