Sporting glory banishes blues in parallel universe
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In Cardiff Airport yesterday, one brazen Irish rugby supporter faced a complication at check-in. He sought to bring one of the corner-flags from the Millennium Stadium on board his flight as hand luggage. The ground-staff insisted that this rather conspicuous memento, thieved in the fevered celebrations of Ireland's first Grand Slam triumph since 1948, needed to be checked in.
"Okay," the supporter finally relented. "But can you mark it 'fragile'?"
And they did.
Enterprise, they say, thrives in periods of recession, and here was proof. Perhaps the flag will be kept for personal nostalgia, but there's little doubt it would have its pursuers on eBay. In fact, given Ireland's historical difficulties in winning Slams, even the flimsiest remnants from Saturday's primal showdown in Cardiff may, in time, find an enthusiastic market.
There wasn't much evidence of fiscal crisis in the Welsh capital. Mary Street was over-run by Irish and Welsh revellers on Saturday night, queuing side by side to get inside bars and clubs already so thronged it seemed small wonder anyone could jimmy the wallets from their pockets.
The perpetual gloom of the news bulletins at home was suspended as sport took us somewhere that brought to mind Oscar Wilde's observation: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
The President and the Taoiseach were both in Cardiff, drinking deep the glory of a team now set to dominate the Lions selection for this summer's tour of South Africa. Hard times these may be, but our sporting pedigree has never glowed brighter.
The rugby victory was followed hours later by an extraordinary world title triumph in the boxing ring for Neilstown's Bernard Dunne against the highly-rated champion, Ricardo Cordoba of Panama. Coming so soon after Ruby Walsh's dominance of the marquee races at Cheltenham, and a week before Giovanni Trapattoni's prospering Irish team resumes its World Cup Qualifier campaign against Bulgaria in Croke Park, the sense of this country existing in two parallel worlds was compelling.
Just as readily as we expect George Lee to ratchet up the misery on 'Morning Ireland', we blithely anticipate only good news in the worlds of Padraig Harrington and the young sensation, Rory McIlroy.
Harrington gave a speech to Declan Kidney's squad in Enfield before Christmas that Paul O'Connell recalled as "fairly inspirational" on Saturday night. "I think a bit of an atmosphere built from that meeting," said O'Connell, now set to go head-to-head with Brian O'Driscoll for the Lions captaincy.
Under the sweet press of history, there was a pointed dignity to the Irish players that threw an unflattering light on the pre-match musings of their former coach, Warren Gatland. The current Welsh boss seemed intent on introducing needle to the contest, suggesting that Wales disliked the Irish most of all their Six Nations' rivals.
He then insulted Kidney's measured diplomacy at press conferences, observing that he might, in future, "take a leaf" out of the Corkman's book by spouting "cliches and saying nothing".
Gatland lost his job to Eddie O'Sullivan after an abysmal autumn series in 2001 and, whilst winning the Heineken Cup with Wasps and a Grand Slam with Wales, the feeling persists that he still has issues with the IRFU. Typically, Kidney ignored the fuss, taking every opportunity to praise the management team of Wales.
He faced a daunting challenge replacing O'Sullivan, who delivered three Triple Crowns in four seasons. Only the Holy Grail of a Grand Slam could honestly constitute success. And now, in his first season, he has delivered it.
The victory marked an astonishing campaign for Ireland's big-name players, none more so than O'Driscoll, a scorer of tries in four of the five games. Considered by many to have been on the wane entering the Championship, and with many observers advising Kidney to relieve him of the captaincy, O'Driscoll re-emerged as a colossus in this Six Nations.
Among those in the Cardiff crowd was the legendary Jackie Kyle, out-half on the team of '48. Back then, Wales too provided the final hurdle, Ireland prevailing 6-3 at a packed Ravenhill. For their feat, the Irish players got crests from the IRFU to be stitched onto blazers they had to purchase.
There was no great ceremony beyond a formal dinner that night on Donegall Avenue, after which the players essentially went their own way. Two of the heroes, Paddy Reid and try-scorer John Christopher Daly, absconded into the despised paid ranks of rugby league. The Slam of '48 passed into history with a murmur.
Times are different now.
Yesterday, Ronan O'Gara and Co were feted in the Mansion House and every last molecule of their Slam will be coveted and honoured. There will be books, DVDs, 'Late Late Show' appearances and heaven knows how many different tribute nights. There will be Lions places and for some, yes, even fresh commercial endorsements.
In bad times, you see, sport is the perfect fire-escape. Now form an orderly line folks . . .
vhogan@independent.ie
- Vincent Hogan
