Our hearts swelled as Sam Bennett cried when he became the first Irish cyclist in 30 years to lead a Tour de France classification.
For a small nation we’ve always punched above our weight, whether it’s on the pitch, the stage or the big screen.
Sam’s tears of joy were just what we needed amid Covid misery – so here are some more iconic moments that lifted the nation’s spirits.
Italia 90
Summer, 1990
Who will ever forget when we made the finals of the World Cup and excitement reached fever pitch?
From Packie Bonner’s miracle save against Romania to Jack Charlton on the open top bus, it was a golden era for Irish football.
Shane Lowry wins The Open
July 21, 2019
Shane Lowry achieved a lifelong dream after holding his nerve in a battle with Tommy Fleetwood.
With the Open returning to Ireland for the first time since 1951, it was fitting the Offaly man should lift the Claret Jug.
Katie Taylor’s Olympic gold
August 9, 2012
The Bray champ capped off her domination of women’s lightweight boxing by taking Olympic gold after a series of nail-biting bouts.
There wasn’t a tap of work done in Ireland as she faced Sofya Ochigava in the final and after a close fight she was the champ.
Pope John Paul II
September 19 – October 1, 1979
The three-day visit was the first trip to Ireland by a Pope and one of his first foreign journeys. In all, more than 2.5 million people attended events.
The highlight was his celebration of Mass at the Phoenix Park for 1,250,000 people – one third of the Irish population.
Obama’s visit to Moneygall
May 23, 2011
US president Barack Obama traced his heritage in Moneygall, Co Offaly. He was welcomed by 5,000 people and distant cousin Henry Healy.
A motorway pitstop plaza was named after the visit.
Ireland beat England at Croke Park
February 22, 2007
Ireland gave England a lesson in how to play rugby with the home team recording a 43-13 win in their historic Croke Park clash.
For the first time, the Six Nations game took place at GAA HQ, where 14 civilians were killed by British Forces in 1920.
Same-sex marriage referendum
May 22, 2015
A watershed moment and led to the 34th amendment of the constitution on August 29 of that year, paving the way for The Marriage Act 2015.
Ireland made headlines around the world as the first State to legalise same-sex marriage through a popular vote.
The Queen ‘as Gaeilge’
May 17–20, 2011
The Queen’s State visit was a landmark, but her decision to address a dinner in our native tongue stole the show.
She may have stumbled phonetically over her greeting as Gaeilge, but it still went down a treat with her audience at Dublin Castle.
The Special Olympics
June 21-29, 2003
The event was hosted outside the US for the first time and Irish people opened homes and hearts to athletes.
The Croke Park opening ceremony, where Nelson Mandela and U2 took the stage, was broadcast worldwide.
Riverdance
April 30, 1994
Nobody knew what was coming when Michael Flatley and Jean Butler exploded on to the stage at the Point Theatre.
The unforgettable interval performance at the Eurovision left hosts Gerry Ryan and Cynthia Ni Mhurchu speechless and the audience in raptures.
