The hard work of fulfilling a nation's expectations behind him now, Mick McCarthy has announced detailed plans of his itinerary post Tehran and pre-World Cup build-up . . . family life, feet up and a pint with an old and special friend.

McCarthy will get only a short break for the moment. The week after next he will head to Busan, Japan, for the draw of the groups for next summer's finals, and the intention is to assess some possible venues, including a number of cities in Japan and South Korea that have attempted to lure the Irish team with financial and hospitality packages, for the Irish team's final preparations in late May over the course of the trip.

With the issue of the team's qualification now resolved, though, McCarthy said that his family could look forward to seeing his better side during the coming weeks and months.

"The last couple of times when we didn't make it through I wasn't fit to be around for a month. But this time my family won't be seeing grumpy Mick, they'll see the smiling father that they deserve."

His domestic life, he admitted, has been more or less on hold during the past few months.

"Will we redecorate the hall? Will we cut the grass? Will we go on holidays? The answer's been the same to everything for the last while, 'Wait and see if we qualify for the World Cup'. Now that it's sorted out," he added, "we'll be able to get on with a few things and hopefully I'll have a bit of time on my hands to relax and play a bit of golf."

He is, he says, deeply proud of Thursday's qualification and of the players by whom it was achieved.

"As a manager, it means an awful lot. This is my team, my players, my tactics, my ideas . . . my team.

"I said when I took the job that maybe it would be better to be the man after the man after Jack Charlton, and maybe that's still true. The way things are, I might be around for a long time yet."

The contribution of a few individuals who have helped to copperfasten his position came in for particular praise, including David Connolly, Jason McAteer and Steve Staunton.

His own role in the team's success will be rewarded with a substantial bonus from his employers and, of course, a new contract. But there are others who he believes should also reap the benefits.

"Managers take responsibility when things go wrong, that's accepted. And with success comes rewards. But the rewards should be for everybody who contributed, not just me but for the staff, for Ian Evans and the rest of them. And I hope all of that can all be sorted out now too."

Before the various outstanding financial issues are addressed there will, he conceded, probably be just about time for a few quiet pints with close friends.

"I'll celebrate this with the people who really matter, and I'll tell you that there won't be anybody happier for me than big Jack.

"I got a message from him wishing me the best before the last game and I look forward to seeing him, to having a pint back home.

"Maybe now we can drink as equals, two managers who have qualified for the World Cup sitting down together."