Somebody called it a transcendent night. Robbie Brady said it felt like “an out-of-body experience”. How true, how true. As surely as the shot which killed Archduke Ferdinand reverberated around the world, the goal that Brady scored last night sent Irish fans all over the world into a blender-mix of screaming, hugging, glorious euphoria. . I texted my son in New York:”YEEEOOOO!!!” I told him. His reply: “Whoooooooo!!!”
It’s not often life provides us with moments like this, when it all works out the way it used to in the movies. And wasn’t it fitting that Ireland’s two most skillful players, Wes Hoolahan and Robbie Brady, served up that sweet kick-the-cat and bawl-out-the-window moment.
Phewwww. I’m exhausted after that, even with a night’s sleep in between. What is it about soccer/football that it sends grown men into fits of weeping, sometimes in bitter disappointment, sometimes in helpless delight? After all, it’s only a weird 90-minute ceremony that involves 22 men chasing a ball around a field. If our team loses, we groan. If our team wins, we throw our hands in the air and use rude, profane ecstatic words. It can’t make sense, can it?
Thinking about last night in the cooler light of morning, I think it’s something to do with art. Most of us are bored stiff by the artistry of ballet, but most of us can revel in the beauty of a well-weighted pass, the elegance of a body-swerve, the thumping finality of a volley into the net. All of us can appreciate beauty, and last night provided rough-hewn Irish beauty at its best.
Several players last night, including James McClean, spoke of their pride in their country, a pride shared with the thousands of fans. They felt they’d rendered the country some service and indeed they had. It reminded me of my teen years interned in St Columb’s in Derry, when teachers would sometimes speak of the number of people who seemed keen on dying for Ireland, whereas few showed enthusiasm to live for Ireland. Suppose that passionate effort on the field could be translated into life off the field; if the selflessness and total commitment to the cause of Ireland could be given form and expression in real life?
I suppose what I’m trying to say is that yes, football/soccer justifies itself, in its moments of sublime skill and heroic endurance. But it also could be seen as distracting us from the real business of working for, giving our all to Ireland in constructive ways that would have meaning in the lives of Irish people now and in time to come. So here’s my heretical question: when all’s said and done, is football/soccer a gigantic red herring, deliciously tasty, but one that turns our attention from truly important matters? The Romans had bread and circuses to keep the masses happy. Is football/soccer our opiate?
All the same, it was bloody wonderful, wasn’t it?
It was a great night.
Realistically the first round only weeded out a handful of teams,but nevertheless it is very nice to see both teams get through.
I have reservations about Roy Keane’s influence on the team but even so they deserved to win on the night.
On the wider point,I wonder if I am alone in not really wanting to give my all for Ireland? I like being Irish and I would like to see a United Ireland before I die,but objectively it is just a bunch of people living in proximity.
Nothing special about us and we are simply part of the human race.
I would give my all for my family yes, (the selfish gene and all that) but who here apart from jessica would honestly give their life for Ireland?
That is not a rhetorical question,I would genuinely be interested to know.
RTFB, gio. My point was about living for Ireland, not dying…
Jude
I didn’t mention dying for Ireland. RTFB yourself.
“who here apart from jessica would honestly give their life for Ireland?”
Jude
Of course that could be either dying for Ireland or dedicating ones life to the cause.
What did you mean by giving ones all? It sounds like a big commitment whatever it means.
I would suggest most people will give their vote but not go much beyond that.
So I am asking the question,who is prepared to give their life,or their all for Ireland?
I am genuinely curious as to what that would mean.
Don’t answer if you don’t want to, but no need to be rude!
Four Derry men lived for the team, represented a country and felt proud to do so last night. As a Derry man I feel proud of them and proud that sport can transcend borders. Given that all of Ireland made it through, can we not now have the vision to realize that we’d be a strong unit together? Politically, economically, socially.
I’m confused by what giving your all for Ireland means Jude.
Giving your all to support the ROI or NI state and there governments?
Giving your all to advance the cause of a United Ireland?
Giving your all to simply help make this island a better place to live regardless of whether you live in NI or ROI or what your political persuasion is?
I’m more inclined to support the third one there. It’s hard to define what giving your all for Ireland as we have multiple views on what Ireland is and how it should be.
I’m sure some dissedents claim to be giving there all for Ireland but I’m sure we can all agree that there’s is a warped view that carrys little support.
Giving out all for Ireland opens up fresh questions.
What is does this Ireland your willing to give your all for look like?
What extent does giving your all go to?
On the football side of things well done ROI. They certainly know how to win in a dramatic fashion and were definitely deserved winners. Not a football man myself but I’m enjoying the craic.
Good comments, Scott. For different people commitment to the welfare of Ireland will mean different things. That’s a discussion for another day. I just wondered if that same passion/delight we saw last night – and when the NI team won – could be transferred to areas to make real improvement. Chasing a ball is great fun but it is only fun. What if we were as passionate about our country’s welfare? Ask not what your country can do for you, etc….
Yes I understand that if that passion for a nations sporting success could be transferred into proactive improvement, to a nations welfare we could do great things.
Small things could be done to improve this place we all call home, that would be acceptable to all people no matter the political persuasion.
Engaging in civic society, volunteering to clean up your local area, help the elderly, help coach a youth sports team etc etc.
A combination of these small ripples of civic duty could lead to a tidal wave of improvements.
All to often people expect it to be governments duty to deal with everything and don’t accept there duty as citizens to improve there society.
Sadly many people have inward looking views and are only interest in there personal welfare.
JFK had it right a mass movement of people working tirelessly to the improvement of there society would move mountains.
