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. 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 and Galway. 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]
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 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]
One of the founders of the St Kilda Football Club in 1873, J.J. Casey, was from Tromroe, County Clare.[13]
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.
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.[14]
The Australian High Commissioner to Ireland, Mr Mulrooney of the Canberra Australian Football Association attempted to introduce Australian Football to Dublin in 1946.[15]
The similarity between the codes eventually raised the awareness in Ireland of the Australian sport.[16] 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.
See main article: Australian Football World Tour. 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.
See main article: Irish experiment (Australian rules football). 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.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19] [20] [21]
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.
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.
Club | Location | Founded | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Belfast Redbacks | City of Belfast (Mallusk) Playing Fields, Mallusk, County Antrim, Belfast | 2010 | Belfast Redbacks website |
Cork Vikings (womens) | Tramore Valley Park, Cork | 2020 | Cork Vikings website |
Galway Magpies | South Park, Galway | 2010 | Galway Magpies website |
Leeside Lions | Tramore Valley Park, Dublin | 2001 | Leeside Lions website |
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 |
Ireland's national team competes internationally at the Australian Football International Cup, AFL Europe Championship and Euro Cup.
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. Darren Fitzpatrick of Kilkenny, who previously played Aussie Rules at a professional level with the Western Bulldogs in Australia, coached the team.
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.
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.
Jim Stynes' brother David coached the 2014 national side hoping to defend the title[22] 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,[23] thought they finished in 3rd place.
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.
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.[24]
The sport in Ireland faces constant struggle, due to the massive popularity of the indigenous and similar sport of Gaelic football which discourages professionalism.
A controversial International Rules series in 2005 may have irreparably damaged the reputation of the code in Ireland, however the continued export of Gaelic football converts to Aussie Rules ensures that the sport continues to have a small following in Ireland.
Proximity to Great Britain and mainland Europe, where there are fairly strong Aussie Rules leagues gives teams from Ireland the opportunity to regularly participate in international competition and remain competitive through access to Gaelic football players.
Australia has recruited several Irish Gaelic footballers to play Aussie Rules. As Gaelic football is primarily amateur competition and the AFL competition is professional, there is a strong financial lure.
The following is a list of players who registered senior matches in the AFL and played the sport professionally including their key statistics.
Currently on an AFL senior list |
Player | AFL Years* | AFL Matches* | AFL Goals* | Club/s | Connections to Ireland, References | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023- | 14 | 0 | Raised in Kilmaine. Played gaelic football with Mayo GAA.[25] | |||
2021- | 39 | 42 | Raised in Limavady. Played gaelic football with Derry GAA.[26] | |||
2021- | 13 | 1 | Raised in Dublin. Played gaelic football with Dublin GAA minors.[27] | |||
2019-2021 | 1 | 0 | Born and raised in Swatragh. Played gaelic football with Derry GAA. | |||
2019- | 24 | 0 | , | Raised in County Cork. Played gaelic football with Cork GAA.[28] | ||
2019- | 19 | 0 | , | Raised in Kilkenny. Played hurling and gaelic football with Kilkenny GAA. | ||
2017- | 88 | 17 | Raised in Athlumney Village, Navan. Played gaelic football with County Meath and rugby for Navan at Leinster[29] | |||
2017- | 122 | 9 | Born and raised in Daingean Uí Chúis (Dingle). Played gaelic football with Kerry GAA minors.[30] | |||
2016-2020 | 21 | 2 | Raised in Glen, County Donegal played gaelic football for Derry GAA minors.[31] | |||
2015- | 115 | 27 | , | Born in County Tyrone, raised in Benburb and played gaelic football with Tyrone GAA.[32] [33] | ||
2015-2022 | 34 | 1 | Born Templemore. Played gaelic football with Tipperary GAA minors.[34] | |||
2014-2018 | 132 | 34 | , | Parent | ||
2014-2018 | 22 | 0 | Raised in Louth. Played gaelic football with Louth GAA[35] [36] | |||
