A Touch Of Class… From The Fans & The Irish Team

THE HANGOVER is just about lifting and I can handle daylight again, but hell it was worth it. There are many many reasons I’m normally proud to be Irish, but last night was an unexpected one. I refer of course to the massively historic rugby match between Ireland and England, for the first time ever at Croke Park, the site of Bloody Sunday massacre in 1920. Dammit, the last time I got caught up in a sporting event so much was probably when Ireland had that amazing run in the World Cup back in 1990.

Still, last night was special. I was proud to be Irish for three main reasons. Firstly, the greeting that the home crowd gave the English team when they ran out on the pitch; it was generous, respectful and most of all ‘sporting’ considering the history, the occasion and the location most of all. But even then I was holding my breath, along with most of the nation, waiting for the inevitable “God Save The Queen” anthem to be played in such hallowed grounds for the first time ever. You could have heard a pin drop in the stadium as the country held it’s collective breath while the band struck up that tune…

It could have gone either way; it could have been ugly, but it wasn’t. The reaction from the 82000+ fans in the stadium was bloody marvelous, both Irish and English. However the focus was always going to be on the Irish fans as the English anthem was to be played, but they did themselves and the country proud. They stayed quiet; the held their peace and let the English fans sing aloud.

It was momentus. It was a sign of respect for the opposing team and the occasion, but most of all it was a sign that we have grown up, moved on, outlived the past and it showed that there is hope for the future. Hell when both Irish anthems were played I nearly wept, as did most of the players on the pitch because the thunderous applause when the lads ran out to the field and the cacophony which accompanied them from the stands during the anthems was truely unique.

So then – proud because we held it all in check; proud because we have proven we can deal with the past and hope for the future. But most of all, dammit I was proud of the performance the Irish team gave on the pitch. They played their hearts out and fought for every single solitary inch of ground; every ball, every time. It was gruelling for the English and the they just couldn’t keep the pace or defend against the onslaught.

The final scoreline was appropriate; 43-13 to Ireland and I believe the first time in 60 years that we have defeated England by such a margin. It was a hell of an occasion and a great result, but most of all it was a great sporting event and one which will go down in the history books as the almost perfect game and result, not to mention setting.

Historic? Hell yeah.

G’wan the lads!!