Our sporting heroes have raised the bar — on and off the pitch

IF you want proof of how much Ireland has progressed as a country over the last 20 years you’ll find it in the achievements of the Celtic Tiger’s generation of sports stars.

We are living through a golden era of ambition and hard work that has led to real achievement. Even as the economy goes into a tail-spin, there remains conviction that we will continue to have much great sport involving Irishmen and Irishwomen to watch, enjoy and admire for years to come. The new standards that have been set will deliver that.

Amid all the economic gloom it has been an exceptional year of achievement by Irish sportsmen that has given great pleasure. Padraig Harrington’s achievement in winning two of golf major tournaments — the British Open and the US Open — is almost certainly the greatest ever by an Irish sportsman.