Is football/soccer our opiate? I would prefer to have thousands of people dependent on the opiate of football/soccer accompanied by the disappearance of illegal drugs from the streets. Players and supporters have distinguished themselves and are currently being lauded as ambassadors in France as Irish eyes smile throughout the world. We certainly need more days like this.
“Qui vivra verra”
“Time will tell.”
Is the Belfast fanzone open for Ireland(ROI) games?
It is Sammy as far as I’m aware.
I think there have been a few wars resulting from football matches – seems as good as a reason as any for a good National troid – certainly better that the last few the West have started.
I was wondering how many football fans will rise to vote today or will they not care or be in a position to even think about it . Some things surely can’t be more important than soccer/football ?
or be in a position to even think about it……………..lot of people be dying with the drink after last night even to think of voting,i had 4pints myself there to get straightened up.
Supporting the NI football team regardless of whether its just spot is making a political statement whether one likes it or not. The team is a sporting bi-product of a sectarian founded state and and all that it entails.
Are we trying to move to an age of letsallgetalongtogether to ensure partition is maintained, a softer face of unionism?
There can be only one Ireland team, as there is only one Ireland!
The football is a perfect analogy of what is wrong with the northern state. Just as North and South are better uniting for the betterment of all its citizens, the football team should unite to pool be the best talent that both current states have to offer!
Could an all Ireland team be world class?
Could an united Ireland be world class?
I think sport can have a positive impact. If we look at the structures of the GAA you can see they clearly add value to the local community life. I’m sure that the soccer must have some sort of positive impact also. For example their must be anti drugs messages at underage etc.
should they shut their drinking clubs in the anti drugs messages as an example.
That’s a good point Billy. But from a practical point of view Im sure the profits from the bars pay for the coaches expenses etc. at underage.
Our name, Esteemed Blogmeister, was on the cup from Day One.
Any doubting Thomas still out there – if any – need only inquire of one, John Delaney, to dispel any last remaining droplet of dubiousness. Delaney, of course, is the Big Kahuna of the F.A.I.
For the official name of the UEFA European Championship Cup is (mon Dieu !):
– Le Trophee Henri Delaunay.
M. Delaunay was a referee in Paris in the early part of the 20th century. His promising career as a referee, alas, was curtailed when he swallowed his whistle and had two front teeth broken after getting whacked smack-on in le visage by a heavy, wet, laced-up leather ball.
He swopped le strip noir of l’arbitre for the grey duds of the legislateur du football. The rest is l’hysteria.
With one hand already on the cup, along with our name, there is, n’est pas, a certain Thierry-like eeriness about Eire’s destiny
Wonderful to see the free state team and the six county side qualify for the next stage, I am happy for my Unionist friends and neighbours in the north. I am not as irritated by them as I used to be, GFA and all that. But how confusing for foreigners, both teams are called Ireland, both are managed by M. O`Neill, the `southern` team has Derry men in it, while Derry is supposed to be part of the northern state.
The real ‘bread and circuses’ are the ones the UK population are going to today.
A mass ‘Distraction’ for the sheeple, whilst they are ‘plundered’.
The real question is:
‘Who are the clowns’???
arch-Prod – basher, hah!!!
I think the reason why countless Irish fans were crying their hearts out yesterday was because of deep frustration, the release of tension and because of victory. It was a David vs Goliath game and David triumphed.
My nerves started “tingling” at 12am, 20 hours BEFORE the game even started. When the game actually started I was literally restless, I was either constantly talking to relatives who were watching the game with me or tweeting on twitter with others, I couldn’t even finish the meal I was eating. I was on the verge of throwing the remote at the TV with that bloody referee refusing to give a penalty to James McClean (the same happened in the Belgium came, which could’ve changed the out come of the game dramatically). Then with Hendrick coming so close to scoring with that shot outside the box. Then Wes Hoolahan’s complete mess up which should’ve been a certain goal, indeed I was so frustrated by Hoolahan that I would’ve strangled him after he missed that chance if he was in the same room as me lol And then, of course Brady’s goal (set up by Hoolahan, so he redeemed himself) caused massive delight. And then the yarning for the clock to speed up and the final whistle to blow.
This torrent of different feelings is euphoria to soccer fans, especially in International tournaments. That is why soccer is the most popular sport in the World. Its one of those mysteries that a sport that is often boring and slow is the most popular in the World. As I explained to one person, maybe soccer is the most popular sport because we wait in longing for that goal and when/if it finally comes (like it did last night) it is precious, it is just brilliant. Rugby is the same, that desperate feeling when the Irish team is just inches from getting a Try but they just cant get it yet but then finally do, its magic.
I think what also has Irish fans very happy is because of what happened at the Euros in 2012. We have done far better than before and credit has to be given to two people who have done far more than most and that is Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane. It was Roy Keanes demands for aggressive play from the Irish players that made us dominate large parts of the game.
Of course the opposition was a major reason why this victory was so brilliant. Just one look at Italy’s trophy cabinet tells you all you need to know about them, they are masters of soccer and we triumphed over them and that is very rare indeed. If the game last night was against Turkey or the Czech Republic, would we have celebrated as much? I don’t think so.
I love Soccer, Rugby, Gaelic football, etc But I’m not really interested in supporting teams like Manchester United, Celtic , etc I’m only interested in international tournaments, really. When it comes to countries playing against each other it really is no longer a game, its personal, and THAT is why yesterday was such a great day.
It makes me smile to see grown men like myself act like wee boys again for an hour or two and with all the travails in this world that’s no bad thing.