Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football
Episodes
This Football Life - Peter Farrell (with Rob Sawyer)
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast Kehlan talks with Author, Historian and Everton Heritage Society member Rob Sawyer about his book – The Emerald Evertonian –...
Kamikaze Storm - Roy Keane, Mick McCarthy & Saipan
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Now it was by far the biggest story of the year to that point. It caused a huge split in national opinion. Roy Keane was one the biggest footballers i...
This Football Life - Gerry Armstrong (Part 2)
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Now following on from Part 1 where Gerry finished talking about the great goalkeeper Pat Jennings. In Part 2 he talks to Kehlan about Northern Ireland...
This Football Life - Gerry Armstrong (Part 1)
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Gerry Armstrong is a legend of Northern Ireland football playing and scoring in some of their most iconic games of the 70s and eighties. In part one o...
This Football Life - Johnny 'Jackie' Carey
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s podcast Kehlan talks with Iain McCartney Manchester United author and historian about the great Johnny Carey and his influence in bui...
Threads in Time - Dermot Keely and Jim McLaughlin
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's GS podcast Kehlan tells the story of the connection between Dermot Keely and Jim McLaughlin. It is a story of how two men turned to eac...
Merry Christmas from the GS Podcast
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A Heartfelt thanks from us here at Green Shoots: a history of irish football and thanks for listening through out the year. It has been wonderful to s...
Amsterdam to Iran - Rep. of Ireland 2002 WC Qualifying
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks show Kehlan and Gary are looking at the Rep. of Ireland's qualifying campaign for the 2002 world cup in Korea/Japan. With some memorable...
This Football Life - Tom 'Bud' Aherne
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Coming up on this week’s podcast we are taking a look at one of our greatest ever footballers as we talk about the great Tom 'Bud' Aherne. We hear f...
Stavrevski's Many Broken Hearts - Rep of Ireland & Euro 2000 Qualifiers
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about Ireland's qualification campaign for Euro 2000. Drawn in a group with a the Balkans collection of FR...
The Pride and Falls - The Story of Limerick Football (Part 3)
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today we have the 3rd and final part of our journey through Limerick football. In this episode podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about them winning the FAI...
Heartbreak, Hooligans and Hand - The Story of Limerick Football (Part 2)
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're in part 2 of our journey through Limerick football as we look at the period from 1960 through to 1980. In this episode we look at cup heartbreak...
Black and Blue - The Story of Limerick Football (Part 1)
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode is the start of a three episode journey into the story of Limerick football. From a garrison town in 1891 to Treaty United in 2022...
BONUS - History in Hungary
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After the Rep. of Ireland's dramatic 2-3 victory away to Hungary at the weekend (16-11-25) in their World Cup qualifier, they head to playoff. This al...
BONUS - Alfie Hale and Manchester United Legend Dennis Viollet
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 relati...
Up and Down - The Beginning of the First Division
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 diffic...
In the Shadow of Jack - Mick McCarthy & World Cup '98 Qualifying
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
This Football Life - Dermot Keely (Part 2)
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
This Football Life - Dermot Keely (Part1)
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 an...
Barcelona to Bucharest and Back - LOI Clubs in the European Cup Winners Cup
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Hamilton, Arconada, Armstrong, Immortality - N. Ireland & the 1982 World Cup
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The House That Billy Built - N.Ireland & 1982 World Cup Qualifying
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 footb...
A Wave Goodbye - Euro '96 Qualifiers & the end of an era
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 del...
This Football Life - Tony Galvin (Part 2)
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Wh...
This Football Life - Tony Galvin (Part 1)
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Tott...
Belfast to Borisov - League of Ireland in the European Cup (Part 2)
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
Belfast to Borisov - League of Ireland in the European Cup
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
The Greatest They Never Knew - The Patrick O'Connell Story
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 n...
Losers to Legends - Northern Ireland and the 1958 World Cup
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
This Football Life - Alfie Hale (Part 2)
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
This Football Life - Alfie Hale (Part 1)
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Ro...
