Eirball.sport – Irish, North American & World Sports Statistics Archive

Eirball.sport – Gaelic Games, Irish and North American, Global & World Sports in Ireland Archive

Irish American Football

This is an All-Time Record of Irish 11v11 American Football, including All-Time Results & Standings; International Results; Irish 11v11 American Football Teams; Irish 11v11 American Football Players, Coaches & Officials; Irish American Football Records and Irish American Football Yearbooks. Please use the navigation bar above to see the record of Irish 8v8 American Football (Development Leagues; 2nds Teams; Youth Contact Football) and Flag Football.

This is the Index / Landing Page to the All-Time Results, Standings and Box-Scores of American Football Ireland 11v11 Leagues, College Bowl, Early Pre-Pads Football, Festivals, All-Star Games and Preseasons. Below you will find links to the Results & Tables of the Irish American Football League since its first year in 1986, in increasing levels of detail, depending on how much detail you want

Clicking on links on this page will bring the reader to the eirball.ie Gridiron Football subpage

Header Image Credit: [1] Photo by Thomas Ronveaux on Pexels.com [2] American Football Ireland Mini-Helmets by Enda Mulcahy for Eirball [3] Photo by Ricardo CL on Pexels.com [4] Photo by Jean-Daniel Francoeur on Pexels.com

American Football Ireland Premier Era

Irish American Football Association Era

In 2001, a new administration – the Irish American Football Association – re-established the Irish American Football League, as a Winter League in 2001, and a Spring League in 2002, and then in 2003 as ‘Division 1’  with an 8-Man Division 2. Divisions 1 & 2 were merged into one 11-Man, 6-team IAFL in 2004, and the League expanded to 11 teams by 2008, when a new 8-Man Development League was again re-introduced, to help newer teams starting out, and help existing clubs field second teams. the Development League became a full 11-Man Second Level in 2013, with the two tiers renamed the Shamrock Bowl Conference &  IAFL 1 Conference. A third Tier, the IAFL 2 Conference was introduced in 2014, leading to a 23-team League at its height. In 2020 the Irish American Football Association was renamed American Football Ireland, under new management, President Orla McAleese, the first Female President of the Association.

American Football Association of Ireland Era

The Irish American Football League has been running since 1986. The first Shamrock Bowl (Ireland’s Super Bowl or Title Game) was played in 1986 and the first full Irish American Football League season in 1987. For the first three seasons the League operated in Ireland only, and then in 1989 became part of the Combined Gridiron League which operated throughout Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. In 1990 the League returned to an Ireland-only league, but only in Northern Ireland, with the sole Republic of Ireland representatives, the Dublin Celts, playing in the UK Second Division (NCMMA) and playing a series of exhibition matches against the Northern Irish teams. Following on from the Irish League Final, the Champions of the Irish League played against the Dublin Celts in the Shamrock Bowl. In 1991 an All-Ireland American Football League was re-established, under the American Football association of Ireland banner, which became the Irish Senior League in 1997, under new management. This was a time when the initial excitement for the new sport faded, and the NFL was no longer on terrestrial TV in Ireland or Britain, and the number of teams dropped to 3 in 1999, and then in 2000 there was no league

American Football Ireland Division 1

American Football Ireland Division 2

American Football Ireland College

Basketball Ireland

Basketball Ireland was founded as the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland in 1947, and after playing a County and Club Championship format for nearly 30 years switched to a National Basketball League based on clubs in 1973. This became professionalised with the import of American players during the 1979-80 season and the name of the organisation was changed to the Irish Basketball Association to reflect this. The IBA became Basketball Ireland in 2003 and organises National Leagues, Cups and Tournaments as well as entering International competitions.

Clicking on basketball links will bring you to the eirball.basketball subpage

National Basketball Leagues

This is the Eirball Index Page to the All-Time Results and Standings of the Basketball Ireland National Leagues. First founded in 1973-74 after 27 years of the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland All-Ireland Club and County Championshps, the National Basketball Leagues have two tiers in both Men’s and Women’s Basketball.

Header Picture Credit: [1] Folan, John | Irish Basketball Memories of the 80s And 90s Facebook Group (2020) Post to Page, January 27, 2020″Fantastic team loved going to see them play” [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/84031072_1023908997993251_8391839803976450048_n.jpg?nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=ca434c&_nc_ohc=eZjapq8zlu4AX9QUva&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=03447b305a695c8d4a572078f382a059&oe=5E9F44CB [Accessed 25 March 2020][Adjusted]

IBA / BINL Men’s Super League 1993-Present

In 1991 the Association merged the Men’s Divisions 1 & 2 into one National Basketball League, with two conferences: North & South. At the same time it reduced the number of paid American Imports from two to one, thinking the Irish playerscould make the step up. The fans lost interest, however, with just one American on the teams, and it is regarded as the end of the “Golden Era”. After two seasons under this format, the two division set-up was reinstated, with Divisions 1 & 2 now named the Super League & Division 1.

