Not really as simple as that, by the C19th many of the elite resident Gentry were either in Parliament (winter season - ie football season) and therefore not present during this season or where generally absentee.
Current sports season model is based on C19th English sport culture which dictated that Cricket can only be played in dry weather - to allow ball bounce etc, while Football could be played in muddy winter fields - so it is a circular round-year season.
Masses in urban areas, had dog-fighting, bull-baiting, ****-fighting, bullets, along with gambling to keep them occupied - even rural population had handball and hurling.
Very few elites in Ireland had any involvement in promoting sport amongst masses.
By and large the Irish population was pre-occupied with European opiates, religion, politics (land ownership) and beer -- without Ascendancy having to worry about occupying their sporting inclinations.
I have talked to top Irish Sport academics about this, which with respect, trumps Mr Gillespie. You do appreciate academics differ and sports diffusion was not about keeping untermensch down, but allowing greater social cohesion.
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