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POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE congratulated the Irish rugby team for their historic series victory over New Zealand.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the 32-22 victory over the All Blacks today had given the entire nation a “huge lift”.
President Michael D Higgins said the victory was an “outstanding and historic achievement”.
The President tweeted after the match in Wellington: “As President of Ireland, may I congratulate the Irish rugby team, led by their captain Johnny Sexton, on their outstanding and historic achievement today.”
Meanwhile, Martin called it an “extraordinary, sensational and breathless victory by @IrishRugby over the All Blacks”.
“This achievement will live long in history – a first test series win, and New Zealand’s first series defeat on home soil since 1994. A huge lift for the entire nation this morning.”
Members of Ireland’s triumphant squad were pictured in tears at full-time as they savoured arguably the greatest result in their nation’s history, which also moved them top of the sport’s world rankings.
Ireland only won away to New Zealand for the first time last weekend by bouncing back from a 42-19 drubbing in the Auckland opener to triumph 23-12 in Dunedin and set up the decider.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar described it as a “historic moment for Ireland in Aotearoa”.
Similarly, Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein’s leader in Northern Ireland, said the victory was “extraordinary”.
She said: “An absolutely extraordinary performance as Ireland make history with our first-ever series victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand!”
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Congratulations to the Irish Team and all associated with them, but could the Politicians not just stick to what they have been Elected to do, instead of jumping on any Bandwagon that gives them publicity. I would agree though we do need something to give the People of this Country a lift, because this out of touch Government isn’t.
@Owen G Mc Ginley: seriously?
@Owen G Mc Ginley: Jesus give it a rest for one day. This is a journalist seeing the Taoiseach and Tanaiste tweeting well done to the Irish team in a historic victory and writing an article about it. Simple. Get over yourself
@Owen G Mc Ginley: it’s the weekend, sunny weather, Ireland win, golf on.. have a beer and chill out.
@Owen G Mc Ginley: It seems they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
@Ciaran: Are you saying it was a Journalist made the comment and not the Taoiseach.
@John Fagan: Words come cheap it’s actions that count.
@Charmaine ☘ Irish: Perfectly Chilled out as I had the Beer, enjoyed the Sun and watched the rest.
@Owen G Mc Ginley: The taoiseach made the comment, a journalist decided it was worth making a story about it. Nothing worth getting your proverbials in a twist over
@Owen G Mc Ginley: Your words are even cheaper mate.
What actions have you taken for your country? .
Drank some beer, rested in the sun, watched TV.
Gove yourself a clap.
Check yourself ffs.
Unbelievable achievement.
Congratulations to the Irish international squad and to all the behind the scene guys who are every bit as important as the players we enjoy watching.. It’s great to see history being made. Well done.
Wonder what Jeffery thinks
@Connor Coady: As Always he will Say No
Certainly a good win but why the unecessarry hyperbole ? We won a friendly against another small country (5m population) in a not very competitive sport.
@mar: Must. Not. Feed. The. Trolls. (Gah! Too late, lol!)
@mar: did it look like both teams thought it was a friendly?…… Its not soccer
@Paul Hedderman: I didn’t watch it but I guess both teams really wanted to win the match although it was just a friendly? Are you saying that this is something unique to rugby?
@mar: TEST SERIES ARE NOT FRIENDLIES PEOPLE! EDUCATE YOURSELVES PLEASE AND THANKS !
@mar: yes there is something unique about rugby. They play matches like these as if its a world cup game leaving everything on the pitch. You dont see competitiveness like that for friendlies in any other sport!…… While officially a friendly its is a mini competition between both teams to win the overall series. Strange commenting on it when you didnt watch it and have no concept of the value of the win for the players or supporters. Instead of commenting to belittle the win why not have a quick google to understand it, plenty of articles.
@mar: It was test series, not a friendly. Why make generalised comments about things you know very little about?
@Paul Mcnevin: Ah the oul soccer fan, supports an equally British sport but refuses to cross over to the oval ball side of Irish support yet still thinks they are superior to all the rugby supporters becaise they once met Roy Keane and he didn’t tell them to F off and their cousin once had trials for Coventry and didn’t even have to go to private scholl to do so. Hon Kilkenny!
@Tim Tom: did roy piss on his leg ?
@mar: I d i o t, where did you get friendly from? Seriously? Irish rugby team is now ranked number 1 in the world. Get that? No? Crawl back under your rock and think about it, maybe it will take you the rest of your life to understand.
@mar: don’t think you have any idea how inane your comment is !
You would miss Shane Ross looking for a photo opportunity!!!
@Ronnie Smith: naw not really
“Sir Peter Jackson, Sir Edmund Hillary, Ernest Rutherford, Jonah Lomu, Jean Batten, Lorde, Gollum…..we have beaten them all, we have beaten them all! Jacinda Ardern can you hear me? Jacinda Ardern… your boys took a hell of a beating! Your boys took a hell of a beating!
What a day! all Ireland’s sons and daughters rejoiced in New Zealand and Rory’s class tells me today was a ‘great day’ so it will and should be long in the memory. Have a wonderful weekend all. Sunshine
When will you get it right. This is not IRL
Nothing in there branding refers to the nation or island
Did roy piss on his leg ?
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