The Irish Basketball Association was rebranded in 2003 as Basketball Ireland, and the two Conference (North & South) model was again reintroduced, although the two Division (2 levels) set-up was retained. The Women’s 2nd Level was reinstated at this time also, although the Women’s Divisions never had North & South Conferences.

In 2013 the Super League underwent a name-change to the Premier League, as a drastic attempt was made to fix the National Leagues and the massive debt Basketball Ireland had built up.   In 2016 the Super League brand made a comeback and by 2019 it was stated on the Basketball Ireland website that the €1.4 Million debt was paid off.

ABAI / IBBA National Basketball League Division 1 1975-1993

The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland was formed in 1947. After 25 years of All-Ireland Championships based on a Club & County basis like in the GAA, the ABAI created the first National Basketball League based on clubs in 1972-73.

In 1979-80 St. Vincent’s Killarney brought in two paid American Imports, contrary to the rules of the ABAI, but after taking no action against them for most of the season, they relented having seen how many fans it was bringing in, and allowed paid imports, changing the name of the Association to the Irish Basketball Association to reflect this. This era, from 1980-1991 is regarded by many in Irish Basketball as its “Golden Era”

IBA / BINL Women’s Super League 1997-Present

IBBA National League Ladies / Women’s Division 1 1979-1997

Irish Basketball Association / Basketball Ireland Men’s Division 1

In 1993 the Men’s Budweiser League was again split between two levels, with the highest level being named the Super League and the second level Division 1.

Irish Basketball Association Men’s Division 2

The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland created a second level for Men’s Basketball in 1977-78, known as Division 2, which remained Division 2 after the re-branding of the organisation in 1979-80. For the 1991-92 season, both Divisions were merged into one Budweiser-sponsored League with North and South Conferences and American-style playoffs.

Basketball Ireland Women’s Division 1

Irish Basketball Association Ladies / Women’s Division 2

Basketball Ireland National Cups

All-Ireland Basketball Championships

From the formation of Basketball Ireland as the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland in 1947 until 1979, the Irish Basketball Championship was organized on a Club and County basis, with Provincial Championships preceeding the All-Ireland Championships. from 1980 onwards with the formation of the National Basketball League, the All-Ireland Championship and Regional Championship was reserved for Underage Competitions.

Featured Image Credit

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

All-Ireland Underage Club Cups and Championships

Underage Basketball Championships have been held in Ireland since the time of the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland (1947-1979) – then known as Minor Championships, they were based on the GAA system of County and Club Championships, with Provincial Championships preceeding the All-Ireland Championships.

After the ABAI was renamed the Irish Basketball Association in 1980 there was widespread restructuring within Irish Basketball, with the counties replaced by Area Boards, and a National League based on Clubs replacing the All-Ireland County and Club Championships. With this there were only Area Board Leagues for Underage grades and son a Playoff system was introduced for the winners of each. The Under 19 Regional Championships were played from the 1980s to early 2000s when again the Regional Championships were replaced by the All-Ireland Club Cups after the rebranding of the IBA as Basketball Ireland.

Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland 1947-1979

The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland (now Basketball Ireland) was the organisation in charge of running Basketball in Ireland from 1947 to 1979 when it changed its name to the Irish Basketball Association. From 1953 to 1973 it was organised on a Club and County basis like the Gaelic Athletic Association.

The All-Ireland Blitz from 1953 to 1964 was the Club Championship, held on a Blitz basis over the course of a weekend in one venue. It was replaced by the National Basketball Cup, in which the top 16 teams from the four provinces played in four groups of four over the course of a year with semi-finals and final. In 1973 a National League based on clubs replaced the All-Ireland County Championships and National Basketball Cup.

International Basketball

FIBA Europe Mens Competitions

FIBA Europe Womens Competitions

Olympic Games Basketball

With the London Olympic Games in close proximity, Ireland sent a Basketball team to compete in 1948, just one year after the foundation of the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland.

FIBA Europe Club Competitions

Irish Ice Hockey

This is the Eirball Index Page to the All-Time Results & Standings of Irish Ice Hockey Leagues. Ice Hockey has been played in Ireland since 1940 when the first Leagues were played in Belfast during WW2, mostly by Canadian Soldiers stationed there during the War but also by Irish Ice Hockey players. Leagues have come and gone since with the most recent being the Cross-Border Cup from 2016-17 to the present.

Clicking on links in the Ice Hockey section will bring the reader to the eirball-ice.hockey subpage

Header Image (1): Contributor: Kat72 Closeup of one hockey stick and puck laying on textured ice in black and white Item ID: 576241228 [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/closeup-one-hockey-stick-puck-laying-576241228 [Accessed 22 March 2022]

Featured Image Credit

Featured Picture Credit: Vincent JIANG / Shutterstock (2018) Montreal, Canada – March 18 2018：Junior hokey team parading in the Saint Patrick`s Day in Montreal downtown [Accessed 4 May 2021]

Irish Ice Hockey Leagues

Ice Hockey has been played in Ireland since 1940 when it was first introduced by Canadian soldiers serving in Northern Ireland during World War II. This page provides a link to the Final Standings and Results of various Leagues in Ireland since then. The greatest Irish Ice Hockey League of all time was the Irish Ice Hockey League of 2007 to 2010, when the Dundalk Ice Dome was open, and the league featured teams which could compete in Europe.

