Australian rules football in Ireland
| Australian rules football in Ireland | |
|---|---|
 Ireland's Mike Finn takes a strong pack mark against South Africa in a 2008 International Cup match | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Governing body | AFL Ireland |
| National team(s) | Ireland |
| First played | 1999, Dublin & Belfast |
| Registered players | ~200 |
| Clubs | 9 |
In Ireland, Australian rules football (Irish: Peil rialacha na hAstráile) (known locally as "Aussie Rules") began in 1999 when clubs were simultaneously formed in Dublin and Belfast, however awareness of it dates back to the 20th century due to similarities with Gaelic football and hyrbid matches played between Irish and Australian teams. It has subsequently becoming a source of players for professional leagues in Australia, particularly the Australian Football League (AFL) and later the AFL Women's (AFLW) through the Irish Experiment which is ongoing. It attracts a television audience, particularly the AFLW competition (but also the men's AFL) through TG4.[1] There are two governing bodies, AFL Ireland (which is a member of AFL Europe) and AFL Northern Ireland, with teams and competitions in Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Galway and Killarney. The game in Ireland is typically played in a modified 9-a-side footy format on rectangular fields.
While coexisting with and relying heavily on players from Gaelic games, Ireland has become one of the most decorated nations in Australian rules with the national team, formed in 2001, winning second most men's international titles (2) and most women's international titles (2) as well as the most European Championship titles (2) and Euro Cup women's titles (4). Professional AFL/AFLW players to have represented Ireland internationally include Laura Duryea, Clara Fitzpatrick and Padraig Lucey.
Jim Stynes (the first to win an AFL best and fairest) along with Tadgh Kennelly (first to win an AFL premiership), achieved a level of fame at home and in turn raised the profile of the AFL.[2][3][4] Ailish Considine was the first to win an AFLW premiership achieving similar fame.[5] Current player Zach Tuohy holds the Irish born and raised record for the most games while Jim Stynes holds the record for most goals with 130. Sarah Rowe holds the AFL Women's record for most games and Cora Staunton holds the record for most goals with 55. There were a record 33 Irish players listed with clubs for the 2023 AFLW season.[6]
History
[edit]One could argue that the Irish have been playing Australian rules as early as the 1870s, as recent evidence suggests that a form of football being played in south western Ireland at the time was played under Victorian rules in a fashion indistinguishable from that of the game played in Australia, and early on it was even played with a rugby ball, with a mark for catching the ball and with upright posts of the Australian game.[7] It is not known how or when the Victorian rules were introduced to Ireland, however its legacy can be found in the written rules of the Commercials Club of County Limerick from the early 1880s which later, along with elements of soccer, formed the basis for Gaelic Football.
Primarily Irish historians analysing accounts of the traditional Irish football caid and Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) codified rules against the Melbourne Football Club rules of 1959 and Victorian Rules of 1866 and 1877 and those of other codes appear to strongly indicate that Gaelic football originated as a hybrid of Australian Football and Association Football. Like Australian Football, this was in an effort to differentiate from rugby[8] and was primarily based on the Victorian Rules of 1866 and 1877.[9] For example early codified Gaelic called for Australian rules style behind posts (not present in caid and later removed) with 5 point goals scoring (later changed to 3) and 1 point "behind"s all borrowed from Australian Rules, and Rule 27 in reference to kicking styles, Rule 15 relating to foul play and rules dictating playing equipment appear to be directly borrowed from the Victorian Rules. Early Victorian Rules was played with also a round ball until the introduction of the Sherrin in the 1880s. Other than the directly copied rules, analysts argue that so many of the rules are so similar to the Victorian Rules that the GAA must have obtained a deep knowledge of these laws. In any case the Irish game has been gradually evolving closer the Australian game since and as recently as 2017 with the GAA's introduced "the mark" from Australian Football, one of the game's other distinctive to encourage more spectacular aerial contests.[10]
Irish involvement in the early game in Australia
[edit]Irish have been involved in the game since its earliest days in Australia. Thomas H. Smith of Carrickmacross, County Monaghan[11] was involved in the formation of the Melbourne Football club from 1858 and the drafting of the first rules for the code in 1859.[12]
The Carlton Football Club is said to have been initiated in 1864 by Sir Redmond Barry of Ballyclough, County Cork.[13]
One of the founders of the St Kilda Football Club in 1873, J.J. Casey, was from Tromroe, County Clare.[14]
The Colony of Queensland's first club, the Brisbane Football Club in 1880s had a prominent Irish component, as such its early presidents Joshua Peter Bell and Kevin Izod O'Doherty were from Kildare and Dublin respectively.
