Irish Sports Museum

23/08/2026

With the Aer Lingus College Football Classic coming up next weekend, what better time to look back at the annals of history and the first time American Football appeared on these shores.

A bastion of rugby in Ulster and Ireland, Ravenhill was rammed for an unusual war time game of American football between nominal "Hale" and "Yarvard" (a play of words on the ivy league "old firm" of Yale and Harvard) in November 1942.

A huge crowd of around 8,000 was attracted to what is believed to have been the first game of American football on European soil in 1942, a programme from which is in our collection.

A great article was written in 2018 off the back of a archival find in the Northern Ireland public records office (PRONI), including some brilliant photos of a packed ravenhill and match action, archived here: https://web.archive.org/web/20190722222146/https://wartimeni.com/article/american-football-at-ravenhill-stadium-belfast/

I don't know if he was in the crowd and / or inspired by contemporary news reports, but 4 times IrishRugby capped (1947) and UCD Rugby Football Club legend Dr. Don Hingerty went on to play Canadian Football for a few years, thus when American football came back to these shores for an exhibition game in aid of the Red Cross with Burtonwood Bullets vs. Wethersfield Raiders at Croke Park in Dublin on 21/11/1953, Don was interviewed by the paper to give his views on the game.

Don is pictured in the article in his full regalia. Also attached is a picture of the game at Croke Park from the Irish Photo Archive, and
a picture of Don in the Irish rugby line up from the 1947 test versus Wales.

19/08/2026

Did you know?

In the late 1990s, looking to capitalise on similar success that rugby league had recently had in England and Austrlaia/nz renaming many of the top teams as a combination of place name and characters (Bradford Bulls, Warringtin Wolves, Sydney Rooaters, St George Dragons etx), IrishRugby and the provinces decided to do the same for the provincial teams.

Ulster Rugby were to become the Ulster Knights. The concept didn't get past concept stage and prototype. Although in later years the A team was rebranded as the Ravens.

Connacht Rugby were to become the connacht eagles. The eagle already featured prominently on the crest so there wasnt much change there (although the eagle did start to feature much more prominently in jersey designs in some seasons shortly thereafter), and the senior team never rebranded, with the A team ultimately taking on the Connacht Eagles moniker.

Munster Rugby were to become the Munster Stags. The name didn't stick but the revised incorporation of the stag was well received and remains to this day. As a bye note, given the origins of all this, it was ironic the Munster rugby league masters / over 35s team ultimately adopted the "munster stags" name.

Last but most intriguingly, Leinster Rugby became the Leinster Lions, a title still used to this day in as a term of affection. The new crest was fully adopted by the province, appearing on all official correspondence, match programmes, tickets etc. But a line was drawn with the jerseys, and ultimately the failure to incorporate the new creative into the playing gear and replica shirts led to the brand being quietly replaced by the new stylised harp logo still in use today.

It didn't disappear totally though; as well as the general deference to the nickname still widely used by fans and the media, the great Leo the Lion, who featured squarely at centre stage on the new crest, remains a survivor nearly 30 years on, and a much loved character on match days and beyond for Leinster fans, you and old alike! 🦁

12/08/2026

If you're in Dublin City and have time to spare, the National Gallery of Ireland is a must visit. Free in (donations welcome) and you can see up close Jack B Yeats' wonderful Liffey Swim painting, which won a silver medal at the 1924 olympics (when sports-related art was an Olympic event).
No mention of the olympic medal on the description, which seems odd!

07/08/2026

A great read

EFC has strong links to the Kelly goalkeeping dynasty. Preston North End & Ireland’s Alan Kelly Sr. coached . Alan Kelly Jr. appeared in a youth tournament for EFC & coached Jordan Pickford to greatness. Read more, from :
efcheritagesociety.com/alan-kelly-the…

05/08/2026

It seems somewhat ironic that a lot of the media are focusing on Castore's newly announced 2026/27 being a throwback jersey to the 2000-2002 canterbury jersey, but not mentioning that that jersey itself was a throwback to the original early 1990s O'Neills jersey 🤣 who did it best?

27/07/2026

if you're in or around the midlands this saturday be sure to get in!

27/07/2026

Exciting news! The Vintage Jersey Sale is BACK at the annual Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival on Green Street, Birr on Saturday 1st August from 11am to 5pm.

We have our usual massive array of Soccer, GAA, Rugby and many other sports jerseys over the last 40+ years.

Hundreds of jerseys from little kids to big kids and adults! Prices from a tenner up, all originals, get yourself kitted up with the best selection in town! 😄

17/07/2026

Sad to hear of Boavista in Portugal being wound up. Plenty of riches to rags stories in Irish football over the years, but very few turn ti around to get back to riches again - we found ourselves casting our minds back over 20 years to the time Shamrock Rovers F.C.'s local laundrette had to go to court to try and get paid for washing the kit.

Changed times now as the team goes closer to Champions League Group stage football after a superb result the other night!!!!

11/07/2026

DID YOU KNOW? Louth GAA reached the very first GAA All Ireland Gaelic football final in 1887 (played in early 1888), losing to Limerick by a narrow scoreline at Beech Hill, beside where Donnybrook Dublin Bus Depot is today.

Louth were represented by Young Irelands, who earned that honour by winning the very first Louth Senior Football Championship 0-3 to 0-2 vs Dowdallshill.

Neither club is represented on the playing panel for today's semi final, but theres no doubt plenty of their players and fans will be at Croke Park today along with the rest of the Wee County cheering their heroes on as they seek to make the final again!

15/06/2026

In 2017, in his first full season with Shamrock Rovers, crumlin man Roberto Lopes put in some great performances in the UEFA Europa League, demonstrating some great promise and panache. At the time he was a former irish u19 international (2011, but must have thought there was a good chance senior international football had passed him by.

A decade later, he has become an immortal as he represented his dads native Cape Verde with distinction in a famous 0-0 draw at the World Cup against reigning European champions (and former world cup winners) Spain.

You could describe it as a fairy tale, but its 100% real and 100% history in the making. And we love it! Well done Pico 👍