We don't want to cast any aspersions on the ability of the Irish nation to go the extra mile when it comes to drinking alcohol regardless of the hour. But here is a collection of Irish successes that occurred at times when it was perhaps more difficult to arrange a celebratory session than normal.
Ireland-Australia 2011
A dodgy one here given that Ireland given that it was a Saturday. It may well be the case that people continued on drinking from the previous night, carrying all the way to kick-off at 9.30 and then well beyond. You would have been in some state though.
Some of us had the pleasure of having Jehovah's Witness people knock on the door with 15 minutes left. They asked me who ran the world. I muttered something about 'America' to which they laughed (that was obviously a ludicrous answer) and then asked could they come back when the match was over. They left their remarkably persuasive literature with me.
Ronnie Delaney in Melbourne 1956
Our target demographic being what it is, most of our readers were probably not of drinking age, or indeed of living age, in 1956 but those of who were would have had to wait a few hours to get stuck into the gargle following this famous win.
Back in them days, the 1500 (or the mile) was the showpiece track event the way the 100m is now. Ronnie was the Usain Bolt of the mid-50s.
Eddie Irvine winning the Australian Grand Prix, 1999
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs6PvP5UpH4
Those rare people inclined to celebrate the hell out of Irish victories in the Formula One may remember Eddie's victory in the opening Grand Prix of the 1999 season. We thought it was just an aberration before Ferrari insisted that he let Michael wining again but Schumacher's injury left the path open for Eddie to compete like hell for the title.
Ireland v Argentina, 2003
The day Alan Quinlan dislocated his shoulder in the act of scoring the winning try.
Again, the Rugby World Cup organisers demonstrate their compassion towards drinkers on the other side of the world by scheduling games at the weekend.
But that match was on damn early though.
Ireland v England, 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk883YGJBD8
Fintan O'Toole tells a story about being in a pub in Clare watching Ireland-England in Stuttgart in '88. It was just him and a Dub in the pub watching the game at the start. Then word got out that Ireland were winning and farmers from the surrounding area started filling in and by the end the place was jammers.
Something similar happened when Ireland beat England in the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
Except this time it wasn't a pub in the Burren that people stepped into, but internet cafes where they could catch the last 10 overs on Front Row Sports or one of those equally reputable sites.
Sonia in Sydney 2000
It could have been gold but no matter. After the harrowing event of four years earlier, Sonia O'Sullivan showed superb mental strength to battle back and win a silver in Sydney. If you're like me, you only heard about it from classmates whose teachers were sound enough to bring a telly to the class.
Our school was not enlightened enough to allow students drink alcohol in class either.
International Rules wins - 1986, 1990, 1999, 2001, 2011
Ireland have a decent away record in the compromised rules series (unfortunately this is something they share with Australia) so they have tasted victory in the series down-under on many occasions.
The competition or 'sport' is fairly unloved so the constituency of people who would be moved to celebrate a win with a feed of pints is fairly small. Even if it was on at a reasonable hour.
Read the great story of the Meath team who travelled down to Australia and beat everyone in sight back when the series hadn't yet begun.
Ireland v Germany 2002
No doubt many will claim the pubs were jammed in the hours after Ireland's draw with Germany. We're sure some of you were indeed skulling pints during this win.
But it is nonetheless true too say that many folk had to go back to work afterwards and thus would have to have sacrificed the alcohol for at least a few hours.
These people are still among the fortunate ones though.
We've all heard horror stories about people doing the Leaving Cert.
Ireland v Saudi Arabia, 2002
The Saudi Arabians could not be confused with world-beaters but there was pressure on Ireland going into this one. They had to be two goals to ensure qualification. It was a pleasure to see them get the job done. Actual victories in these summer jamborees are rare enough. This was our third and thus far last.
Again, Mammies and Daddies would have had to go back to work. The Leaving wasn't put back either.
Conor McGregor v Chad Mendes (UFC189)
*Unless ye were still drinking...
An asterisk has to be placed beside this one given that many people are still filing out of late bars at 5.30am. I would be hard to find another drink at that time to celebrate the triumph.
With reservations, we add this to the compilation.
See also: The 7 Biggest Heartbreaks In The History Of Irish Sport
