sirenianshores

Nice to see Sinn Fein’s dumber cousins in Republican Sinn Fein didn’t manage to spark a riot at this weekend’s historic England Vs. Ireland rugby match, like they did last year with the loyalist march through Dublin.

I think one the of most negative aspects of sport is how it brings out the worst tribalism in people. It’s refreshing to see people rising above it and burying the past, at least on this occasion anyway.

Demonstrators fight losing battle

It was a night when Ireland put aside the past and celebrated the present and when sport provided a far more eloquent response to English oppression than the crude placards being waved outside.

After weeks of searching in Ireland that had concentrated on the historical significance of yesterday’s fixture and had largely ignored the rugby, it was ironic that national pride was to be found in remarkable 43-13 scoreline and in a display by Brian O’Driscoll’s men that was truly magnificent. England were quite simply overwhelmed.

Before the game, debate has centred on how the Croke Park crowd would react to the playing of ‘God Save The Queen’ for the first time in the stadium where the first Bloody Sunday massacre took place 87 years ago.

When the moment arrived, the England players appeared to brace themselves for the impending onslaught, linking arms and staring straight ahead at the Hogan Stand, named after the young Tipperary footballer who was one of 14 civilians killed in 1920 when the Black and Tans marched into Croke Park in the middle of a Gaelic football match to avenge the murder of British intelligence officers.

Would the anthem be drowned out by Irish boos? Would some Irish fans, as had been predicted, even turn their backs? The clue came in the calls of hush that rang round the ground as the first drum-roll began.

There was not a single dissenting voice in the 81,611 as the England supporters sang and the home fans maintained a respectful silence, followed by a hearty round of applause. The past had been laid to rest.

 

Update:
This one had me in stitches when I saw it…

‘No Crossley Tenders Beyond This Point’ - graffiti painted on a wall near Croke Park before Saturday’s match. Reported in the Observer’s coverage of the event.