Irish people supporting anybody but England is “part of what sport is all about’ – and we shouldn’t feel guilty for celebrating their Euro 2024 downfall, according to Ciara Kelly.

Last night, Spain were crowned European champions for a record fourth time after a late Mikel Oyarzabal winner capped a deserved victory over England in Berlin.

The win sparked huge celebrations in Germany, Spain – and many bars and pubs across Ireland.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, presenter Shane Coleman questioned whether Ireland’s delight at England’s despair was a symbol of our “national inferiority complex”.

Fellow presenter Ciara Kelly, on the other hand, was unashamedly delighted.

“I don't care,” she said. “It's great craic.”

England captain Harry Kane after Euro 2024 final in Berlin, 14-07-2024. Image: Sipa USA/Alamy Live News

She said she was “really glad” to see England lose adding, “Because I am that person”.

“I think we're too hard on ourselves for hating the English in terms of football,” she said.

“They are our nearest and our biggest rivals, even though we are the minnow and they are the big fish – it’s normal.

“Like, Scotland hate England as well in the football.

“It's normal for, you know, Kerry and Cork to have a rivalry or for England and Ireland to have a rivalry and for us to go, ‘Oh no we shouldn't have a rivalry’ is just stupid.

“We take great enjoyment out of the rivalry. It's part of what sport is about.”

'National inferiority complex'

Shane said he doesn’t understand Irish fans cheering against England while supporting English club teams.

“Our producer watched the match in a bar last night and he said the place exploded when Spain scored,” he said. “Is that not a little bit much?”

“I mean, Gary has a good point here, he's texted in to say, it's funny Irish supporters hate the English team while supporting English teams in the Premier League.

“They say ‘we’ for Man United or Liverpool or Arsenal.”

'I was delighted'

Shane said he wanted Spain to win last night because they were the better team.

Ciara, on the other hand, said she was cheering for Spain no matter how the match panned out.

“You see, you're being the bigger person going ‘because they were the better team,’” she said.

“Even if they were the crappiest team, surely we'd want Spain to win.

“I am not the bigger person; I am the much smaller person and I was delighted.”

Spain’s win makes them the most decorated country in European Championship history – with Germany in second place with three titles.

England have never won the championships and their wait for international tournament silverware will now stretch to at least 60 years.