Manchester United - The Irish Connection

The Taurean

looks like a chipmunk
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
11,950
Location
Nothing is so common as the wish to be remarkable.
I have always wondered about the Irish bond with United. The origin and the affinity of this bond has been somewhat of a mixture of information.
The Irish have had a long history of association with the city of Manchester dating back a few centuries, and still going stronger. And no doubt the players that have gone on to become successful, and enjoy legendary status at the club. But so do some of the Scottish clubs like Celtic. What is it that separates this bond from the rest? I have read about some other information that varies between integration of the community with Manchester, Munich disaster, religion, and the Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, most of them are with regard to the 50s.

Well, we have lot of Irish on here for good reasons. So what is your piece of history that have made yourself forever associated with United? What is the tale of your forefathers or yourself? Share some snippet or two about this connection pre-50s that has been passed to you.
 
There's a show they put out occasionally on MUTV about the Irish players who played for United.

Infact it's called the Irish Connection, hmm now i'm thinking you already knew this.
 
Oirish United players among the top 100 United players with most appearances:

7. Tony Dunne
8. Dennis Irwin
11. Roy Keane
13. George Best
20. Sammy McIlroy
36. John O'Shea
37. Shay Brennan
39. Johnny Carey
55. Kevin Moran
56. Frank Stapleton
64. Norman Whiteside
75. Jimmy Nicholl
76. Harry Gregg
90. Paul McGrath
 
Johnny Carey was the first post-war captain and first from outside the UK

I still wonder to the day how good Paul McGrath could of been if it wasn't for his troubles
 
Kevin Moran played for the same club as me and went to the same school. I was in love with McGrath, still am a bit.
 
There is a strong connection between Ireland and Manchester that goes back to the days of the Industrial Revolution. Many Irish went over to work in the mills and factories of Manchester.
 
Paul mcgrath was born where i have lived my entire life, yet for some reason, i only found this out recently. You'd think a former international football player would get a mention 'round these parts!
 
Manchester United was the catholic club of Manchester.

Therefore had a strong connection with Irish immigrants in Manchester.
 
CnutOfAllCnuts said:
You like middle-aged drunks?

Different people, different tastes, I guess..
Click to expand...


I'm old too, and a selective memory is age's greatest asset, I just remember the young lithe Paul, with his deft touch, his winning smile, the balance of a mountain goat and the knees of an old mule.
 
A lot of the above are the reasons why the Irish (most of us anyway) cannot be labeled as glory hunters for supporting Utd.

We have a long affiliation and history with the club and it is bred into us in most cases.

If anything we have more of a right to support the club than Londoners :nervous:
 
FortBoyard said:
Manchester United was the catholic club of Manchester.

Therefore had a strong connection with Irish immigrants in Manchester.
Click to expand...

Not this again! The club had no connection to religion whatsoever.

I think the players had more to do with it as most have said. This guy, for example:

4558679383_c4b3e75110.jpg
 
My father who was in the music business had met and had even had drinks with George Best and maybe even more than just booze quite a few times times after he stopped playing even though Best was not from the Republic. When my old man was young the Irish needed a hero that they could look up to to give everyone a lift in the days when the economy was a joke and while Best continually destroyed teams with ease in Europe, one of the first big love affairs between the nation and the club had started even though the Irish were very proud of other great Irish players that had played at the highest level at Utd before best such as Shay Brennan etc!
So my old man made sure I was a United fan even though they were pretty crap under Ron Atkinson when I was young. I was almost embarrased to support them back then and took plenty of abuse from young liverpool fans but I continued supporting them as I thought they had the coolest crest of all other teams on their jersey that showed a little red devil and I often heard stories in my household that the greatest player that ever lived was Irish and played for Man Utd but I rarely saw any footage of Best play in the 60`s when I was kid. Just kept hearing about him and often wondered how great he must have been.
Then when I hit about 14 years old I became serious about not only playing football but watching it also and not only did Man Utd become the most exciting team to watch for a generation shortly afterwards but they also had 2 big heros of mine and everyone else in Ireland in Roy Keane and Irwin to turn me into a fanatic which is what I have been ever since! Roy Keane was to my generation in Ireland what Best would have been in my fathers generation! I am not sure though of my familys connection with United before George Best! Maybe my grandad was but I will have to ask my old man about it!
 
Bread said:
Whats the wolves connection?
Click to expand...
Wolves were a force back then. And during that time the support of the Irish was spread among many clubs. But in spite it was the local presence of the Irish in Manchester ensuring United a special place for years to come. I cited based on few articles I have read earlier. So was basically exploring the various angles. No doubt the players and the huge irish contigent since the old times being the core reason. As i see its all post 50s that I have known about.
 
We've always had a soft spot for those on the island of Ireland... It still continues today. Northern Irish players like Evans and Evans, Cathcart and Dudgeon. Irish players like McGinty and Brady, and of course O'Shea and, er, McShane.

The island of Ireland has provided us with a lot of talent so it's no real surprise we scout heavily there. I'd imagine we have various partnerships with schools and academies all over the island.
 
It breaks my heart that it was two Irish businessmen who's pure greed for money was one of the major reasons them filthy americans got their grubby little ginger mits on our club, can't think of the others name but one was Desmond somethingorother.Fergie apparently won!
To answer the OP though, it was Bestie for me, one of the few people that crossed the sectarian divide at the time and gave N. Iron something to be proud of. The man was a legend.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.