Gentle nudge from father led to American twins representing Ireland

Mike Corcoran, father of Irish Olympians Madison and Michaela Corcoran, represented Ireland at two Olympic Games. 

Michaela Corcoran, left, who competes Tuesday with her identical twin sister Madison ahead of the Games. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

ONE of the more durable American brands to succeed in Ireland over the years are those famous little sugar-shelled M&Ms.

The letters M are in recognition of two executives of the world’s more iconic confectionary companies who came up with the idea in the first place. Forrest Mars saw people eating ‘smarties’ during a visit to Spain in the 1930s and teamed up with Bruce Murrie of the Hershey chocolate empire to produce the sweets that Madison and Michaela Corcoran would undoubtedly describe as ‘candy’.