The League of Ireland is commonly seen as a development league, one whose best players are signed at an early age, usually by larger, wealthier clubs from Britain, following a pattern established more than a century ago. But in this set of four case studies from the 1920s through to the twenty-first century another narrative is examined: the stories of footballers who have come into the League of Ireland from outside.

This talk by Gerard Farrell will explore the circumstances that brought these footballers to Ireland, the scouting networks, the inter-relationships between leagues, and in several cases the major geopolitical events taking place at the time.

It also examines the experiences of those men while they were playing in Ireland and investigates what these four case studies can tell us about the League of Ireland and Irish society more broadly.

Booking: Email drumcondralibrary@dublincity.ie or call on 01 222 8344