"...and we'll really shake them up when we win the World Cup.."

For a small island nation, we certainly make a big impression on the wider world. Whether it's sport, music or film, we've always seemed to punch well above our weight. In case you were living under a rock last night you probably heard that the Republic of Ireland National Football team qualified for the 2016 European Championships after a 2-0 (3-1 on aggregate) win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There were joyous scenes of celebration throughout the Aviva and the rest of the country.

Grown men were reduced to tears, Robbie Brady couldn't stop grinning and even President Michael D. Higgins was getting in on the action.

Euro 2016 in France next year will be our fifth opportunity to impress at an International football tournament and it got us thinking about all the other times that our little nation has made waves on the international stage both sporting and otherwise.

1. Italia 90 - Penalty shootout win
It's kind of hard to describe Italia 90 to people who weren't there. Literally nothing else was talked about during those short few weeks. Official studies show it was even a more popular conversation topic than the weather.

The defining event in the campaign was the second round penalty shoot out win over Romania. It was do or die. Lose and the dream was over. Win and we'd be taking on the hosts in the Quarter Finals.

The responsibility eventually fell on the shoulders of two men, Packie Bonner and David O'Leary.

"A nation holds its breath..."

2. Eurovision 1994
It's probably cheating to put one of our Eurovision triumphs on this list because in the 80s and 90s not only did we "shake them up", we absolutely dominated the competition. To this day we're still the most successful nation in the Eurovision song contest with seven wins. One clear of Sweden in second place and more importantly two clear of the UK.

Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan's win is the one that makes this list as it marked our third win in the row in the competition. Yes you heard that right. Three in a row. We were the Kilkenny Hurlers of the Eurovision Song Contest.

 Then again there were suggestions we might have to give one of those titles back after our 2008 entry...

3. My Left Foot's Oscar Wins
The story of Christy Brown is one that resonates so much with Irish people. At this stage the film is bona fide classic with most students studying it for their Leaving Cert or at the very least watching it during a free class when their teacher is hungover. But in 1990, My Left Foot was just a small independent Irish film punching well above its weight by getting five Oscar nominations in major categories.

There wasn't much expectation going into the awards night with the likes of Born on the 4th of July and Driving Miss Daisy expected to walk away with all the prizes. However the little film that could defied the odds with Daniel Day-Lewis triumphing in a very strong Best Actor category that included the likes of Kenneth Brannagh, Tom Cruise (stop sniggering at the back), Morgan Freeman and Robin Williams.

The even bigger shock on the night was Brenda Fricker who took home the Best Supporting Actress gong at the expense of Julia Roberts and Angelica Huston.

4. Katie Taylor's Gold Medal Win
This one wasn't so much a shock to us as for most Irish people, Katie's Gold medal victory was a done deal before the 2012 Olympics even started. Having won four World Championships in a row before the London Olympics Katie was best hope for a Gold Medal at the 2012 games.

Despite this, the foreign press had completely underestimated Taylor's abilities and she wasn't the run away favourite going into the event that she perhaps deserved to be. In any event, Taylor wasn't too bothered either way as she comfortably and professionally claimed her first Olympic Gold medal and only Ireland's second ever for Boxing.

5. The Marriage Equality Referendum

This one is particularly relevant as the first same sex marriages have taken place across the country today. The Marriage Equality Referendum was a momentous occasion for our nation and one that made worldwide news. By voting "Yes" to marriage equality, Ireland became the first ever nation to introduce same sex marriage by popular vote in a referendum.