Senator calls for Ireland to host Olympics in 2072

Ireland should start developing a bid to host the 2072 Summer Olympics, according to Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne.

His suggestion comes as Team Ireland broke its medal record in Paris, bringing back seven in total.

Mr Byrne said that such a bid would "almost mark the sesquicentenary of when Ireland began competing in the Olympics as an independent State".

"There will probably be a few eye rolls at this suggestion, but I think we could start to develop a plan so that we have the world class infrastructure to host major international events and there is none bigger than the Olympics," he said.

"Given the joy and pride that our Olympians have given to us all across the island in recent weeks, we should commit to ensuring that our country has the best facilities for them in all disciplines."

Mr Byrne added that Ireland needs to invest in "some long-term planning and setting an ambitious goal of hosting the Olympics in half a century's time should not be beyond us".

"Cynics will knock the move but let us be imaginative and explore what we would need to do as an island to achieve this goal," he added.