2014-2016 | 6 | 0 | Born and raised in Farran. Played gaelic football with Cork GAA minors [37] | |||
2013- | 139 | 3 | Born Brockagh[38] | |||
2012-2014 | 6 | 2 | Raised in Rostrevor. Played gaelic football for Down GAA[39] | |||
2012-2014 | 5 | 3 | Born Tralee. Played gaelic football with Kerry GAA[40] | |||
2011- | 281 | 100 | , | Born Portlaoise. Played gaelic football with Portlaoise and Laios.[41] | ||
2010-2013 | 22 | 2 | Born and raised in Portglenone. Played gaelic football for Antrim GAA.[42] | |||
2010-2011 | 4 | 0 | Raised in Loughinisland. Played gaelic football for Down GAA minors.[43] | |||
2009-2011 | 8 | 2 | Born and raised in Killoe. Played gaelic football with Longford GAA.[44] | |||
2009- | 281 | 94 | , | Parent[45] | ||
2008-2020 | 169 | 60 | , | Raised in Ballaghaderreen. Played gaelic football with Mayo GAA.[46] | ||
2007-2014 | 73 | 19 | Born Newry. Played gaelic football with Down GAA minors.[47] | |||
2006-2021 | 302 | 141 | Parent[48] | |||
2006-2009 | 30 | 7 | , | Born Portlaoise, raised in Stradbally. Played gaelic football with Laois GAA.[49] | ||
2005-2013 | 88 | 82 | , | Raised in Cork. Played gaelic football and hurling with Cork GAA.[50] | ||
2001-2011 | 197 | 30 | Born Listowel. Played gaelic football with Kerry GAA.[51] | |||
1992 | 2 | 0 | Born Dublin. Played gaelic football with Dublin GAA.[52] | |||
1990 | 3 | 0 | Born Glenullin. Played gaelic football with Derry GAA.[53] | |||
1987-1998 | 264 | 130 | Born Dublin. Played gaelic football with Dublin GAA.[54] | |||
1982-1995 | 211 | 464 | Parents from Dublin[55] | |||
1983 | 1 | 1 | Born Roscommon. Played gaelic football Roscommon[56] | |||
1984-1995 | 150 | 63 | Mother. Raised in Listowel. Played gaelic football for Kerry. Melbourne's first Irish recruit. Had a serviceable career at Melbourne.[57] [58] | |||
1962-1975 | 216 | 149 | , | Born in Belfast[59] | ||
1943-1947 | 58 | 12 | Born and raised in Carrickfergus[60] | |||
1903-1920 | 261 | 18 | Parents[61] | |||
1899-1904 | 50 | 36 | , | Born in Ulster.[62] | ||
1897-1899 | 41 | 6 | ,, | Born County Tipperary. | ||
1899 | 2 | 0 | Born Carrickmacross.[63] | |||
1897 | 1 | 0 | Born County Cork. |
Currently on an AFLW senior list |
Player | Club/s | AFLW Years* | AFLW Matches* | AFLW Goals* | Connections to Ireland, References | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fremantle | 2023- | 8 | 0 | Raised in County Roscommon | ||
Fremantle | 2023- | 17 | 4 | Raised in County Meath | ||
Fremantle | 2023- | 17 | 1 | Raised in County Armagh | ||
Fremantle | 2023- | 29 | 23 | Raised in County Leitrim | ||
Brisbane | 2023- | 11 | 0 | Raised in County Dublin | ||
Gold Coast Suns | 2023- | 4 | 0 | Raised in County Tyrone | ||
Gold Coast Suns | 2023- | 11 | 4 | Raised in County Donegal | ||
Sydney | 2023- | 12 | 0 | Raised in County Donegal | ||
Sydney | 2023- | 6 | 0 | Raised in County Kerry | ||
Sydney | 2023- | 10 | 0 | Raised in County Kerry | ||
Carlton | 2023- | 5 | 0 | Raised in County Mayo | ||
Carlton | 2023- | 10 | 6 | Raised in County Laois | ||
Geelong | 2023- | 13 | 10 | Raised in County Tipperary | ||
Geelong | 2023- | 1 | 0 | Raised in County Tipperary | ||
Melbourne | 2023- | 6 | 2 | Raised in County Armagh | ||
North Melbourne | 2023- | 7 | 1 | Raised in County Tipperary | ||
Fremantle | 2022- | 21 | 14 | Raised in County Leitrim | ||
North Melbourne | 2022- | 13 | 6 | Raised in County Meath | ||
Hawthorn | 2022- | 10 | 2 | Raised in County Armagh | ||
Hawthorn | 2022- | 7 | 4 | Raised in County Galway | ||
North Melbourne | 2022- | 10 | - | Raised in County Cork | ||
Greater Western Sydney | 2022- | 19 | 1 | Born and raised in Cork, County Cork | ||
Brisbane | 2020- | 55 | 21 | Raised in County Tipperary | ||
North Melbourne, Hawthorn | 2020- | 48 | 7 | Born and raised in Killala, County Mayo | ||
Collingwood | 2020- | 47 | 15 | Raised in County Cavan | ||
Melbourne | 2020- | 43 | - | Raised in County Cavan | ||
West Coast, Adelaide | 2020- | 43 | 12 | Raised in County Mayo | ||
West Coast, St Kilda | 2020- | 33 | 9 | Raised in County Mayo | ||
Geelong | 2020- | 14 | 2 | Raised in County Mayo | ||
St Kilda, Gold Coast Suns | 2020- | 20 | 0 | Raised in County Down | ||
Carlton, Essendon | 2020- | 11 | 1 | Raised in County Fermanagh | ||
Melbourne | 2020-2021 | 8 | 1 | Raised in Malahide, County Dublin | ||
Western Bulldogs | 2020-2021 | 6 | 0 | Raised in County Donegal | ||
Collingwood | 2019- | 53 | 12 | Born and raised in Ballina, County Mayo[64] | ||
Adelaide, North Melbourne | 2019- | 27 | 9 | Raised in County Clare | ||
Greater Western Sydney | 2019- | 12 | 9 | Raised in County Donegal | ||
Fremantle | 2019-2020 | 7 | 5 | Raised in County Louth | ||
Greater Western Sydney | 2018-2022 (S7) | 50 | 55 | Raised in Carnacon, County Mayo[65] | ||
Melbourne | 2016-2018 | 11 | - | Raised in Drumlane, Belturbet and Milltown, County Cavan[66] [67] |