18 May 2002
Yes, I know we can take issue with the song title, and with good reason: the good times are already here. Welcome to May 2002: the Celtic Tiger, baby! Like a neverending ‘Maniac 2000’, Ireland is still on one almighty buzz. The global shock of 9/11 has eased, and besides, Ireland is too far away and stable to be affected by any momentous events in the New York financial district. Housing is a national success story; you can now build your own home, use a second mortgage to pay for another new-build house, and also invest in an overseas apartment right off the plans. The Irish economy is reaping the rewards from generous banks and innovative corporate tax, showing the so-called ‘experts’ that you can indeed combine giveaway fiscal policies with the reassurance of ever-vigilant financial regulators and a sound, reliable banking sector. The good times are here – to stay!
So, embodying this optimism, Ireland have qualified for the World Cup again—our third time in four tournaments—and Irish fans now have the funds to follow the Boys in Green to Japan and Korea. True, qualifying had been a bit hairy, especially with our captain and talisman Roy Keane being frosty towards manager Mick McCarthy. But they parked their differences and soldiered through a whole qualifying campaign together, so a few more weeks won’t kill them. The trip to a regressive, undemocratic Middle Eastern fiefdom for a playoff was a formality and, thankfully, not likely to happen too often in future World Cup football. Onwards east!
As for the team song, Christy Dignam returned to sing it: a cover of an Irish indie hit, because we now realise that Irish songs, and Irish everything, are the best in the world. ‘Here Come The Good Times’ was already a bouncy, feel-good glam rock throwback, and only a total killjoy would point out its clumsy new football-adjacent lyrics. After all, “olé olé olé!” is in our quaint, innocent past; Ireland is a more modern and sophisticated place now. Positivity abounds: the official team song even includes Eamon Dunphy, now taken to the national bosom as a beloved broadcaster, with a suitable encomium on Keano, our one world-class player, the only squad member featured in the lyrics, and a sure-fire star of Japan-Korea 2002. Keano!
As I write this here in May 2002, the Irish team are at Dublin Airport, swarmed by good-natured well-wishers and breakfast radio DJs playing them novelty football songs for everyone’s shared enjoyment. The buzz is still at ‘Maniac 2000’ levels. Come on Ireland! Our team have a long, arduous trip ahead, but can at least look forward to a well-deserved pre-tournament rest and recuperation break on a holiday island in the Pacific. Then it’s onwards to the World Cup: perchance to dream of quarter-finals or even the semis. I have a good feeling about this.
Irish Number Ones 