I don't know what people think of Riverdance nowadays but I distinctly remember at the time how ground-breaking it was. When Flatley came bounding across the stage with his arms lifted up and not welded to his sides I knew immediately that this was a radical departure from traditional Irish dance and was going to be something special.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0v_pu6miJ8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0v_pu6miJ8)
This was before the Euro, the property bubble and the banking shenanigans. I remember there being a positive atmosphere about the place, it was a country on the up, leaving behind the poverty of the past. Riverdance captured the spirit of that time beautifully.
There have been other positive moments in the national mindset too. Free from the usual cynicism and begrudgery, it's nice when something positive happens and people can celebrate something.
During the World Cup I was looking back at old YouTube clips from Italia 90, and the "nation holds its breath" moment in the Ireland v Romania match really jumped out at me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0LR0fmN3gM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0LR0fmN3gM)
Others include the Croke Park fireworks of 2009, an underrated cultural moment in my opinion - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLRS8w5ehfk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLRS8w5ehfk)
Any others you can think of?
You not think that Flatley came strutting across the stage like a big rooster?? It was unreal though. That ballbag Wogan ruined it at the end though.
Wogan thought his job was to mock the whole proceedings. Playing to the Little Englander mentality. "Let's make fun of Johnny Foreigner, what what?"
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on August 11, 2018, 12:39:38 AM
Wogan thought his job was to mock the whole proceedings. Playing to the Little Englander mentality. "Let's make fun of Johnny Foreigner, what what?"
MOPE?
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on August 11, 2018, 12:39:38 AM
Wogan thought his job was to mock the whole proceedings. Playing to the Little Englander mentality. "Let's make fun of Johnny Foreigner, what what?"
In fairness, I think that whole 'Johnny Foreigner' thing from Wogan was a complete piss take. Like something Viz Comin would have done.
Quote from: michaelg on August 11, 2018, 01:02:31 AM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on August 11, 2018, 12:39:38 AM
Wogan thought his job was to mock the whole proceedings. Playing to the Little Englander mentality. "Let's make fun of Johnny Foreigner, what what?"
MOPE?
Hmm?
Quote from: Dougal Maguire on August 11, 2018, 01:17:17 AM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on August 11, 2018, 12:39:38 AM
Wogan thought his job was to mock the whole proceedings. Playing to the Little Englander mentality. "Let's make fun of Johnny Foreigner, what what?"
In fairness, I think that whole 'Johnny Foreigner' thing from Wogan was a complete piss take. Like something Viz Comin would have done.
Of course it was. It's a piss-take that plays well in England.
The Good Friday Agreement
Rugby in Croke Park
QE2 ag labhairt Gaeilge
Quote from: seafoid on August 11, 2018, 07:23:44 AM
The Good Friday Agreement
Rugby in Croke Park
QE2 ag labhairt Gaeilge
That was definitely a big one. When the result was called out it felt like the official end of the Troubles.