For the thousands of Irish who stormed the Capitol last Wednesday politics wasn’t the only thing in the air, reports GEORGINA BRENNAN.

THE last bus to leave Washington, D.C., New York 8, was rife with stories of how the day had gone outside the political realm. Some stories were more hilarious than others.

“I told one guy to get on a bus that was departing early, right after the rally,” reported organizer Chris Stynes. “He said he couldn’t leave, he was looking for a girl he had met on the bus earlier. He was hoping to get a date.”

The fella was seen dragging himself onto the late bus, alone and dejected after losing the girl and her number.

Inside ILIR headquarters at the Holiday Inn, Micheal Corridan was rounding up the stragglers. “There were three Irish fellas in the bar sitting with three gorgeous looking lawyers. The three lads were really enjoying themselves,” he said.

“But I had to tell them that the last bus was leaving. All you could hear from them was, ‘We know ye don’t work in the Congress, but ye are lawyers who must know someone who knows someone who can help us.’”

Corridan was laughing when he approached them to get a move on. One of the lads admitted he had more than romance on his mind when he was talking to the lawyers.

“Those girls are real good looking, but it’s politics I came here for,” he said as they bid their goodbyes to the ladies.

In the Dubliner Bar not far from the Capitol, a delegation of young Irish undocumented were dispatched to talk to a politician at the bar.

“Several of our group were told that we were lobbying in the wrong place when we were in the Capitol buildings. They said all the congressmen were in the Dubliner. So we thought it would be a good idea to get there,” reported Padraig Reidy.

Once there, the group of four were quick to flaunt their t-shirts, wisely choosing the best looking ILIR lady to casually walk past a group of suited men.

“Of course they asked her what she was up to, so she told them. They were a bit iffy talking to her first, but they came around,” reported Reidy.

“The biggest thing with them was that they hadn’t known there was an Irish element to all of this. But we filled them in. They said we were the kind of people who they wanted in America. We shouldn’t have any problem, they said.”

As bus driver Mickey loaded up the last bus, even she admitted it had been a good day’s campaigning.

“You all look like you had so much fun,” she said as she weaved the 54-seater bus through rush hour D.C. traffic.

And fun was the word of the day. “I’m so proud to be Irish today,” reported Clare native Brenda Casey.

As the team leaders broke into song, and stories were shared along the New Jersey Turnpike, the consensus was a job well done.

“We made it our own day and we did it our way,” said Dwayne Lacey.

Tom Woodlock and his wife traveled down independently to the rally and were stunned to see the crowds. “It was a great day, a bit crazy when we arrived with hundreds of people crammed into the Holiday Inn trying to register, but we had a fantastic day. Congress was happy to see us,” Woodlock said.

Margaret Tully said the best part of her day was meeting a fella she hadn’t seen in years. “I always fancied him, and didn’t he turn up in the room where we started the lobby day from. I saw him across the room and I just took the bull by the horns,” she laughed.

He had moved away from Queens, she said, and they had lost touch, but after Wednesday they had hit it off with a kiss at the end of the day and were meeting again on St. Patrick’s Day. It was a kiss she had been waiting a long time for.

Long lost friends have been reuniting through ILIR ever since the group’s first meeting in New York City before Christmas.

“I met a girl I hadn’t seen in 16 years,” said Samantha Melia.

People who everyone had thought were gone or died were spotted in Washington. “Seeing everyone come together really warms my heart,” said Lynne Von Hagen, who lives in the Bronx.

“It’s so nice to see everybody out again. They were all staying inside. It has been great for the community.”

Community was very much on people’s minds as they settled into the next phase of the ILIR movement — keeping the momentum going.

New York GAA fundraising chair for ILIR Joan Henchy has already made phone calls to reps for Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson to ask them to tend bar for the cause.

“I would like to see us raising more money, because there is so much to be done,” she said.

Henchy joined hundreds of ILIR organizers and members as they appeared on television promoting the fight. This past Sunday CBS News had a camera and reporters at Mass in St. Barnabas and then followed the crowd for Sunday dinner to the Irish Coffee Shop on McLean.

Interviewing undocumented and documented alike, the network will be airing a feature in the coming days that tells the ILIR story.

At four in the afternoon, ILIR was busy again in Behan’s, where they held a meeting to rally support for the March 16 John Duddy boxing match, St. Patrick’s Day and the March 19 Pearl River parade.

On hand to film the event was Bronx 12 news. The message was loud and clear, wear your t-shirt at every possible occasion.

“I’m going to wear my t-shirt to bed until I get the green card, and whenever ye want me to wear it, wrinkled and all,” said Aiden, an undocumented Irish man living in Woodlawn.

Announcing that a bus would run from Woodlawn if there were enough people to go and march in the Pearl River parade, organizer Mary Brennan appealed to everyone to make this St. Patrick’s Day one to remember.

“This St Patrick’s Day give us green cards, not green beer,” she shouted to loud applause and stomping.

Little 4-year-old Brian Byrne was busy holding up a sign for the camera. “Legalize the Irish” he waved as the camera zoomed in on his blue eyes and red hair. He winked then and the crowd laughed.

“If you are going to the Duddy fight wear your ‘Legalize the Irish’ t-shirt and on St. Patrick’s Day, wear your t-shirt again. We will be watching the parade from across the way from the official reviewing stand at 64th Street and Fifth Avenue if you want to join us at 10 a.m.,” Mary said as the camera panned the room and cheers erupted.

T-shirts are still being sold in Behan’s on Katonah Avenue and are available to anyone by calling ILIR for more information.

Much work has still to be done for the Irish fight for green cards. Organizers say pay close attention to neighborhood posters, the Irish Voice, announcements in the local businesses and most of all, don’t stop calling senators and congressman, even if it’s just to wish them the compliments of the season.

And tell them not to forget the Irish undocumented this St. Patrick’s Day.