It is recent rather than past - history that will have Ireland's rugby union fans raising a smile and no doubt a glass of a famous brew with a certain hue.

It had been a long wait, 61 long years in fact, since Ireland had won the Grand Slam but in 2009 the wait ended as they won the Six Nations title and with it the clean sweep of all their rivals.

It all came down to a nerve-jangling final encounter with Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, but they pulled it off, just, as Stephen Jones was narrowly short with a last-gasp penalty which had it been successful, would have dashed their hopes.

Reeling back the years, rugby in Ireland has a rich tradition and they actually hosted the first all-ticket Test match in 1905.

Prior to the events of 2009, Ireland's finest hour came in 1948 when, inspired by fly-half and master tactician Jack Kyle, they claimed their first Grand Slam, although at the time it was a Five rather than Six Nations tournament.

One of Ireland's most famous players, Willie John McBride, captained the British and Irish Lions to one of their most famous Test series victories of all time in South Africa in 1974.

Their current captain and outstanding centre, Brian O'Driscoll, piloted the Lions in New Zealand in 2005, although his tour came to a premature end in the opening minutes of the first Test.

O'Driscoll was, however, overlooked for the captaincy of the Lions for their 2009 tour of South Africa, that honour instead being bestowed on his countryman Paul O'Connell.