Early interactions with Australian rules
[edit]In the 1920s, the GAA and Australasian Football Council were becoming increasingly aware of each other's growing global footprint and the first test matches between the two countries were proposed though were never contested with correspondence occurring between the two sporting bodies.[15]
First efforts to introduce the code into Ireland
[edit]The Australian High Commissioner to Ireland, Mr Mulrooney of the Canberra Australian Football Association attempted to introduce Australian Football to Dublin in 1946.[16]
The similarity between the codes eventually raised the awareness in Ireland of the Australian sport.[17] Certainly this awareness has grown substantially since the first International rules football tests took place in late 1967, however Aussie Rules was not officially played in Ireland until clubs were simultaneously formed in Dublin and Belfast in 1999.[citation needed]
In 1967, Harry Beitzel drew inspiration from watching the 1966 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final on television and formed an Australian side, nicknamed "The Galahs", to play the game against an Irish side. The next year he organised the Australian Football World Tour, a six-match series with games played against Irish teams in Ireland, the United Kingdom and United States of America. What followed was the beginning of regular interaction between the two codes which was to become the hybrid code of International rules football played in both countries and facilitating the cross code competition.[citation needed]
Irish experiment
[edit]
Ron Barassi, drawing comparisons between Australian rules football and Gaelic football was of the opinion that Gaelic footballers could provide a previously untapped pool of potential Australian Rules players.[18] As a result, wealthy Victorian clubs were scouting Ireland for new talent. In 1982, Barassi (then the Melbourne VFL club coach) and his recruiting team including Melbourne's Barry Richardson travelled to Ireland, looking for young, tall, and talented players.[19] Over the following years, a number of Irish athletes made the journey to Australia to play professionally in Australia. Players were found not only from Gaelic football codes, but other sports including hurling and rugby. Some, including Jim Stynes, Tadgh Kennelly and Martin Clarke, achieved a level of fame in Ireland either going on to careers in Australia or returning home to achieve success in their sports at home and along with the International Rules Series, increase the profile and awareness of the Australian game.[20][21][22]
Formation of the ARFLI and national team
[edit]Two clubs, in Dublin and Belfast, recruited and trained through the winter of 1999 and played a number of British Aussie rules clubs in challenge matches in early spring 2000. The Australian Rules Football League of Ireland (ARFLI) was formed in October 2000 after the first ever Irish Grand Final was contested between them. The following year, players from the clubs were drawn to form the first national team.[citation needed]
Growth and expansion
[edit]In the 2010s, the women's game grew rapidly and the first national team was established and players began to make their way to women's leagues in Australia.
By 2014, the league had grown to more than 200 players and expanded to six men's clubs and three women's clubs.
Competitions and Clubs
[edit]
Competitions
[edit]| Active competition |
| Competition | Founded | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Rules Football League of Ireland Premiership | 2001 | ARFLI website |
Clubs
[edit]| Active club |
| Club | Location | Founded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast Redbacks | City of Belfast (Mallusk) Playing Fields, Mallusk, County Antrim, Belfast | 2010 | Belfast Redbacks |
| Cork Vikings (womens) | Tramore Valley Park, Cork | 2020 | Cork Vikings |
| Galway Magpies | South Park, Galway | 2010 | Galway Magpies |
| Kerry Suns | Tralee Sports Complex, Killarney | 2021 | Kerry Suns |
| Leeside Lions | Tramore Valley Park, Cork | 2001 | Leeside Lions |
| South Dublin Swans | Memorial Park, Kilmainham, Dublin | 2006 | South Dublin Swans |
| Ulster Kookaburras (womens) | Queen's University Malone Playing Fields, Belfast | 2021 | Ulster Kookaburras |
| Ulster Wolfhounds | Queen's University Malone Playing Fields, Belfast | 2021 |
National teams
[edit]
Ireland's national team competes internationally at the Australian Football International Cup, AFL Europe Championship and Euro Cup.
History
[edit]An Irish National Aussie rules team, drawn from all ARFLI affiliated clubs headed to London between 6–15 October to take part in the Atlantic Alliance Cup 2001 – a five nations International competition with United States, Canada, Great Britain and Denmark providing the opposition. A final panel of 24 players, whittled down from 60 over a three-month training period made the trip. Ireland, playing their first ever competitive International matches, won all their games in the round robin series and went on to record a win against Denmark (pre-tournament favourites) in the Grand Final. This was a huge achievement for such a young league against teams from leagues that had been established for ten years plus.[original research?] Darren Fitzpatrick of Kilkenny, who previously played Aussie Rules at a professional level with the Western Bulldogs in Australia, coached the team.[citation needed]
In August 2002, the National team attended the Australian Football International Cup (an Amateur World Cup for nations outside of Australia). The team went into the competition as third seeds behind Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. The competition was a success for Ireland as they beat Canada, Samoa, USA, South Africa and New Zealand in the group stage and went on to beat PNG in a televised final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The team which was again coached by Darren Fitzpatrick, and was captained by Michael Johnston.[citation needed]
In 2005, the "Green Machine" again attended the Australian Football International Cup. With injuries and late withdrawals, the team managed a fourth place behind New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and USA.[citation needed]
Jim Stynes' brother David coached the 2014 national side hoping to defend the title[23] however the side failed to defeat Papua New Guinea in the final.
