J.K. Rowling knows a thing or two about magic.
But even she raised an impressed eyebrow when Ireland overcame the significant odds to upset the All Blacks on American soil on Saturday night.
2016 has beaten a lot of people down and, depending on your political stance, the foreseeable future looks a tad bleak.
Pick-me-ups can be few and far between nowadays but the Harry Potter author found one in Ireland’s heroic victory over New Zealand in Chicago.
I take back (nearly) everything I said about 2016! Congratulations @IrishRugby! https://t.co/SlPEaNZTm4
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 5, 2016
Only the rarest of optimists were picking a narrow Ireland win but nobody could have predicted a victory of the margin that we saw on Soldier Field this weekend.
Rowling made her name dreaming up up far-fetched plots involving a young wizard and perhaps she’ll be inspired to pen another novel by the supernatural goings-on in Chicago.
Might we suggest Joe Schmidt and the Chicago Scalping for a title.
Who are the winners of the much-coveted 2016 Wooly Awards? Find out in our GAA Hour Special