Irish Examiner view: Olympics gave us much-needed positivity in a bleak year

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Late Late Show New Year's Eve Special host Patrick Kielty with comedian Justine Stafford and Olympians Sharlene Mawdsley and David Gillick. Last night's show rightly honoured some of our inspirational Paris 2024 heroes. Picture: Andres Poveda

It would be interesting to learn how many readers subscribed to the old Irish custom last night of opening the front door at midnight.

This was traditionally done in order to usher out the old year and to let in the new: The thinking was that all the trials and tribulations associated with the old year would disperse through the open door. Those would be replaced in turn by the energy and anticipation being brought by the new year.