HASN’T IT BEEN a magic summer for sport, all the same? It’s saved us from succumbing entirely to full-blown existential dread in a year when it feels like the world isn’t only going to hell in a handcart, but the handcart is a self-driving cyber truck which is on fire and filled with psychotic clowns.

But amid a spectacular summer of sport – ‘hon Spain, Mayo abú – there has been something especially uplifting about the successes of our women on the track and in the pool last week.

World Cup winners, Spain and Sam Maguire winners, Mayo. Alamy Alamy

They bagged enough bling to blend in nicely with the decor in the Oval Office: a glorious gold in the heptathlon for Dundalk’s Kate O’Connor and a 200m silver medal for a resurgent Rashidat Adeleke from Tallaght; Sligo swimmer Mona McSharry’s magnificent haul of one silver and two bronze medals in 100m, 50m and 200m finals, and Dublin powerhouse Ellen Walshe’s magnificent 200m and 400m medley golds.

The week’s news websites, TV, newsprint and radio were festooned with images and audio clips of the triumphant women, medals aloft, wrapped in tricolours and wreathed in smiles. Positivity poured from them. “When I was a kid, I had a dream. I’ve worked really hard, and I’m achieving the dream. So believe, achieve, work hard,” said Kate O’Connor. It was an almost identical message from Rashidat Adeleke: “This championship showed me there’s just no limit. Once you’re in a good mindset, once you’re showing up every single day, you need to believe in yourself. And once you believe in yourself thoroughly, and it’s not false confidence, it’s real confidence — so much can happen.”

Rhasidat Adeleke (Ireland). Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

And next week Mona and Ellen and Ireland teammate Danielle Hill will travel around the country,........

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