Ireland's Triple Crowns The 1980sJohn O'Sullivan concludes his series with Campbell's boot and Fitzie's rallying call
It was with a certain degree of trepidation that Ireland would have approached the 1981-'82 Five Nations Championship. They had lost their seven previous internationals - all four in the previous season's championship, a couple of Tests in South Africa and a narrow 16-12 defeat to Australia on November 21st, 1981, that offered an inkling of the strides this team would make.
On January 23rd, 1982, Ireland beat Wales 20-12 at Lansdowne Road - Irish centre David Irwin broke his leg and in an unrelated incident there were two streakers apprehended - primarily attributable to an outstanding display from one Seamus Oliver Campbell. He was to be a central figure in Ireland's Triple Crown success. On the Monday following the game Niall Kiely, writing on page one of The Irish Times, took no pleasure in Welsh discomfort.
"God - did it feel good. The Taffies
. . . well a great bunch of fellas to sing when they're winning but to be brutally honest, they're probably the world's worst losers." The Welsh weren't the only brotherhood to experience the blues as Michael O'Regan reported.
"The Unification Church, known as the Moonies, is selling its Irish headquarters in Co Cork for financial reasons but it has no intention of leaving the country. The headquarters, six miles from Fermoy, is situated on a 216-acre estate and was purchased by the Unification Church in 1974 as a training college for members in Britain and Ireland." The Moonies were planning to relocate to Dublin.
Twickenham beckoned for Ireland on February 6th and heralded a 16-15 victory over England, chronicled in the inimitable style of the then Irish Times rugby correspondent, Edmund Van Esbeck. He wrote: "Offering to the occasion those twin attributes of skill and fortitude and revealing the essential elements of patience and discipline, Ireland's rugby men turned the restless anxieties of a multitude of followers into glorious celebration, and Twickenham, that storied stretch of rugby turf, green and gracious in the heart of a London suburb, belonged to the Irish for the period immediately following 80 memorable minutes last Saturday afternoon."
Ireland's date with destiny came on Saturday, February 20th, at Lansdowne Road when Ciarán Fitzgerald led Ireland to a 21-12 victory over Scotland with Campbell contributing all his side's points with six penalties and a drop goal.
That same weekend, Armagh maintained an unbeaten eight-year home record to beat Dublin 0-8 to 0-5 and qualify for the National Football League semi-finals, Ronan Rafferty finished in the top 10 in South Africa and the minister for finance John Bruton ruled out a devaluation of the punt.
Three years later and Ireland were back on the Triple Crown trail, Murrayfield the first port of call and a thrilling match decided by Irish right wing Trevor Ringland's late try.
Once again we turn to Edmund Van Esbeck, his words underneath a headline that read: "A Refreshing Display by Ireland." "Scattered through the years are some of rugby football's most memorable and thrilling moments - happenings imperishable in memory, notable landmarks in achievement that can only happen in the sporting arena, when the dramatic combines with the romantic and a great victory is fashioned from the improbable situation."
That Monday's The Irish Times speculated whether Gay Byrne was set to quit the Late Late Show as a result of a lucrative contract offered by Westinghouse in the US. The broadcaster admitted in an interview with the Sunday Tribune. "Given what has happened to me financially in the past year, if an attractive offer comes from an American television company, then I will be very tempted to take it." He didn't.
The Irish team had to wait over a month before taking on Wales at the Cardiff Arms Park on March 16th but there was to be no let-up in the quest with Ireland recording a first victory, 21-9, at the venue since 1967.
On Saturday, March 29th, 1985, Ireland maintained a remarkable symmetry of winning two Triple Crowns in a decade once again when they eased past England 13-10 at Lansdowne Road. Michael Kiernan's drop goal was the difference between the teams but the match will also be recalled for captain Ciarán Fitzgerald's particular cajoling of his team-mates.
With the match delicately poised and Kiernan just having kicked a penalty to draw the sides level at 10-10, the pitch-side microphones picked up Fitzgerald's exhortations to his team-mates: "Where's your f****** pride." The response was appropriate.
Pride of place though on the front page of Monday's The Irish Times was a story regarding a Limerick darts enthusiast James O'Reilly (32), who drew Last Suspect in the Irish Hospital's Sweepstakes Grand National Draw and won £150,000.
A small building contractor, he watched the race on a portable television propped up on a bit of scaffolding. The report noted: "There were none of the trappings of celebration. James does not drink or smoke. 'He'll have no trouble getting a wife now,' a neighbour said.
