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PODCAST

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football

Kehlan Kirwan & Gary Spain

Host Kehlan Kirwan and expert Gary Spain take a journey into the history of Irish football. From great players and famous national teams, to League of Ireland sides and individuals that graced the domestic league – they’ll bring some of the great stories of Irish football to you.

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All Episodes

7:00

BONUS - Alfie Hale and Manchester United Legend...

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/11/07

Here is a bonus clip that never made it into Episode 27 and my interview with the great Waterford F.C. legend Alfie Hale. In it talks about his relationship with the great Busby Babe & Manchester United legend Denis Viollet.You can go back and listen to that fantastic interview with Alfie in a two parter in epsiode 27 and episode 28. You can also listen back to other great interviews with Pat Fenlon, Eoin Hand, Dermot Keely, Tony Galvin and Pat Byrne as well.

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50:45

Up and Down - The Beginning of the First Division

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/10/30

First division football in the League of Ireland has been around from the mid-1980s. Often seen as the LOI graveyard and, at times, notoriously difficult to get out of.So how did it all begin and who the key teams and moments of it during the 1980s?

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56:57

In the Shadow of Jack - Mick McCarthy & World Cup '98...

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/10/23

In this week’s episode it’s the beginning of the Mick McCarthy era as he looks to take the Republic of Ireland to the world cup in France 1998. A stall-worth of the Charlton era. His partnership with Kevin Moran at the back, arguably the greatest center partnership in the history of Irish football. And now all eyes turned to him.Jack had retired into the sunset, but his shadow was long. Just how do you followed the man who made it all happen?

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52:56

This Football Life - Dermot Keely (Part 2)

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/10/16

Dermot Keely is one of the most decorated players and managers in League of ireland history and on our last podcast we talked to him about his playing days up to when we walked away from Dundalk to go North and play with Glentoran. You can go back and listen to Part 1 in last week’s podcast, episode 39.Here we pick up the interview as Dermot is about leave Glentoran, head to UCD and eventually to that all conquering Shamrock rovers team on the 1980's under Jim McLoughlin.

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44:01

This Football Life - Dermot Keely (Part1)

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/10/09

Now Dermot Keely is considered by many to be one of the greatest players and managers in League of Ireland history.He has 9 Premier division titles and 7 FAI Cups between player and manager. He won player of the year and personality of the year for the 1984/85 season when he was part of a Shamrock Rovers side stacked with ability and talent.A part from managing Shels, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers to premier division titles, he also won promotion with Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps.Not bad for a man the

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72:21

Barcelona to Bucharest and Back - LOI Clubs in the...

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/10/02

On this week’s podcast we’re in Europe again as we look at some famous nights for Irish clubs in the European Cup Winners Cup. A competition that no longer exists but which LOI clubs have a long history with.

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68:36

Hamilton, Arconada, Armstrong, Immortality - N....

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/09/25

Now the world cup in Spain 1982 was where Northern Ireland were headed to. But how would they do? No wins for the team as they headed to the world cup, a young man by the name of Norman Whiteside was only 17 and whats more they had been drawn in the same group as hosts Spain. But could Billy Bingham condure some more magic with this team?

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62:24

The House That Billy Built - N.Ireland & 1982 World...

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/09/18

Northern Ireland football is about to hit its golden age as Billy Bingham becomes manager in 1980. With him would come some of Northern Ireland footballs most cherished night of football. From the moment he became manager he molded a team with tenacity and toughness that would take them to trophy success and ultimately to multiple World Cups.

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81:46

A Wave Goodbye - Euro '96 Qualifiers & the end of an era

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/09/11

On the show this week Kehlan and Gary are talking about the end of an era as Jack Charlton steps away from the Rep. of Ireland after 10 years that delivered so many memories. It came though at the end of the Euro 1996 qualifiers as Ireland miss out on a journey to England.

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49:15

This Football Life - Tony Galvin (Part 2)

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/09/04

On this week’s show we have part 2 of our interview with the great Tony Galvin where we talk about winning the UEFA cup with Spurs, especially at White Hart Lane, What was Jack Charlton really like as a manager?, and beating England at Euro '88.

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48:43

This Football Life - Tony Galvin (Part 1)

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/08/28

On this week's Podcast Kehlan is talking with Tony Galvin has had a storied career in football. Playing with one of the great teams of the 80s in Tottenham Hotspur, winning two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup. He played for the Rep. of Ireland and playing in all of Ireland’s games in Euro ’88. He has a book as well talking about his and his brother football lives called Galvinised: The Footballing Tale of Brothers Chris and Tony Galvin.

