About Lacrosse and the Eirball World Sports and Lacrosse Archive

Lacrosse has had three main eras of activity in Ireland: (1) c. 1870s to c. 1914 when the Irish Lacrosse Union (Men’s) was in operation. (2) Irish Ladies Lacrosse Association c. 1930 to 1970 which was mainly played in schools and (3) Ireland Lacrosse 2001 to Present which has both a Men’s and Women’s League as well as Box (Indoor) and International teams which compete in the World and European Championships. The Final Table of the Irish Lacrosse League (Men’s) 2010-11 as well as the Irish Women’s Lacrosse League and National Indoor Lacrosse League are shown below to give the reader an idea of what they will find in each article. just click on the links below in blue to be brought to the relevant articles.

There are four main versions of Lacrosse:

1. Men’s Lacrosse (a 10 v 10 outdoor version of the game)
2. Women’s Lacrosse (a 12 v 12 outdoor version of the game)
3. Box Lacrosse (a 6 v indoor version of the game – mixed in Ireland)
4. Polocrosse (Lacrosse on horseback)

Below you will find the results and standings,as well as some match reports and line-ups for all four versions of Lacrosse in Ireland, as well as results of International fixtures featuring Ireland and Irish Clubs and representative teams, and some World Lacrosse – the National Lacrosse League (The Major Indoor Lacrosse League – Canada’s National Summer Sport), and Major League Lacrosse (the Major Outdoor Lacrosse League in North America).

The sport was invented by Native North Americans, particularly in the Eastern Woodlands culture areas of Canada and North East USA, and was codified by European settlers, although the sport is still very popular among Native Americans and Canada’s First Nations, and is the only sport where Native Americans can represent their own country (Haudenosaunee is the Nativa American Women’s National Team, and Iroquois Nationals is the Men’s Native American National Team). [See the links in the articles below for references about the sport and its history].

Featured Image Credit: An overhead view of a mens lacrosse playing field with white markings painted on grass. Copyright: Tonygers [Internet] Available from: https://www.123rf.com/photo_25082132_an-overhead-view-of-a-mens-lacrosse-playing-field-with-white-markings-painted-on-grass-.html?vti=mobg75t839i5v50w97-1-6 [Accessed 5 January 2022]

Ireland Lacrosse

After the Irish Lacrosse Union disappeared around the First World War, and the Irish Ladies Lacrosse Association from 1926-1970 had also disbanded, the third wave of Lacrosse in Ireland was the revival of Ireland Lacrosse in the early 21st Century, featuring Men’s Women’s and Box (Indoor Lacrosse).

Irish Lacrosse Union

The Irish Lacrosse Union was the Men’s Lacrosse Association in Ireland from the Late 19th to Early 20th Centuries. The Senior shield was the first level league competition.
Like the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Irish Lacrosse Union season was divided into an opening season (Shield – League Competition), and closing season (Flags – Knockout / Elimination Competition). The Irish Lacrosse Union had two Adult levels (Senior and Junior), and a representative competition (Shaftesbury Cup) between County Down and County Antrim. It was Men’s only. (see links to each competition and season for results, more information and references).

Women’s Lacrosse

Women’s Lacrosse was codified in Scotland, and is a 12-v-12 version of Lacrosse. There was an Irish Ladies Lacrosse Association in Ireland from the 1920s to 1970, that played in the Home Nations against England, Scotland and Wales, and also held a Schools Shield, with teams from Dublin & Belfast.It was resurrected in the early 2000s, with an International team, and the Irish women’s Lacrosse League.

Women’s Lacrosse (International)

Men’s Lacrosse (International)

Men’s Lacrosse is a 10-v-10 version of the game, originally played by Native Americans in the Eastern Woodlands cultural region of Native North America (Eastern Canada & Upstate New York, New England).

The first known team in Ireland was in Newtownards, Co. Down, and there was a Championship in Ireland from the late 19th Century to World War I, and it was then resurrected in the early 2000s, with an International team, and the Irish Lacrosse League. The Newtownards Cup is also now played, named after the town with the first club.

Indoor (Box) Lacrosse

Indoor (also known as Box) Lacrosse is a 6-v-6 version of Lacrosse, played in an Indoor Arena. The National Indoor Lacrosse League matches were held in Loughlinstown, Co. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.

Irish Men’s Lacrosse Teams

World Lacrosse

The Victoria Shamrocks played in the Inter-City Lacrosse League (British Columbia) and in the British Columbia Junior Lacrosse League