Dissertation

Defended 4 April 2022

On Sides: Reading Irish national identities through soccer, 1920-1998

Soccer in Ireland has intersected with politics at multiple key moments in Irish history: partition, the Republic of Ireland leaving the Commonwealth, the Troubles. These moments provide useful insight into questions of identity in the 20th century. In particular, soccer in Northern Ireland has provided a means of expressing a unique identity for the province, one that is neither fully British nor fully Irish.

Chapters:

• The foundation of the Football Association of Ireland

• Belfast Celtic v Linfield, December 27, 1948

• Northern Ireland’s qualification to the 1958 World Cup

• Derry City Football Club, 1971

• Republic of Ireland in the 1994 World Cup