Ireland at the British Empire Games facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ireland at the 1930 Commonwealth Games
Representative flag of Ireland
CGF code	IRE
Medals Ranked 9th	Gold Silver Bronze Total 0 1 0 1
Commonwealth Games appearances
Template:Infobox country at games/Commonwealth
Other related appearances
Northern Ireland (1934–)

The way Ireland has been represented at the British Empire Games (now called the Commonwealth Games) has changed over time. These games bring together athletes from countries connected to the British Empire.

• At the very first games in 1930, one team represented the whole island of Ireland.
• In 1934, Irish athletes competed. However, it's not always clear if they were from Northern Ireland or the Irish Free State (which is now the Republic of Ireland).
• Since the 1938 games, only a Northern Ireland team has taken part.

Ireland at the 1930 Games

The first British Empire Games were held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1930. The organizers invited the National Athletic and Cycling Association (NACA) from Ireland to send a team. They even offered $1000 to help with travel costs. The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) was also invited but decided not to go, as they were focusing on the 1932 Olympics.

The NACA agreed to send a team, but only if they could be called "Ireland" instead of "Irish Free State." The NACA saw itself as the main sports group for all of Ireland, even though there was a separate group for Northern Ireland athletes. Some athletes from Northern Ireland even competed for England at these games.

Team Selection and Challenges

Sending a team to the games caused some debate among NACA members. Some people felt strongly about Irish nationalism, which is the idea of Ireland being a fully independent nation. Sean Ryan, who was the President of the Gaelic Athletic Association, publicly disagreed with the NACA's decision. One sports club even decided to close down in protest.

The NACA made a list of athletes they would pay for to travel to Canada. They made sure to include an athlete from Northern Ireland to show they represented the whole island. One athlete, Bill Britton, was a hammer thrower. The English sports group offered to pay his way if he and another athlete, Pat O'Callaghan, would also join a British Empire team to compete against the United States after the games. The NACA said no to this offer.

In the end, Pat O'Callaghan went to a different competition in Germany and couldn't go to the Empire Games. Four athletes from Ireland traveled to Canada. A fifth athlete, P. "Jack" O'Reilly, was already living in Canada and joined the team for the marathon, paying his own way.

The Irish Team's Arrival and Flag

The ship carrying the Irish team was delayed by fog, so they missed the opening ceremony. Only P. "Jack" O'Reilly, who was already in Canada, was there to carry the flag. The flag used was not the Irish tricolour (the green, white, and orange flag), because some people who supported being part of the United Kingdom (called unionists) saw it as only representing the Free State. Instead, the flag showed the coat of arms of Ireland, which is a gold harp. The team wore green uniforms with the shamrock symbol.

1930 Games Results

Ireland won one silver medal at the 1930 British Empire Games.

Ireland at the 1934 Games

There is some confusion about which team represented Ireland in 1934. The games were held in London. The English sports group invited the Northern Ireland Amateur Athletic, Cycling and Cross Country Association (NIAAA) to send athletes for Northern Ireland. They also invited the NACA to send athletes for the Irish Free State.

The NACA refused the invitation to the Empire Games. This was partly because an international sports group had decided that member associations should be based on political borders. The NACA disagreed with this rule.

Sports and Athletes in 1934

• Lawn Bowls: The lawn bowls team was called "Ireland" in reports. The team was chosen by an all-island group, but all the players' clubs were in Northern Ireland. Their results are now officially counted for Northern Ireland.
• Swimming: The Irish Amateur Swimming Association (IASA) refused to send teams for either the Free State or Northern Ireland. They pointed out that the bowls team was called "Ireland" and that athletes from Jersey were on the England team.
• Boxing: The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) first said they wouldn't send a team. However, later, four IABA boxers were allowed to compete. Two of them, Jimmy Magill and William "Billy" Duncan, were police officers in Northern Ireland. Both won bronze medals, and these medals are now credited to Northern Ireland.

Ireland at Later Games

For the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, Australia, the list of expected teams included Northern Ireland, but not Ireland (the new name for the Irish Free State). The Irish state was not represented at these games, but Northern Ireland was.

The games planned for 1942 and 1946 were cancelled because of World War II. In 1949, the Republic of Ireland officially left the Commonwealth. This meant Ireland was no longer eligible to compete in the 1950 British Empire Games in New Zealand. Northern Ireland also did not participate in 1950, but they have competed in all games since then.

See also

• Ireland at the Olympics
• Sport in Ireland
• Sport in Northern Ireland