From guest writer “David”
Over the last few years, Ireland has made a huge impression on world rugby and the wider GGR community. Given the slow pace of work and lack of progress on rugby-related topics at this time of year, I would like to share a little about the background, structure, and journey Irish rugby has taken to enable them to flourish. This seems like the perfect time to provide some information. A team that competes at the highest level. However, to understand Irish sport and rugby, you need to understand a little about the context in which it developed, including the people and land it is located in, so let’s start there.
condition of the land
Ireland (IRE-LAND) is an island (I-LAND) divided into two countries: the Republic of Ireland (Eire), with a population of approximately 5.1 million people, and Northern Ireland, with a population of approximately 1.9 million people. The island is also divided into her four (proud) provinces: Munster, Connaught, Leinster and Ulster. Each state is further divided into counties. Ulster is the only state that straddles both countries, with its six counties in Northern Ireland and its three counties in the Republic of Ireland. Although there is no physical border between “North” and “South”, there is a lot of history.
A brief history of Ireland
For thousands of years, each province of Gaelic Ireland had its own king, and the “High King” was the monarch. In the 12th century, the High King of Connaught overthrew the King of Leinster (Dilmate or Dermot). But not one to give up, Diamite decided it would be a great idea to invite King Henry II of England to help him reclaim the throne. Henry sniffed an opportunity and invaded, declaring himself “Lord of Ireland.” However, before taking full control of his country, Henry II had to go to put down a rebellion instigated by his son in France (if your own son wants to kick you out) Never put on a good face while With Henry’s departure, a small part of Ireland around Dublin (‘The Pale’) was ruled by the English, while the rest (‘Beyond the Pale’) was ruled primarily by traditional Gaelic clans. In his hands, he waged war against various British lords.
This arrangement and fighting continued until the 16th century, when Henry VIII decided it was time to end things once and for all and invaded again. The Irish once again proved to be a difficult group to control, so the next move was not to defeat the Irish into submission, but to breed them by offering northern lands to Protestant families. was to try.
Fast forward to the 20th century, and although fighting between the Irish and British was still going on, most Irish were relatively content as part of Great Britain. All this changed with the events of Easter 1916, when the rebellion began in Dublin. British troops were called in and quickly put down the republican rebellion, but the result was a terrible political decision and the decision was made to execute the leaders of the rebellion. This law increased support for the Republican cause in both Ireland and the United States, leading to the Irish War of Independence that began in 1919. A settlement was reached in 1921, with Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom and the island split in two. .
How history has influenced sport and rugby
What does this have to do with sports and rugby? I’ll explain further, but it’s quite a bit. However, there are a few points to conclude this section.
- Northern Ireland usually forms part of ‘Team GB’. This is why you see Irish players in Commonwealth games. Northern Ireland’s individual athletes, like Rory McIlroy, can choose which country they represent at the Olympics. Northern Ireland has its own football team. But when it comes to rugby, Ireland competes as one. We will discuss this in more detail in the future.
- Rugby is considered a “British” sport. When Lansdowne Road, the home of Irish Rugby, was redeveloped, it was necessary to allow rugby to be played at Croke Park, the country’s largest stadium and the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). A special exception had to be made. Hurling and Gaelic football are traditional Irish sports. The competition of any ‘British’ sport was prohibited in the hallowed grounds of Croke Park. Croke Park was the scene of Bloody Sunday in 1920, when British troops opened fire on unarmed civilians in response to a republican attack. If you have time, check out this video that tells the story of Croke Park and his 2007 Ireland vs. England match. No Words Needed: Croke Park 2007 (youtube.com). It’s a great match worth watching as it shows the power of passion in sport.
- The competition in the state is huge, and as you can see by now, it’s much bigger than sports. All states share a hatred for Leinster (think New South Wales), but they also cannot get along with each other. Of course, things change when you don the green Ireland jumper. When playing for the national team, all other differences are put aside and the Irish are united once again.
Part II explores how Irish rugby has overcome these historical and cultural challenges and achieved success on the international stage, and how this reflects the ethos and values of Irish rugby. I’ll take a look at what they’re doing.