Ireland has always prided itself on performing above expectation on the global stage but there can rarely have been a weekend when the two most-watched events on the planet featured Irish stars in such prominent positions.

From Aintree to Augusta is longer in real life than it is on the alphabet but across the two iconic sporting events of the weekend, Irish stars performed with incredible results.

There was not the surge of history and emotion as was the case with Rachael Blackmore’s win last year in the Randox Grand National but the prize is still making its way back to Ireland after Emmett Mullins trained the winner of the race and led home an Irish 1-2-3 and seven of the first nine home.

Mullins is a nephew of Willie Mullins who was also responsible for one of the three other Irish trained winners on one of the richest and most viewed days in the racing calendar.

Then Irish eyes were smiling in Augusta as Rory McIlroy finished second and third in the US Masters. They were not able to get close to runaway winner Scottie Scheffler but Lowry’s best-ever performance in the iconic tournament was added to by a remarkable round of 64 produced by McIlroy who ended up just one shot outside the course record of 63 and provided hope that there will be plenty more good days ahead for both players on the most fabled of golf courses.

Seamus Power also performed with great credit, making the cut on his first visit to the Masters and completing his closing round in two under par to produce three Irish players in the Top 30.

No matter what way you look at it that was some weekend of sporting performance on the biggest stages of them all.