Culture experts have expressed delight that the ancient communication gesture of chest-butting has returned to the north Armagh area after the Donegal Armagh game in Ballybofey last weekend.

Chest-butting, which involves recipients receiving a head-butt to the chest, is an old Druid welcome still practised in parts of north Armagh and south Tyrone, once outlawed by the British in the 1500s.

Local historian, Harry Robinson, explained:

“When Forker head-chested Murphy at the weekend, he was simply welcoming the iconic Donegal footballer after his sabbatical. It’s actually the highest form of respect an Armagh person can give. It’s usually followed up with a hug which Forker was deprived of by a trigger-happy referee.”

Armagh primary schools were reporting a rise in chest-butting in the last five days and have initiated a chest-butting summer school starting in July in Caledon.