Niall Quinn sits down at the edge of the table at the top of the room with a big loopy grin dangling on his lips. The grin spreads across the top table and down through the rows of chairs where we hacks sit. He did it. The big guy did it. Irish goalscoring record. On his birthday. At home. Not a begrudger in the house.

"I'm thrilled really," he says. "I don't consider myself the greatest Irish goalscorer ever, that's for sure. I'm just pleased to have reached this kind of moment. I'm very proud. Even though I tried to play it down for the last 16 months (pause) I really wanted it badly."

And he laughs. We laugh. For the first time Mick McCarthy laughs at a press conference. The all-too-bearable lightness of Niall.

The way Niall tells it, it's been bread and roses all the way. From his debut goal at Anfield to his record-breaking goal here. The world has crowned him with laurels every evening. Get your forensics people, you wouldn't find a trace of bitterness in his bones.

Niall Quinn tots up all the blessings. You'd never know that this was a guy who did both his cruciates and came back the lonely way each time. He got just three games and no medal when Arsenal won their first league title under George Graham. He got sold on a year before they won their second. He missed a World Cup because his club chairman wouldn't let him go. But he's always chosen to walk on the bright side of the road.

"I'm really pleased," he says. "It was 16 months building up. It was great out there. After the goal (Ian Harte's), the next ball came in and I was away, but concentration slipped for a minute or two before that. All the promises I made. What I'd have to do if I scored. The pub in Clonmel are all having free drink, for a start.

"It felt wonderful coming off. Best I've ever felt being hooked. I've had a long old career, many great days, many hard days. It was up there with anything I've done for Ireland."

And he's done lots. He made his debut 15 years ago, coming into a team with names like Bonner, Moran, McCarthy, Hughton, Houghton, McGrath, Stapleton and Aldridge. Scored his first Irish goal at Dalymount Park, of all places.

Scored some great ones after that, equalisers against Holland in the World Cup, England at Wembley in a Euro qualifier and Denmark at Lansdowne in a World Cup qualifier. He set up twice as many, and with Cascarino became the defining presence in our style of play.

"I only remember about two of them, England at Wembley. Holland. World Cup goal - not the classiest of all time. And I suppose tonight. Half the crowd headed it in with me."

From it all he picks the present as the best time.

"I would have to say, not just because Mick is here, the achievement here outshines what we did for other competitions. 1988 we stumbled over the finish line. In 1990 we were a little better. 1994 we almost threw it away. This time there has not been a fault.

"We have got ourselves in a situation where 24 points doesn't get us there. Which is unbelievable. We're proud. A great achievement up till now. We just have to go and do it."

And stretching that record Niall?

"Jaysus lads, give me a chance. I'd love to be involved, I'd love to go to the finals. If I'm going I'll have to come up with the odd one, naturally. I'll speak to Mick further on. I can't look as far ahead as some of the other lads."

He can't look that far ahead, but what about the near future, the next few hours?

"Well," he says, "I can't go as mad as I used to. I'll have a bit of a celebration."

He frowns. "I might as well tell you - I'll have a right good night."

And he lopes off into the Lansdowne gloaming, one of those beloved heroes of Irish sport, one of the guys who keeps you believing.