Irish citizenship for Westmeath star Ilunga

Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall and Westmeath minor footballer Israel Ilunga has been granted Irish citizenship.

The Liberian national - a member of the Westmeath minor football panel which reached a Leinster final last year, and one of the county's brightest footballing prospects - faced deportation until his citizenship was confirmed last week.

Westmeath minor football manager Tom Carr, speaking to the Irish Examiner, said that the Department of Foreign Affairs' decision lifted a huge weight off Ilunga's mind.

"It's very difficult to commit to a community or a country let alone a GAA team when you're wondering if you could be gone in a month's time.

"That fear was absolutely there. You put yourself in that position, when you're waiting on someone to decide if they're going to deport you back to Liberia or leave you here.

"I think you'd find that a very difficult situation to be in. So it really is terrific news."

Ilunga, who lives in Castletown (Finea), won an All-Ireland Vocational Schools medal with Cnoc Mhuire, Granard last year.