Is there anything Irish about London Irish?

Funkstard

Is the club just Irish in name now? Even the little fecker Shange Geraghty has nothing Irish about him. I'm watching the Saracens - Irish match now and I got thinking about this.

I don't even know about the history of it, did it used to be a club for exiles but then with professionalism etc. it all went corporate?

bugler

Shane Geraghty's dad is from Mayo, and he did play age-group levels for Ireland.

With regard to London Irish itself, the fan-base is still heavily drawn from Irish or second generation Irish in the London area. As I understand it the amateur club has a majority of Irish players.

Professionalism hasn't made it easy for such a club. They could play their part more in seeking to actively target Irish players, but Irish players might need to play their part too. Irish wouldn't the richest club I'm sure. As I understand it Shane Jennings turned down LI in favour of Leicester, I'm not sure if it was for money or the chance to play for a bigger club. But if we can't expect professional players to choose LI on the basis of their Irish heritage then why should we expect the club to choose Irish players?

There just isn't the room for sentiment, unfortunately.

Funkstard

I suppose. I worded my thing about Geraghty wrong, I was trying to say how he could play for Ireland but chose England instead

Chucky the tree

I suppose the fact he was born in England and grow up there make it easy for him, also the fact that irish players playing in England are largely ignored.

davyjose

With regards to Geraghty England picked him. If you're Mam and Dad were Welsh, for example, you might play for them - but only if they asked you. But if Ireland asked you you definitely would. It was the exact same situation for geraghty only the countrys are different.
Who can blame the guy?

Funkstard

I know I know, but it would have been great if he declared for Ireland.

7mountpleasant

His brother played u21for ireland i think. The reason he declared for england is mainly due to the fact that he was brought through the english academy system so it would
be hard for him not to declare for england. I only live 30 miles from Irish but I would rather watch wasps play as the whole plastic paddy thing at the irish games is infuriating.

Diamondmaker

Bob Casey is Irish and ex Leinster.
Shane Geraghty was Irish qualified. But Eng selction has now ended this.
Shane, possibly, smartly realising he has a better short term chance of making the Eng squad than the Irish right now!

Also he grew up in Eng he may well consider him slef English...who knows.

Also...

Justin Bishop 2o odd irish caps
Aidan McCullough Ire A
Declan Danaher Ire 19s

But the clubs Irish connection really is a hitoric thing where expats used to socialise/play..

Leicester "Irish" however currently have about 9 irish I think along with 4/5 Murphys!!:D

dRNk SAnTA

I think a lot of the board that run the club are irish or have strong irish connections.

I read an article about the club a while back, it said that London Irish went to the IRFU and offered to start a new academy for Irish qualified players, seperate to their english academy. The idea was to be like an IRFU outpost in england, IRFU said no though. I can see why the IRFU said no, it would be wrong to support players that are based outside Ireland.

Shame about losing out on geraghty, looks to be a very good player. Can understand his decision though. I wouldn't declare for france just because my dad was french.

bugler

With regard to Geraghty, he said in an interview with the Guardian that he basically feels English having grown up there, and that's fair enough. He was in a tricky position, there are more outhalf prospects in England than Ireland at the moment, but he might not have been given a look in for Ireland unless he moved to an Irish province (i.e away from home).