Association football is often known as both football and soccer in the Republic of Ireland, sometimes to avoid confusion with gaelic football (one of the country's national games). Although Association football is not the national game of the Republic of Ireland it is one of the most popular sports in the country. Gaelic football (Irish: Peil or Caid ), commonly referred to as football, Gaelic or GAA (gah), is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. ...

However, for many years, soccer was largely confined to Dublin and a few provincial towns. In some towns the game had been started by British Army teams, leading to the derisory nickname the "garrison game". Soccer was played in relatively few schools: middle-class schools favoured rugby union while others, especially those run by the Christian Brothers, favoured Gaelic Games. From the late 1960s, soccer began to achieve more widespread popularity. Minister Donagh O'Malley began a new program of state-funded schools in 1966, many with soccer pitches and teams. The Gaelic Athletic Association's ban on members playing "foreign" games was lifted in 1971. RTÉ television, founded in 1962, and British television on cable from the 1970s, broadcast soccer regularly. Above all, the increasing success of the international side from the late 1980s gave increased television exposure, more fans, and more funds to the nations's football association, the FAI. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... A rugby union scrum. ... Note: This page needs to be cleaned up to be brought into conformance with the Manual of Style. ... Gaelic games are the native sports of Ireland: principally Hurling, Gaelic Football and Camogie. ... Donagh OMalley (1921-1968) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... A stylised Celtic cross serves as the traditional logo of the GAA. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael) is an organisation which is mostly focussed on promoting Gaelic Games - traditional Irish sports, such as hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball, and rounders. ... Radio Telefís Éireann[1] (RTÉ; IPA: ,  ) is the Public Service Broadcaster of the Republic of Ireland. ... British television broadcasting has a range of different broadcasters, broadcasting multiple channels over a variety of distribution media. ... Coaxial cable is often used to transmit cable television into the house. ... The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is the organising body for the sport of association football (soccer) in the Republic of Ireland. ...

Despite low match attendances at domestic league games, many people have an interest in the English FA Premier League. Soccer is played at all levels, with children playing it on the street, teenagers playing in local clubs, and even middle-aged men playing it with co-workers on a regular basis. The national body in the Republic is the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). For the Scottish equivalent see Scottish Premier League The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in England and the Barclays English Premier League or just simply The EPL internationally) is a league competition for football clubs located at the top of the English football league system... The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is the organising body for the sport of association football (soccer) in the Republic of Ireland. ...

The domestic league is the FAI National League. Some of the major teams include Cork City F.C., Shelbourne F.C., Bohemians, and Derry City F.C., who are actually from Northern Ireland but play in the Republic's leaue. Due to the small size of the domestic game, most of Ireland's top footballers, such as Damien Duff and Robbie Keane, play in the leagues of larger European countries, particularly in England and Scotland. This is one of the reasons why Irish people tend to support foreign clubs such as Manchester United, Celtic, Liverpool. Rarely does a player from the Republic's domestic league make the national team - the most recent of these being Jason Byrne in 2003. The FAI National League is the Republic of Irelands new national football league system created following the merging of the FAI and the League of Ireland. ... Cork City F.C. is an Irish football (soccer) club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish football club playing in the FAI National League. ... Bohemian F.C. (Irish: An Cumann Peile Bóithéimeach) is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Derry City F.C. are an Irish football club based in the city of Derry. ... Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... Damien Anthony Duff (born March 2, 1979 in Ballyboden, Dublin) is an Irish footballer. ... Robert David Robbie Keane: (born 8 July 1980 in Tallaght, Dublin) is an Irish footballer, who currently plays as a striker for Tottenham Hotspur . ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic)1 Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II... Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... Celtic Football Club (pronounced seltik in IPA; AIM: CCP) is a Scottish football club, competing in the Scottish Premier League, the highest form of competition in Scotland. ... Liverpool Football Club are an English professional football club based in Liverpool. ... Jason Byrne is the author of the book Guide to Webcams, originally published by Prompt Publishing in August 2000. ...

On the international stage, the Republic of Ireland - despite never winning a major tournament - have qualified for three World Cups and one European Championship in the past. The FIFA World Cup Trophy, which has been awarded to the world champions since 1974. ... There are various championships held in a variety of sports on a European Level: European Figure Skating Championships (figure skating) European Football Championship (football) European Basketball Championship (basketball) European LC Championships (swimming) European SC Championships (swimming) European Mens Handball Championship (handball) European Womens Handball Championship (handball) Rugby League...

Recently, aided by the Northern Ireland peace process and the easing of sectarian tensions on the island as a whole, the Setanta Cup was set up by its sponsors, television channel, Setanta Ireland, which is an all-island knock-out style tournament featuring eight teams, four being from the FAI National League and four from the Irish league of Northern Ireland. Despite fairly low turnouts for each juridictions leagues, the Setanta Cup drew relatively successful gate receipts and its 2 year existence has had one winner from the North and one from the South. When discussing the history of Northern Ireland, the peace process is generally considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 IRA ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of The Troubles, the Belfast (or Good Friday) Agreement, and subsequent political developments. ... The Setanta Cup is a football competition featuring clubs from both political entities on the island of Ireland. ... Setanta Sports (pronounced Seh-tan-tah) is a leading Irish international sports broadcaster, operating 12 channels in 24 countries. ... The Irish Football League (IFL), or Irish League, is a league of football (soccer) clubs in Northern Ireland. ... Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ...