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FAI History

Football in Ireland has a rich history dating back to the 19th Century. First introduced to the island of Ireland in the 1860s, football has grown to become the most popular sport in the country, with over 450,000 people regularly involved in the game.

From the introduction of the sport to Ireland in the 1860s, through to the foundation of the FAI in the 1920s, and the success enjoyed by our international teams in the years since, you can read all about the history of football in Ireland by selecting from the relevant links below.


early-years

1930-1959

1960-1986

charlton

mccarthy

present-day

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