An Olympic Games that looked like yielding nothing but recriminations for Ireland ended on a truly glorious note last night when Cian O'Connor and his horse, Waterford Crystal, delivered one of the greatest moments in Irish Olympic history.
O'Connor's composure and self-belief on the most demanding stage in world sport belied his relative youth and proved that with proper investment and support, Irish sport can prosper in any discipline. His victory and the performance of team-mate Jessica Kuerten, who shared the lead after the opening round in the final, is a massive fillip to Ireland and its reputation as one of the top equine countries in the world.
Showjumping may be considered one of the less glamorous of Olympic sports, lacking the cachet of track, field and boxing, but O'Connor's achievement is as meritorious as any medal won by Irish Olympians through the years. He has brought great honour to Ireland.
He demonstrated outstanding horsemanship and unyielding nerve to propel himself to the gold medal, a feat that did not appear likely after the opening round of two yesterday in Athens. The 24-year-old Irishman, whose family bloodlines run very deep in Irish sport, had to endure, along with the Irish sporting public, a fraught final half hour as a succession of rivals tried to better his achievement.
Equestrian sport has provided many great successes in an Irish context at international level but last night's victory surpassed even the most noteworthy previous successes. Notwithstanding world championship medals, this was the first occasion that an Irish rider has won an Olympic medal.
It is fitting that two of the greatest names in Irish showjumping history, Eddie Macken and Ned Campion, played a prominent part on such a momentous night as part of the Irish equestrian backroom team. However, even they would concede that the night belonged to O'Connor and Waterford Crystal who stared down the world's best - and they blinked first.
That Ireland should mint gold in the closing days of the Athens games should not camouflage the shortcomings of a disappointing Olympics from an Irish perspective. Initial hopes that most of our Olympians could compete with distinction proved to be misguided with one or two exceptions.
The fallout from Athens will be acrimonious but there is reason to believe that what O'Connor, Kuerten and Kevin Babbington achieved last night can be used as a benchmark for future Irish Olympic aspirants. Sufficient for today, however, that Ireland celebrates O'Connor's wonderful achievement in joining the small list of previous gold medal winners. We bask in his achievement.