Underage Ice Hockey

Irish Ice Hockey Teams

From the first teams in the Balmoral Ice Rink in the 1940s and 1950s to the present day.

Irish Ice Hockey Officials

The most senior Ice Hockey Official ever to come from Ireland was Terry Kelly, born in Toronto to Irish immigrant parents, but brought up in Belfast from the age of three. Kelly had a storied career in Administration, which included spells as a Director in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Elite Ice Hockey Leagues

As well as playing in the Elite Ice Hockey League (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), the Belfast Giants can compete in the Champions Hockey League (European Champions League)

Celtic Ice Hockey Leagues

As well as the Elite Ice Hockey League (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland – Pro Level 4 (A) in the National Hockey League (North America) system), there are also Celtic or Scottish Leagues which Irish teams have participated in since the 1980s, forming a bridge between the Pro Levels (EIHL) and the purely recreational or amateur Irish Leagues.

In the 1980s and 1990s teams from Castlereagh, based at Dundonald Ice Bowl entered Scottish or Northern English / Scottish Leagues, and then from 2008 to 2010 teams from both Dundonald and Dundalk Ice Bowls entered the Celtic League, which was more evenly distributed between Irish and Scottish sides.

Eirball.horse – Irish Polo Sports, Horse Racing, Harness Racing and Equestrian Statistics Archive

The Eirball.sport Polo, Polocrosse, Horse Racing Harness Racing and Equestrian archive is an All-Time Archive of the results of the aforementioned sports in Ireland.

Featured Image Credit: Dublin, Ireland – 2016: Cricket/Polo game on Phoenix Park. Credit: Sonia Ricco

Ireland Water Polo Men’s

Ireland Water Polo Women’s

FINA International Water Polo

Schools & Colleges Water Polo

Leinster Water Polo

Water Polo Tournaments

Scottish Water Polo

Water Polo Teams

Swim Ireland

The Olympic Games is the pinnacle of an Athletes career and Irish Swimmers have been winning Medals at the Olympic Games since 1924. The Irish Open Swimming Championships are one of the highlights of the Irish Swimming Calendar.

Open Sea Swimming

The Dublin City Liffey Swim was first raced in 1920 and was the first of its kind in the World.

Polo

Polo originated in Iran and was introduced to Britain and Ireland by the British Army after it was discovered there.

Polocosse

Polocrosse is a version of Lacrosse played on Horseback. It was invented in Northern Australia in the 1970s and the first World Cup was played in 2003.

Featured Image Credit: Ireland v Zimbabwe player riders horse action play at world cup polo-cross championship games at Shongweni equestrain fields outside Durban. ©chrisvanlennephoto/123RF.COM

Canoe Polo

Canoe Polo is a team ball game similar to Water Polo, with the difference that players are in canoes. Players try to pass the ball to each other and score in a goal at the defending teams end while navigating around the pool by canoe.

IMAGE REFERENCE

[3] Contributor: filippo giuliani (2022) canoe polo competition Item ID: 1360429004 [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/canoe-polo-competition-1360429004 [Accessed 20 February 2022]

Munster Polo League

Munster Polo League The Munster Polo League Division 2 is the top level Canoe Polo League in Munster (South of Ireland) and Division 3 Nationally, below the Premier League.

Canoeing

Powerboat Racing

Underwater Hockey

Underwater Hockey, as its name suggests, is a team sport where players push a puck along the bottom of a pool with the goal of scoring at their opposing teams end. Players wear snorkel gear and come up for air at timed intervals.

Below you will find links to the Results & Tables of competitions in Ireland:

Surfing

Ireland Hosted the first European Surfing Championships in 1972.

Quidditch

Quidditch is a team sport based on the sport portrayed in the Harry Potter books & films, whereby players on Broomsticks attempt to score through a vertical hoop at either end of the pitch.

Below you will find links to the results & tables of various competitions in Ireland:

Country & Western Sports

Country Sports included on eirball.rodeo are Tractor Football and the National Ploughing Championships, while Western Sports included are Cowboy Polo, Rodeo, Pack Burro Racing and Dog Mushing

Tractor Football

Tractor Football made it’s debut in Ireland at the 2016 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

Ploughing

Rodeo and Western Sports

There are a few different American Sports such as Rodeo in Texas which are Official State Sports. Others include Alaska Dog Mushing (racing with a Husky and Sled), Colorado Pack Burro Racing (racing a donkey with supplies up a mountain), and Cowboy Polo (originally started in New Mexico but now only played in Montana).