REWIND - The Origins of Irish Football
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Baggio In His Pocket - Rep. of Ireland & USA '94
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 u...
One Night In November - USA '94 Qualifying
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 campaig...
It Might Have Been - the Euro '92 Qualifying Campaign
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about Ireland's campaign to qualify for Euro '92. The national team says goodbye to Dalymount Park, while ...
Between the Wars - Northern Ireland 1920-1939
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s show Kehlan and Gary are on a new journey as we look at the Northern Ireland international team from 1920 through to 1939. The player...
Living The Dream - Italia '90
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re at Italia '90 where Kehlan and Gary talk about how we got there, playing in the world cup and Gary will be bringing us some of those incredibl...
The '90s - The Decade of Crazy Finishes?
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's show Kehlan and Gary talk about the League of Ireland in the 1990s. A decade that saw some crazy last day league champions and leahue t...
This Football Life - Pat Byrne (Part 2)
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re giving you the second part of our great interview with League of Ireland legend Pat Byrne where he talks about his footballing life including ...
This Football Life - Pat Byrne (Part 1)
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's podcast Kehlan talks with one of the all time greats of the game. Pat Byrne’s journey in football has been varied from Ireland to the...
A Coming of Age - Jack Charlton & Euro '88
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's show Kehlan an Gary look at the Rep. of Ireland football team as Jack Charlton is named the new manager and brings the country to its f...
White Hot Hoops
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks show Kehlan and Gary go through the 1980s in the League of Ireland. One team above all else would dominate the decade, Shamrock Rovers. ...
This Football Life - Eoin Hand
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks show Kehlan sits down with former Rep. of Ireland manager, Eoin Hand. Eoin talks where his love of football comes from as well as playin...
Episode 14 - A Robbery in Brussels
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode Kehlan and Gary talk about the Rep. of Ireland national team from 1979 to 1985. This includes and infamous night in Brussels in ...
The Scramble for Glory
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks Green Shoots podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about the remarkable decade that was the 1970's in League of Ireland history. With so many gre...
This Football Life - Pat Fenlon
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks show Kehlan Kirwan talks with a former player and manager that has been a serial winner throughout his career. Where he goes trophies us...
Episode 11 - Rich Talent, More Drought
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks Green Shoots: a history of Irish football Kehlan and Gary talk about Irish international football from the late 50s through to the early...
Chris Lee - Author of 'Shades of Green - A journey through Irish Football'
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks show Kehlan talks with Chris Lee, the author of a brand new book 'Shades of Green – a journey through irish football'. Chris has also ...
Epsiode 9 - The Champagne 60's
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks show Kehlan and Gary talk about the League of Ireland at its zenith during the 1960s. We also chat about:- That extraordinary 1956 cu...
Episode 8 - 'Coad's Colts'
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode Kehlan and Gary talk about one of Shamrock Rovers greatest ever managers, Paddy Coad. His teams had an emphasis of young players...
Episode 7 - What's in a Name?
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks show Kehlan and Gary look at the disputes of the 1950's that arose between the IFA of Northern Ireland and the FAI of the Republic of Ir...
Episode 6 - The Heroes of Goodison
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks episode we're looking at one of the most momentous victories in Irish international football. On the 21st of September 1949 Ireland beat...
Episode 5 - A World at War
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks show Kehlan and Gary discuss how Irish football survives through World War II as a divided island is both at the forefront of the war an...
Episode 4 - Superstars & Ringers
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks show Kehlan and Gary talk about superstars turning up in the League of Ireland, some shady deals to bring players in for matches and a n...
Episode 3 - Out of the Shadows (1923-1933)
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this weeks episode of Green Shoots: a history of Irish football we look at an Irish international side making history at the 1924 Olympics in Paris...
Episode 2 - The Split
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s episode two where we delve into probably the most tumultuous time in Irish History. 1914-1923. In that time Ireland, with growing nationalism a...
Episode 1 - Origins
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 1 of Green Shoots Kehlan and Gary look at the origins of football on the island of Ireland. From where the game came from to a fledgling in...