‘All the Olympians: A Thing Never Known Again’? Reflections on Irish Football Culture and the 1994 World Cup Finals
1996 ◽
Vol 6
(1)
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pp. 101-126
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Keyword(s):
Utilising fieldwork with Irish fans, and interviews with leading Irish journalists and football officials, this article examines five major themes surrounding USA ‘94 for the Irish: i) the cultural and ethnic symbiosis of Ireland with the USA; ii) aspects of the political economics behind the United States’ allocation of the Finals; iii) the Irish supporters‘ culture of ‘carnivalesque’, and any internal changes involved; iv) the possible impacts of USA '94 on soccer culture in Ireland, particularly in playing style; v) the possible future inter-relations of soccer and Irish civil society.