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48:54

Belfast to Borisov - League of Ireland in the...

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/08/21

On this week's show Kehlan and Gary are back for Part 2 of our European Cup special talking about some famous nights for League of Ireland clubs in the European Cup/Champions League.Ties in this episode: Dundalk F.C. v Linfield -> Hibs -> CelticLimerick F.C. v Real Madrid Athlone Town v KBShamrock Rovers v Linfield Cork v CwmbranSt. Patrick's Athletic v CelticShelbourne F.C. v SlogaBohemians F.C. v BATE BorisovShelbourne F.C. in 2004Dundalk F.C. in 2016

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51:57

Belfast to Borisov - League of Ireland in the...

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/08/14

On this week's podcast it's part one of a two part look at League of Ireland clubs in the European Cup. We look at the glamour ties, the near misses and the wins that LOI clubs have had on their European journeys. On this episode we talk about: Shamrock Rovers v OGC Nice, 1959F.C. Zurich v Dundalk F.C., 1963Drumcondra F.C. v ASK Vowaerts Berlin, 1965Waterford F.C. v Manchester United, 1968Waterford F.C. v Glentoran F.C. -> Celtic F.C., 1970Bohemians F.C. v Rangers F.C., 1975Dundalk F.C. v PSV

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51:20

The Greatest They Never Knew - The Patrick O'Connell...

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/08/08

The incredible story of Patrick O’Connell was for a long time lost. Buried in the layers of time that passes. But in Seville and Barcelona he’ll never be forgotten. He made winning trophies a habit and made players feel ten foot tall.This is the story of the first Irishman to captain Manchester United, To bring the first and only La Liga league title to Real Betis, and who resurrected FC Barcelona from ashes.

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75:44

Losers to Legends - Northern Ireland and the 1958...

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/07/31

On this week's Green Shoots: a history of Irish football with Kehlan Kirwan and football historian Gary Spain they're looking at how Northern Ireland qualified for the 1958 World Cup and how they fared at the tournament in Sweden. From being a team that everybody beat to cementing they're place in Northern Ireland football history, this is the story of how a team became legends.

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63:33

This Football Life - Alfie Hale (Part 2)

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/07/24

In part 2 of our interview with Alfie Hale we talk about his career at Waterford FC, management, plus we talk about academies, young players and board rooms too.Next week Gary is back and we’re going to be talking about N. Ireland’s qualification and journey to the 1958 World Cup. Some great stories in there so join us for that.Don’t forget to share the show on your own social media channels as well as liking, subscribing and turning on notifications to the show on whatever platform you listen to

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58:49

This Football Life - Alfie Hale (Part 1)

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/07/17

On this week's podcast Kehlan talks to League of Ireland legend Alfie Hale about his footballing life. Alfie has played for Waterford FC, Doncaster Rovers, Newport County, and Aston Villa and more. He has six league of Ireland titles (including being top goal scorer in a few of them as well) he’s won the league of Ireland as a manager and got Kilkenny City promoted to the premier division as champions of the first division.In Part one we talk about growing up playing football and what happened when

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49:11

REWIND - The Origins of Irish Football

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/07/10

Thanks to the thousands of you who have listened to the show so far. This week we're rewinding all the way back to our very first show at the start of this year. How did Irish football begin on the Island? Who were the first clubs? Let find out by listening to the origin story of Irish football. We’re only just beginning and with your support we’ll be doing something great things over the next year.

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66:51

Baggio In His Pocket - Rep. of Ireland & USA '94

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/07/03

On this week's Green Shoots Kehlan and Gary are talking about the Rep, of Ireland's World Cup adventure in USA '94. Don’t forget you can listen to us on host of audio platforms including Spotify and Apple podcasts. Where ever you listen make sure to subscribe and turn notifications on for the podcast so you know exactly when new podcasts for the show come out. And share the show on your own social media to network to spread the history and heritage of Irish football.

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74:08

One Night In November - USA '94 Qualifying

Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football ·

2025/06/26

On this week's podcast Kehlan and Gary discuss the Rep. of Ireland's qualifying campaign for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. It was a campaign that was nip and tuck throughout and went down to the final game of the group. With dramatic twists and turns the campaign all came down to one night in November amidst the backdrop of murder and a circle of violence in Northern Ireland. One nations pride and another's glory hung in the balance.

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44 results

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