JGL07
Well-Known Member
A former work colleague of mine claimed that the split between the Irish League and the League of Ireland happened before partition. I was not convinced and looked it up.I think Irish football used to be a single all Ireland league but split on religious lines.
It extended to almost everything. Try getting a job in Dublin at that time if you were a protestant etc etc.
Guiness was a London Company that moved to Dublin for tax reasons. The entire family converted to Catholicism.
In fairness the reverse was true in n.ireland.
Most of the teams in the Irish League from its formation in 1890 were from the Belfast area. The clubs from the then Irish Free State (Shelbourne and Bohemians) left on partition in 1919-20. They subsequently joined the new League of Ireland in 1921.
Irish Nationalists and Republicans always dismissed football (and cricket) as 'garrison' sports and opted for GAA sports.
Subsequently there were inter-league matches between the Irish League and the League of Ireland. My work colleague, from North Belfast, claimed that both teams wanted to play in green.
'How will we know who is in which team? was the obvious question. 'Sure, we will be able to tell!' said the Northern Irish representative.