The men's side was considered favourites going into the 2017 international cup,[24] thought they finished in 3rd place.[citation needed]
Governing body and participation
[edit]The governing body is AFL Ireland. Formerly it was the Australian Rules Football League of Ireland (ARFLI) until the league affiliated with the AFL Commission.
As of 2014, there were more than 200 senior players and in 6 men's clubs and 3 women's clubs.[citation needed]
Media coverage
[edit]The sport, and International Rules has been covered in the media for many years, though it was only in 2010 that there has been regular AFL coverage on television through TG4. The and also in the media, including the International Rules Series. In 2021 the AFLW began showing on TG4.[25]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ The Cora effect: What's behind the explosion of Irish AFLW interest?by Gemma Bastiani 4 May 2023
- ^ The late great Jim Stynes made us imagine what is possible by Brian Fitzpatrick for IrishCentral. 29 March 2012
- ^ JIM STYNES AND TADHG KENNELLY NAMED AMONG GREATEST IRISH AFL TEAM from Kildare Nationalist. 13 August 2021
- ^ Marty Clarke given bigger role as AFL continue to eye gaelic footballers By Pat Nolan for the Irish Mirror. 21 March 2018
- ^ Two-time Grand Final winner Ailish Considine on AFL uncertainty, her latest success and her future By Michael Scully for the Irish Mirror 5 May 2022
- ^ record number of imports from Ireland will feature with the oval ball this year by Maurice Brosnan for the Irish Examiner 31 August 2023
- ^ Corrigan, Eoghan (2009). The History of Gaelic Football : the Definitive History of Gaelic Football from 1873. Dublin: Gill Books. ISBN 978-0-7171-6369-4. OCLC 1013828570.
- ^ Did Aussie Rules Get There First? from Irish Daily Mail 25 October 2016
- ^ Towards a Philosophy for Legislation in Gaelic Games Lennon, Joe. Dublin City University 1993. Pg 633, 638, 649, 658, 759
- ^ Gaelic football introduces AFL-style mark By Vince Rugar
- ^ pg 36. Melbourne FC, Since 1858 - An Illustrated History. Geoff Slattery Publishing 2008
- ^ "ATHLETIC SPORTS". The Australasian. Vol. XX, no. 517. Victoria, Australia. 26 February 1876. p. 13. Retrieved 31 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Ned Kelly and Carlton, notoriety's not the link from The Age 22 March 2003
- ^ "DEATH OF MR. J. J. CASEY". Bendigo Advertiser. Vol. LXI, no. 17, 989. Victoria, Australia. 7 April 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 14 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "AUSTRALIAN AND GAELIC CODES". The Australasian. Vol. CXXI, no. 4, 048. Victoria, Australia. 31 July 1926. p. 41 (METROPOLITAN EDITION). Retrieved 1 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Our Football In Eire?". The Herald. No. 21, 708. Victoria, Australia. 16 December 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 21 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "AUSTRALIAN AND GAELIC CODES". The Australasian. Vol. CXXI, no. 4, 048. Victoria, Australia. 31 July 1926. p. 41 (METROPOLITAN EDITION). Retrieved 1 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Barassi named No. 1". 15 March 2009. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ Tall, skinny kid with an Irish suntan by Martin Blake for The Age. March 21, 2012
- ^ The late great Jim Stynes made us imagine what is possible by Brian Fitzpatrick for IrishCentral. 29 March 2012
- ^ JIM STYNES AND TADHG KENNELLY NAMED AMONG GREATEST IRISH AFL TEAM from Kildare Nationalist. 13 August 2021
- ^ Marty Clarke given bigger role as AFL continue to eye gaelic footballers By Pat Nolan for the Irish Mirror. 21 March 2018
- ^ "David Stynes' Team out to defend AFL International Cup". independent.ie. 7 August 2014.
- ^ "Meet Ireland's players in the Aussie Rules World Cup". irishtimes.com. 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Irish women in Oz: TG4 to show women's Australian football". farmersjournal.ie. 27 January 2021.