Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football

On this week's podcast Kehlan talks with Author, Historian and Everton Heritage Society member Rob Sawyer about his book – The Emerald Evertonian – about the life and times of Ireland and Everton legend Peter Farrell. With over 400 appearances for Everton, 28 for Ireland and 7 for Northern Ireland, Peter Farrell was a huge influence on football both for Everton and Ireland. He was part of famous v...

Now it was by far the biggest story of the year to that point. It caused a huge split in national opinion. Roy Keane was one the biggest footballers in the world. He had become synonymous with a relentless run of trophies at the club. His manager for the Rep. of Ireland, Mick McCarthy, had been one of our greatest defenders under Jack Charlton. Not blessed pace, but blessed with a great ability to...

Now following on from Part 1 where Gerry finished talking about the great goalkeeper Pat Jennings. In Part 2 he talks to Kehlan about Northern Ireland in the 1982 world cup, his famous goal against Spain, moving to Real Mallorca and then finding his way to La Liga commentary, where he became the voice of La Liga for so many people. We start this podcast as Northern Ireland qualify for the 1982 Wor...

Gerry Armstrong is a legend of Northern Ireland football playing and scoring in some of their most iconic games of the 70s and eighties. In part one of our interview with Gerry we talk about how Gaelic Games influenced his football career, joining Spurs, and getting his first caps for Northern Ireland.

On this week’s podcast Kehlan talks with Iain McCartney Manchester United author and historian about the great Johnny Carey and his influence in building a team that would become known as the 'Busby Babes'. Johnny is one of the finest players Ireland has ever produced. Captaining both Ireland and Manchester United. He was captain when Ireland became the first foreign team to beat England on Englis...

On this week's GS podcast Kehlan tells the story of the connection between Dermot Keely and Jim McLaughlin. It is a story of how two men turned to each when they needed them and helped to forge footballing history for over decade.

A Heartfelt thanks from us here at Green Shoots: a history of irish football and thanks for listening through out the year. It has been wonderful to see so many of you take up the podcast and bring it into your listening pleasures. When we started this podcast we wanted to share the long and colorful history of Irish football through the stories of the people that lived it and the people that play...

On this weeks show Kehlan and Gary are looking at the Rep. of Ireland's qualifying campaign for the 2002 world cup in Korea/Japan. With some memorable results, a trip to Iran and perhaps the sowing of the seed that was to erupt before the 2002 world cup was to begin. Don’t forget to share the show on your own social media channels to let more people find out more about the history and heritage of...

Coming up on this week’s podcast we are taking a look at one of our greatest ever footballers as we talk about the great Tom 'Bud' Aherne. We hear from Gary about Buds international career and him being a part some of the Rep. of Ireland’s greatest wins. Then I talk to William Foster from Hatters Heritage (www.hattersheritage.co.uk), a Luton Town FC historical charity, about his time at Lutin Town...

On this week's podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about Ireland's qualification campaign for Euro 2000. Drawn in a group with a the Balkans collection of FR Yugoslavia, Croatia, and Macedonia it was to be no easy group to qualify from. Once that old foe of Macedonia would change the fate of the campaign.

Today we have the 3rd and final part of our journey through Limerick football. In this episode podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about them winning the FAI Cup in 1982, matters off the pitch come to a head with high court drama, and where to now for Limerick football? So the last time we left it Limerick had just won the league tile in the 79/80 season…

We're in part 2 of our journey through Limerick football as we look at the period from 1960 through to 1980. In this episode we look at cup heartbreaks, hooligans in Limerick and Irish football and the coming of Eoin Hand as manager. We'll also be looking at Limerick winning finally winning the FAI Cup in 1971 and the last of Limerick's league titles in 1979/80.

This week's episode is the start of a three episode journey into the story of Limerick football. From a garrison town in 1891 to Treaty United in 2022, Limerick has had a long and storied history with football. In this episode we look at the origins of football in the city from 1891 to becoming League of Ireland champions in 1960.

After the Rep. of Ireland's dramatic 2-3 victory away to Hungary at the weekend (16-11-25) in their World Cup qualifier, they head to playoff. This all seemed so unlikely just a few months before when Ireland were bottom of the table with 1 point from 3 games. Kehlan and Gary look back on an historic night in Budapest and what it means for international football in the country.

Here is a bonus clip that never made it into Episode 27 and my interview with the great Waterford F.C. legend Alfie Hale. In it talks about his relationship with the great Busby Babe & Manchester United legend Denis Viollet. You can go back and listen to that fantastic interview with Alfie in a two parter in epsiode 27 and episode 28. You can also listen back to other great interviews with Pat...

First division football in the League of Ireland has been around from the mid-1980s. Often seen as the LOI graveyard and, at times, notoriously difficult to get out of. So how did it all begin and who the key teams and moments of it during the 1980s?

In this week’s episode it’s the beginning of the Mick McCarthy era as he looks to take the Republic of Ireland to the world cup in France 1998. A stall-worth of the Charlton era. His partnership with Kevin Moran at the back, arguably the greatest center partnership in the history of Irish football. And now all eyes turned to him. Jack had retired into the sunset, but his shadow was long. Just how...

Dermot Keely is one of the most decorated players and managers in League of ireland history and on our last podcast we talked to him about his playing days up to when we walked away from Dundalk to go North and play with Glentoran. You can go back and listen to Part 1 in last week’s podcast, episode 39. Here we pick up the interview as Dermot is about leave Glentoran, head to UCD and eventually to...

Now Dermot Keely is considered by many to be one of the greatest players and managers in League of Ireland history. He has 9 Premier division titles and 7 FAI Cups between player and manager. He won player of the year and personality of the year for the 1984/85 season when he was part of a Shamrock Rovers side stacked with ability and talent. A part from managing Shels, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers...

On this week’s podcast we’re in Europe again as we look at some famous nights for Irish clubs in the European Cup Winners Cup. A competition that no longer exists but which LOI clubs have a long history with.

Now the world cup in Spain 1982 was where Northern Ireland were headed to. But how would they do? No wins for the team as they headed to the world cup, a young man by the name of Norman Whiteside was only 17 and whats more they had been drawn in the same group as hosts Spain. But could Billy Bingham condure some more magic with this team?

Northern Ireland football is about to hit its golden age as Billy Bingham becomes manager in 1980. With him would come some of Northern Ireland footballs most cherished night of football. From the moment he became manager he molded a team with tenacity and toughness that would take them to trophy success and ultimately to multiple World Cups.

On the show this week Kehlan and Gary are talking about the end of an era as Jack Charlton steps away from the Rep. of Ireland after 10 years that delivered so many memories. It came though at the end of the Euro 1996 qualifiers as Ireland miss out on a journey to England.

On this week’s show we have part 2 of our interview with the great Tony Galvin where we talk about winning the UEFA cup with Spurs, especially at White Hart Lane, What was Jack Charlton really like as a manager?, and beating England at Euro '88.

On this week's Podcast Kehlan is talking with Tony Galvin has had a storied career in football. Playing with one of the great teams of the 80s in Tottenham Hotspur, winning two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup. He played for the Rep. of Ireland and playing in all of Ireland’s games in Euro ’88. He has a book as well talking about his and his brother football lives called Galvinised: The Footballing Tale of...