Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Sat 09 Sep 2007Croke Park spring yields to bitter autumnSideline Cut:Where have you all gone? There were 80,000 of you gathered on a damp, frozen afternoon last February to proclaim your passion for Ireland and the national rugby team. Remember that? England came to Croke Park for that unforgettable day when tough men were permitted to belt out the Soldier's Song with a tear in their eye; when an Irish crowd applauded the pristine, white shirts of England onto the field in Croke Park and felt great about it. Those of you who were lucky enough to have tickets stood to attention for the brassy rendition of God Save the Queen and felt like ambassadors for the rest of the country. You cried with pride.It was one of those rare days when a sporting fixture stilled the country. By God, Croke Park had never known passion like that, you told your friends afterwards. The GAA chaps were moved and delighted.