Ipswich Town fans celebrate in Co Fermanagh as Kieran McKenna leads club back to Premier League

The Suffolk club returned to the top division after 22 years after beating Huddersfield 2-0 to secure promotion.

Fans ran on to the pitch at Portman Road at the final whistle.

Members of McKenna’s family watched from the stands as Premiership football was secured.

Photographs from the Manor House Country Hotel near Enniskillen showed fans celebrating the club's win - days after the hotel promised it would turn “blue and white this weekend” in honour of the club.

McKenna’s family previously moved from London after buying the hotel and turned it into an award-winning venue.

The hotel’s Facebook page also promised followers that anyone wearing an Ipswich jersey will get a free pint.

After the match McKenna paid tribute to the support from his wife and two children.

“I’ve had incredible support from my wife - over 21 years now – and my commitment and sacrifice that I have to make for the job, she supports wonderfully,” he said.

"I’m so grateful to her and my kids here and my parents and brothers and sisters – it’s wonderful to share it with them.”

It is back-to-back promotions for Ipswich, who were mid-table in the third tier of English football when McKenna took over in 2021.

He added: “It means a lot, seeing how much it means to everyone – to the players, to the supporters – is great.

"To be one of the leaders of that is absolutely massive.

"It’s a wonderful day. I’m very, very proud for everyone involved.”

On being a Premier League manager, McKenna told Sky Sports: “It’s going to be a great challenge.

"There is of course a lot of work to do within the football club and that will start in a couple of days’ time – we’ll enjoy this first.

"But for me on a personal level it’s a great challenge and one I’m looking forward to.”

McKenna added: “We’ll enjoy it, we’ll celebrate properly. It’s a mixture of relief really for everyone else because we’d come so close and this doesn’t come around every season.

"We really wanted to finish it off so there’s relief, there’s pride and of course there’s elation.”

Ipswich were relegated from the top flight in 2002.

They won promotion to the Championship last season, and are now heading to the top division.

Needing just a point against relegated Huddersfield to secure promotion today, Ipswich took the lead in the 27th minute through Wes Burns.

Omari Hutchinson then made it 2-0 early in the second half.

There were joyous scenes inside and outside Portman Road as promotion was sealed.