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Had this discussion a few years ago with a pal and I think we arrived at 6 players.
David Connolly
Gary Breen
Terry Phelan
Kevin Kilbane
I’m struggling now
…maybe Alan McLoughlin
Edit:
I'm not counting McGrath or the O'Learys or others who were reared in Ireland
Paul McGrath!
Dave O'Leary (and Pierce)
Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy too I guess
Sarcasm, I'm guessing.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Seán Maguire. Was born in Luton to Irish parents but only spent the first two months of his life there.
Wikipedia has a list of foreign-born players. Not sure how exhaustive it is.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...lic_of_Ireland
Shay Brennan is one who jumps out - could be wrong, but seeing as he moved back to Ireland to finish his playing career and stayed here, I get the feeling he was culturally Irish and unlikely to play for England.
Didn't even know Stephen McPhail was born in England. Curtis Fleming moved back home at a young age so he'd be similar to McGrath/O'Leary in that regard.
I suppose you could add Ogbene to that list too.
Ogbene was vocal about preferring to play for Nigeria when he first moved to the UK. He only declared for us after Kenny had a word with him in 2020.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Declan Rice....................................I'll get my coat:cool:
Alan Kelly jr
Very interesting to see more guys born in Scotland then in N.Ireland played for usQuote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
I noticed at least one omission. It includes Micky Walsh (Blackpool / Everton / Porto etc) bot not near namesake Mike Walsh (Bolton / Everton / Norwich...). He also got caps for us.
Justin Ferizaj 😊
Why is that sarcastic? I know there were issues in terms of international schoolboy v club for both lads but they showed serious mettle to stay the course with us and, those issues aside, both have spoken about how playing for Ireland was motivated by their background and families and something both lads wanted to deliver on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trequartista20
But did he play GAA like Jackie?Quote:
Originally Posted by greendeiseboy
Was there not some anecdote about Phil Babb wearing an Irish jersey to school around Euro 88?
Re: Babb - he was 17 when Euro 88 happened - never mind my musings above. 🙂
Still. Too. Soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by greendeiseboy
I always got the impression that for Richard Keogh there was no other choice but Ireland. I think Alan McLoughlin (Fixer had question marks) is definitely another.
(great thread!)
That was Gary Been I thinkQuote:
Originally Posted by sadloserkid
Seamus (Jim) McDonagh.
Think his story got a good mention in Eoin Hands book a few years ago.
Didn't McGeady in particular talk about the atmosphere and environment amongst the underage groups with Ireland. Always felt welcomed and liked showing up because it was a positive environment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Compared to the reactions he would have gotten from some within Scotland because of the issues with int schoolboys vs club issue and then joining up with our underage teams at first it probably made his decision to stick with us even easier.
You also look at Rocco Vata to see how some lads in Scotland might have more affiliation to us than Scotland depending on the family. His only link to us is his mother's mother came from Ireland but Scotland would probably be his third choice.
Mick McCarthy not mentioned ? :O
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSS61Deu8t8Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
Footage of McGeady here in an Ireland jersey as a kid and says he wanted to play for Ireland as a kid too. His father speaks very well from about 3 mins on too about it.
Yes, he was one of the '6'Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
McGeady has also said in other interviews he would've played for Scotland but they never asked him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Not sure McCarthy would've only chosen Ireland had he been given the option of either. He's proud of his Englishness and his Irishness. Nothing wrong with thatQuote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
You sure about that ? He always seemed delighted to play for us. I thought the only hitch was waiting for his citizenship, as he wasn’t born here.Quote:
Originally Posted by ColourfulPeanut
https://www.the42.ie/chiedozie-ogben...34042-May2018/Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
By stating his intentions from the outset, Ogbene hopes that declaring his preferred allegiance will be met with understanding. With a genuine attachment to two nations, he insists it would be an honour to represent either of them. However, when he left in late 2005, Ogbene carried his dreams of playing football for Nigeria with him.
He explains: “My family comes from Nigeria, it’s in our blood and it’s where I spent the early part of my life. A lot of people tell me that I grew up in Ireland and that’s important, which it really is. I know that too and I’m not burning any bridges.
“I have to be honest too, because I may never be good enough to play with Nigeria or Ireland anyway — I still have to prove myself. We’ll see what happens if any opportunity comes, but I’m just being up front now in saying that playing for Nigeria is what I’d prefer. I love Ireland and my nationality is Irish, but playing for Nigeria is my dream.”
He was brought to meet Berti Vogts at one point, but he'd already made his mind up to play for IrelandQuote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Would have no issue with him if he'd chosen Nigeria. Happy to have him with usQuote:
Originally Posted by JR89
Definitely, it's the country of his birth and he has genuine love for Ireland too. Would consider himself Irish Nigerian and you respect his honesty.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Fair enough. Hadn’t seen that quote before. However, I think he is genuinely proud to play for us, and I love his attitude.Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
It’s one of those where I think if you asked him now, he’d say he’d prefer to play for Ireland. The connection that he’s created with the fans is so special and the journey has been so special that it’s gone better than he could have imagined. I think that’s often the way.
Same with Michael Obafemi. Would have been the same with Declan Rice if we’d kept him. The love you receive if you become a regular in a squad means there’s rarely regrets. Like I doubt James McCarthy or McGeady would have any regrets at this stage…
The only dudes who I think get regrets are the people who change and then don’t make the grade, like maybe a Aaron McEneff or Michael Duffy
I have provided evidence. Can you also? I don't believe it was that he wasn't asked. I believe it was that he wasn't permitted due to schoolboy rules. Then when he looked like he was going to make it they asked him and he said no.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
And on McEneff or Duffy, maybe an NI cap wouldn't mean anything to them so maybe (probably I reckon) they have no regrets. I was in Derry recently for the first time and people I was really struck by the Irishness of it all. I found it very different to Belfast in that the city there can feel and look like a British one and has various pockets of different identities. I thought the city side of Derry was very clearly Irish and something like Derry City playing in the LOI made sense to me when I was there from a cultural and identity perspective. I could see how the like of Kone Doherty and Harkin immediately lean into our underage teams because it is natural in so many ways, including geographically in that Donegal is so nearby (which is different for Belfast too).Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
I haven't time to trawl the internet but first google search unearthed this. He's not exactly saying there was no question of him playing for anyone other than Ireland. Packie Bonner asked his Da and he played U14 and liked the setup so stayed with us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
The McGeadys have a stronger Irish connection than most foreign-born Irish players but I imagine he could've easily played for Scotland if their rules were different.
https://fb.watch/fGGeTh2gL-/
I made a point, supported it with a video as evidence, and you made a counterpoint with no evidence to support. Sorry for not acknowledging your time restraints. I thought it was a fair ask.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
It is a fair ask. Maybe just chill out a bit. This is not a big issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
I think this line is pretty self-explanatory.
"Scotland had those rules that you couldn't play for your school team, but Ireland didn't.”
Scotland’s rules wouldn’t allow them pick him but Ireland didn’t have those rules. Mind made up. That doesn’t scream ‘I was never ever going to play for anyone but Ireland’ to me. Not saying he wasn’t incredibly proud to play for us but I think he’d have been just as proud to play for the Scots.
Tommy Coyne should have been brought earlier as for Bernie Slaven
Kevin Sheedy
Good old Tony Galvin the marauding winger
Not sure any of them were never going to play for anyone other than Ireland. Bernie Slaven has called himself Scottish in the past. Sheedy phoned up Wales FA when picked for FAI U21s to inform them. They brushed him off so that made his mind up once and for all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bielsa´s irish
Galvin I'm not sure. maybe Tony Grealish would've only chosen Ireland, not sure