Revive the old order

WHAT a wonderful sporting triumph for Ireland last weekend with international rugby and boxing successes hopefully going some way towards lifting the spirits of a nation currently in deep crisis.

What a disappointment that because we can’t trust Fianna Fáil politicians not to devalue it by awarding it to themselves and their cronies, Ireland can’t have an honours system to give these sporting heroes, and many others, a tangible token of our appreciation of their fine achievements.

Nearly 100 years into statehood, are we still so politically immature that we can’t give serious thought to reviving the Order of St Patrick with a stipulation that it cannot be awarded to politicians.