As an Irish fan of Ipswich I want to take a look at the impact that we have made on the Tractor Boys over the years.

The obvious one is Mick McCarthy, the current manager of the Town. He took over on November 1st 2012 and guided us from a relegation-threatened season to a solid 14th-place finish.

Mick then improved upon that landing us in ninth position last term. He has provided stability since taking his role and is definitely a ‘paddy’ to be proud of.

There are currently four Irishmen on the books of Ipswich’s first team squad. After David McGoldrick picked up an injury in February putting him out for ten weeks, Daryl Murphy became the main man up top.

Scoring 13 goals in one season, a personal best, he earned a call up to the Irish senior team for the friendly against Serbia in March and was also chosen for the summer friendly matches against Turkey, Italy, Portugal and Costa Rica.

In June 2013 we saw another Irishman sign up for the Tractor Boys, it was Jay Tabb from Reading. Jay has struggled in his first season with the almost ever-present Cole Skuse and Luke Hyam running the engine room.

Stephen Hunt has been a cult hero at every club he’s played at and its been no different for the fans at Portman Road. His long curly locks and his energy on the pitch seem to be enough to win over any fan.

We now look at Alan Lee, Lee is currently part off the coaching staff but is also eligible to play for the first team although he is yet to make a league appearance since rejoining the club.

A very exciting young talent who looks likely to make the big step into the first team this season is underage Irish international, Jack Doherty. He’s currently on loan at Waterford United and has been told by Mick McCarthy that he needs to play well otherwise he “won’t have a chance” (at Ipswich).

Now we come down to the final ‘Irishman’ at the club, David McGoldrick. David has recently revealed his desire to receive a call up to the boys in green, after discovering he has Irish relatives. He was quoted as saying “It’s up to Martin O’Neill if he wants to pick me, but I’d love it if he did".

There have been many other Irish contributors to the Tractor Boys since Mick O’Brien was in charge back in 1936, I’m sure that if these lads I’ve mentioned keep doing what they’re doing the rewards for club and country will be endless.

Miles added 00:27 - Jun 1 We've had our fair share of Irishmen at the club that's for sure. For every Mick McCarthy there's seems to be a Roy keane though! Get a few more like murph and mcgoldrick and I will be a happy blue
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Fatboy added 13:15 - Jun 2 I believe Luke Chambers also qualifies to play for Ireland, which probably makes him at least as Irish as Yorkshireman McCarthy or Londoner Tabb!
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gosblue added 13:32 - Jun 2 Some of the legends that have graced our once great team have also worn the green of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Allan Hunter & Bryan Hamilton from the70s as well as Mattie Holland & Jim Magilton from the late 90s/early noughties. Hopefully there are great times to come with our current stock of Irishmen. COYB
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WeWereZombies added 20:47 - Jun 2 Tommy Carroll back in the sixties, and who could forget Kevin O'Callaghan having his arm broken so Sylvester Stallone could get a game. Jon Walters and Shane Supple more recently
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bohslegend added 14:26 - Jun 3 Hmmm. As a lifelong Ipswich & Ireland fan I get worried about such commentaries. No offence intended to Cotter_Kyle btw, great to hear of even more Irish Ipswich fans - IMO always a good thing. But (apologies in advance to all you good England fans who are bound to be the vast majority of readers of TWTD) it seems the very mention of the Ireland football team seems to bring out a few snide remarks about the perceived 'Irishness' of some of our international players, and that bugs me. All things being equal, perhaps International football should be about playing only for the country you were born in. But that doesn't cover everything, does it? MM being brought up in Barnsley, as proud as he no-doubt is to be a real Yorkshire man, always felt part of his Irish family. There are of course varying degrees of how far this connection can stretch. For example, how English did Owen Hargreaves feel when he was asked to play for England? John Barnes? Terry Butcher? Raheem Sterling? I'd love to see Didsy and Chambo become involved with Ireland. More Blue Irish I say! COYB! COYBIG!

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Walk_the_Wark added 00:18 - Jun 4 Those of us who know our football are not 'proud' of McCarthy. He is un-Ipswich- end of. Otherwise good blog
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Hegansheroes added 19:55 - Jun 5 Well said Walk the Wark, the reason I so rarely go to PR these days.
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Jesney_Havoc added 10:34 - Jun 19 ....what, no mention of Mr Keen ?
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