Shane Lowry, GAA stars and Paul Mescal among famous fans who ...

THERE WERE plenty of familiar faces in attendance at the Stade de France for Ireland's quarter-final defeat to New Zealand.

Paris was swarmed by thousands of Irish supporters for the showdown, but they left with disappointment as Ireland exited the World Cup once again in the last 8.

Brian Fenton shared a snap at the game Shane Lowry and his wife Wendy visited the Eiffel Tower Ciaran Kilkenny was also in attendance Tommy Bowe took this selfie at the Stade de France Hannon was cheering on the Boys in Green Paul Mescal looked forlornly as Ireland were defeated

Shane Lowry and Paul Mescal were among the famous faces at the match.

GAA stars also arrived at the French capital with Dublin's Brian Fenton and Ciaran Kilkenny sharing snaps at the game.

Tommy Bowe and Declan Hannon were also watching on as Ireland fought to a narrow end to their World Cup campaign.

Lowry and his wife Wendy flew into Paris from their home in Florida to support the Boys in Green.

Wendy took to Instagram to share romantic photos of the couple's Paris getaway.

The pair wrote their kids' and their own names on a lock to put on the famous Pont des Arts or 'Love Lock Bridge' over the Seine.

Lowry is an avid Ireland supporter and has shown his love for the Rugby World Cup already before.

The world number 32 attended Ireland's Pool B win over South Africa with Rory McIlroy three weeks ago.

The golfing duo had their celebrations recorded as Mack Hansen ran through to score Ireland's sole try during the win against the reigning world champions.

Lowry is a keen supporter of all things Ireland, and has the same management company as a number of Andy Farrell's side.

ACTING THE PART

Meanwhile, Oscar nominee Paul Mescal looked on forlornly amid Kiwi celebrations after they had triumphed 28-24 in the pulsating encounter.

Such was the intensity exhibited on the pitch by both teams that supporters watching in person as well as back home were left feeling somewhat exhausted too.

And the Kildare native looked similarly bereft as Ireland's World Cup dream once again went up in smoke at the quarter-final stages.

This may well go down as the most painful of our eight exits at the last-eight stage.

Andy Farrell's men came into the competition as deserved world number ones.

They were riding a 17-game unbeaten streak going into Saturday night's battle.

And with the other big two of South Africa and France squaring off against one another, a relatively straightforward semi-final versus Argentina awaited on the horizon.

But it wasn't to be.