If diplomacy is war by other means, football must come a close second. After a long, occasionally fraught, oft-times arduous, but always nail-bitingly exciting campaign, we're there. Or rather, the gallant, courageous and deftly managed Irish football squad is there - through to next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea. Another exciting chapter awaits Irish fans - whether they travel east, or stay at home to cheer their TV sets - against a background, sotto voce groan from spouses and bosses who fret (understandably) at the looming cost of it all.
But now is not the time for such worries. There are few enough causes for celebration but this is one of them. This, after all, is the third time in 12 years that Ireland has qualified for the finals of the World Cup. On this occasion, a truly exotic adventure beckons the team and its supporters in Asia. Memories of Italia '90 and USA '94 came flooding back yesterday when the full-time whistle sounded in Tehran, with the Republic winning their play-off against Iran, by 2-1 on aggregate. That last-moment goal by Iran may bring solace to their team but it made not a whit of difference to the overall result.
Great credit must go to Mick McCarthy, the Irish manager occasionally lampooned as a permanent worrier. Earlier play-off defeats for the 1998 World Cup and the European Championship now seem a distant memory, best forgotten. Today is his day in the sun and he deserves it. This latest success out of probably the toughest qualifying group in Europe, reflects enormous credit on him, especially as he has had the unenviable task of following the charismatic and highly successful Jack Charlton. In putting his own stamp on the job, McCarthy had to re-shape the Irish side completely, largely with young, untried talent.
The Irish will have to wait until the draw is made next month before knowing their precise destination for the group stage of the finals. In the meantime, one can imagine savings targets being set and long-term holiday plans being re-scheduled, while stay-at-home supporters look towards crack-of-dawn television coverage of another major, footballing adventure.
In gloomy times, we have reason this morning to be cheerful.