Athletes deserved designer wear

Much had been written about the abysmal performance of our male athletes in track and field events at the London Olympics — reasons and excuses abounded.

No one has considered the awful singlets and long johns worn by the Irish athletes. This must surely have robbed them of self-esteem.

The dull green singlets, with straps no wider than a bra halter, clung from emaciated white bodies, dejected and despairing, like a wet towel on the clothesline of an Irish summer’s day.

The Olympics should have been an opportunity for Irish designers to show creative and original skills, as the British so stunningly did, and apply them to the Irish Olympic team.

We choose not to and instead showed the watching world what a backward waterway we were as designers and winners.

Dan Costello

Castleowen

Blarney