Stephen James Smith
Allez Les Verts !
Performance poet Stephen James Smith moved to tears those present at An Taoiseach and Minister Martin’s official opening of Team Ireland’s HQ with his humorous and insightful homage to the universal values of peace at the heart of the Olympic mission.
A special commission by the Centre Culturel Irlandais, we share it with you all on this historic occasion, 100 years after Ireland first participated in the Olympics as an independent nation.
A rabble-rousing tribute for Ireland’s Centenary Olympic Team, Paris 2024
Allez Les Verts !
Stephen James Smith
"Do you dream of Mount Olympus and the Greek gods, or are your mythologies linked to our ancients back on The Auld Sod? Zeus was a bollix—or pox, I’ll say pox given the current company. We draw from the Stone of Destiny atop the Hill of Tara, which gives us strength here in Pareeeee (Paris). Our sources are holy wells, sacred springs, and the Hill of Uisneach. They give you all you need, your courage, your misneach. You’ll pass the torch to the next generation back in our homeland, like Sonia, Katie, and Darren Sutherland. With the Olympic motto: Higher, Faster, Stronger, it’s like a Daft Punk song, but it’s clear what you’re here for—personal bests, world records, and medals by the score. But don’t forget the original victors received an olive wreath, and your competitors are not foes, no matter their beliefs. Now more than ever, the world needs an olive branch. You are our All-Island Centenary Team, and that’s not by chance. The path to Paris is full of clichés like blood, sweat, and tears. In the stadium, you’ll hear the echoes of our cheers: “Allez Les Verts, Come On You Boys & Girls in Green!” You’re 133 athletes united as a team. Whatever you call home—The Emerald Isle, Hibernia, Róisín Dubh, Éire, the Land of Saints and Scholars—back home we’re not too worried about medals around your collars. You are already the best of us; we are full of bród, and we thank you for your service. I’m not going to mollycoddle and say it’s all about participation. You’re here to push your body to unrealised potential. I know you’re here to win, and some won’t get the rub of the green and have to take one on the chin. But if it’s gold you want, remember, there’s a crock of it back home waiting for you at the end of a rainbow. Oh, and did you know Oliver St. John Gogarty won a bronze in poetry for an Ode to the Tailteann Games at the Parisian games 100 years ago? Not that this one would win anything, but it’s nice to participate. Go on now, keep the flame alive and just know, we know. You’re already great!"
Quotation from Stephen:
“I was in contact with Nora Hickey M'Sichili and mentioned that I was thinking of writing something for Team Ireland. I wasn’t actually expecting her to give me the go-ahead nor to present it at the flag-bearer ceremony. While on my European tour and busy with my own events, I didn’t have much time to work on this as I usually would with a piece of poetry, so perhaps this is more a piece of spoken word rabble-rousing than anything poetic. But as I am a big sports fan, that helped and, thankfully, it seemed to go well. The audience responded with laughter and tears, capturing the moment, which was a relief to me! Make of it what you will; it’s not my best writing, but it is at least heartfelt.”
