Athens 2004: it seems a lifetime ago...thankfully

They call the Games the five-ringed circus. But Ireland used to take the circus part far too literally. SO what has changed?

SINKING FEELING: Crushed Sam Lynch and Gearoid Towey after finishing in fourth place in the Lightweight Double Sculls semi-final and thus failing to make the final. Pic: Patrick Bolger, Inpho

BILL O’HERLIHY always did have a knack for capturing the nation’s mood. The 2004 Games were deep into their second week when RTÉ’s highly-experienced Olympic anchor summed up the Irish effort in Athens with nothing more than three words. “It’s depressing,” he said at one point. “Depressing.”

Among the disappointments deepening the doom and gloom that particular day in the Greek capital had been the inability of Sam Lynch and Gearoid Towey, bronze medallists at the World Championships in Milan the year before, to qualify for rowing’s lightweight double sculls final.