Aston Villa, Leeds United and Sunderland have gone green for March 17, but if you actually want a shirt with real Irish feeling, there are far better options.
The only problem is that both the Pats Wolf Tones and Bohs Kneecap shirts are promoting bands that are pro-IRA... amazing how quickly the troubles are forgotten...
I get the point you’re making to be fair. My angle in the piece was more about the jersey design and how clubs lean into Irish identity around St Patrick’s Day. The bands themselves weren’t really the focus of what I was writing about but definitely some divisive tunes and views.
Great piece but as I'm league of Ireland based I see politics slowly creeping into our league... And its not as if most fans even understand the issues they are just aping the likes of the Green Brigade,,, The English game thank good hasn't gone down that route... the collabs are okay but there is a process here in Ireland where the northern Ireland conflict is being resold to younger people as somehow romantic... The Wolftones for example were a pub band for years and are now huge as they trade on the Republican myths... The guys in Kneecap weren't even alive during the troubles...
Definitely agree there. Living up in a Border Town myself my family always steered clear of any media that involved the troubles. They would always say “if you lived through it you wouldn’t want to rewatch it”. That goes for everything even the likes of TV shows like Say Nothing. They weren’t safe times or times to look back on romantically
They are very commercially lucrative though… Bohs sold a truck load of Fontaine DCs Jerseys and most of those who bought them have never been to a game… Same with the Oasis collaboration
Amazing piece, James. Absolutely bang on; although the clubs do have genuine Irish links, you'd hope that they'd espouse those throughout their copy/marketing all season long, not just when it makes the most 'commercial sense'. You're also right in that it's not particularly surprising these days. Love the specifically Irish examples you've highlighted though; the culture, connection and history can be keenly felt in all of them, especially the St Pat's third kit.
The only problem is that both the Pats Wolf Tones and Bohs Kneecap shirts are promoting bands that are pro-IRA... amazing how quickly the troubles are forgotten...
I get the point you’re making to be fair. My angle in the piece was more about the jersey design and how clubs lean into Irish identity around St Patrick’s Day. The bands themselves weren’t really the focus of what I was writing about but definitely some divisive tunes and views.
Great piece but as I'm league of Ireland based I see politics slowly creeping into our league... And its not as if most fans even understand the issues they are just aping the likes of the Green Brigade,,, The English game thank good hasn't gone down that route... the collabs are okay but there is a process here in Ireland where the northern Ireland conflict is being resold to younger people as somehow romantic... The Wolftones for example were a pub band for years and are now huge as they trade on the Republican myths... The guys in Kneecap weren't even alive during the troubles...
Definitely agree there. Living up in a Border Town myself my family always steered clear of any media that involved the troubles. They would always say “if you lived through it you wouldn’t want to rewatch it”. That goes for everything even the likes of TV shows like Say Nothing. They weren’t safe times or times to look back on romantically
They are very commercially lucrative though… Bohs sold a truck load of Fontaine DCs Jerseys and most of those who bought them have never been to a game… Same with the Oasis collaboration
Amazing piece, James. Absolutely bang on; although the clubs do have genuine Irish links, you'd hope that they'd espouse those throughout their copy/marketing all season long, not just when it makes the most 'commercial sense'. You're also right in that it's not particularly surprising these days. Love the specifically Irish examples you've highlighted though; the culture, connection and history can be keenly felt in all of them, especially the St Pat's third kit.