One of the glories of sport is the ability to share in collective memories of events that define a generation.   Last night the Irish Youth Foundation celebrated the 25th Anniversary of its Excellence in Sport Awards and brought 500 guests on a wonderful walk back through history.
The night was sponsored by Bank of Ireland whose guests will have left with a heightened association to the brand through having a ringside seat as the heroes of Irish sport over the last quarter of a century were honoured.
Brian O’Driscoll revealed that six weeks on from his latest operation he had his sights set on a return for the latter stages of the Heineken Cup and the British and Irish Lions Tour in the summer.
Honour
He was joined on the roll of honour by Rob Kearney and Eoin Reddin representing Leinster who were awarded the team of the year, and by Keith Wood.
Henry Shefflin and Ursula Jacob, the heroine of the triumphant Wexford Camogie team were there representing Gaelic Games.
The evening grew out of an association with the Links Golfing Society and its founder Cecil Whelan who since 1966 has raised well over €20 million for charities and good causes.  The original founding of that society was marked with a special presentation to Cecil and by the presence on the stage of Christy O’Connor Sr, Christy O’Connor Jr., Eamon Darcy and Padraig Harrington.
Flash
In responding on behalf of the guests Harrington spoke of how when you were in the moment of a sporting career it often went by in a flash and that it was only in looking back that you could appreciate the magnitude of the reaction from the public to what you had achieved.
The first year of the awards was 1987, the same year as Stephen Roche became the only Irish winner of the Tour de France and he was there as well.  So too was Ken Doherty, World Snooker Champion who recalled being thanked by the Chief Superintendent of Harcourt Street Garda Station for the fact that not a single crime had been recorded in Dublin on the night of his world triumph over Stephen Hendry in 1997.
Another large cheer was reserved for Dave O’Leary, rewarded for his famous penalty against Rumania at Italia ’90.  Everyone in the room remembered where they were on that occasion though O’Leary’s wife had left the room she was watching it from because she had no idea he was going to take the crucial final winning kick.
Accolade
Aidan O’Brien and JP McManus were honoured from the world of horse racing and beyond while there was also an accolade for Sir Michael Smurfitt and George O’Grady for the part they played in bringing the Ryder Cup to Ireland.
Cian O’Connor, Dermot Desmond for his work with the Respect Charity, Mary Davis from Special Olympics Ireland and Moya Doherty and John McColgan of Riverdance were also honoured alongside Eddie Jordan who put Ireland on the global map of Formula One.
The final two awards of the 25 presented on the night were to two boxers whose exploits in European, World and Olympic Championships have done so much to lift the nation.  Paddy Barnes pledged himself to the Road to Rio 2016 and the last person on stage, to a rapturous standing ovation was the one and only Katie Taylor.
Five time European, Four time World and now Olympic Champion Taylor spoke disarmingly about her greatest achievement being that of acting as a strong positive role model for young people.
Special
This really was a very special night.  Those gathered had the best seats in the house for a show that brought back great moments of the last 25 years and revealed the power of sport to affect people in so many ways, both on and off the field.
Money was raised afresh for those in need and the stars of our era were able to reflect on their own achievement in the company of those who will have left the Burlington hotel inspired by what is possible in sport.
The host for the evening Brendan Mullin spoke of a dinner he had enjoyed many years before with Mark McCormack, the founder of IMG.  Asked what it was that marked out a champion we was unhesitating in highlighting three common traits in all the greats.
Ability
The first was always striving to improve and never being fully satisfied with what they had achieved.  The second was the ability to peak in their performance on the biggest and most important stage and the third was the ability to put players teams or opponents away with what might be termed the ‘killer instinct’.
There are many lessons to be learned in the crossover between sport and business.  Those three would do for starters.
Thanks to John Bateson and to IIU who hosted our table and gave the opportunity to be in the presence of greatness.
View all the latest news on the commercial side of Irish sport
Find out more about how Sport for Business can be of benefit to you
Subscribe today for the free Sport for Business daily news digest