The detractors would suggest that our desire to pat ourselves on the back is rather embarrassing. They'd say that the need to be seen to be the good guys of Euro 2016 is even worse than the 'win, loose, we're on the booze' attitude on show in Poland four years ago. And perhaps they're correct.
Perhaps our pride in having the self appointed 'greatest fans in Europe' is embarrassing. Perhaps we do like nothing more than rolling over like the mad auld scones we are and having our bellies tickled by the big boys every few years as they promptly dispatch us with ease on the field.
Then again, perhaps it is just damn great to be Irish. Whatever about 2012, this past week has given us every reason to take pleasure in the Irish sense of humour in light of the real embarrassment that has been seen in Marseille and Lille. Some may see that as taking pleasure in being the court jesters of Europe but to those individuals we say absolutely nothing.
They're more than welcome to their cerebral thoughts and they're more than welcome to share them. The rest of us, one might even dare suggest that we're in the majority, will continue to take pleasure from the sight of Ireland fans cleaning up Bordeaux in full knowledge that yes, that's probably a small drop in the ocean compared to the amount of rubbish left on the streets of Montmartre and Pigalle over the past week.
But there is something different about Irish fans and the fact that the rest of Europe can appreciate that should say a lot. Take for example the current top thread in /r/soccer at the moment. Those Irish fans cleaning up in Bordeaux may have known right well that their actions would be shown around the continent as the antithesis of what England and Russia have been up to and if that's the case then they've definitely achieved their aim.
First up we have an England fan responding to a French fan.
A Turkish fan getting in on the love in.
One French fan looking forward to seeing more of it after we spank the Belgians on Saturday.
Understandable jealousy from our dear English brethren.
An Iceland fan giving us the greatest compliment possible.
