Today (June 5th 2026) marks 150 years since Ireland’s first international caps in athletics were awarded.
The match between Ireland and England that day in June 1886 is widely regarded as the first international athletics match held anywhere in the world, predating the formation of the IAAF (World Athletics) by 36 years and the first modern Olympic Games by 20 years.
In 2012 the Hibernian Athletic Historical Association unveiled a plaque at the Aviva Stadium to mark the event. The unveiling of the plaque coincided with the 150th anniversary of Landsdowne Rugby Club.
The following represented Ireland on the day:
- Maurice Davin
- Patrick Davin
- Thomas Davin
- Abraham Prim Cronyn
- Charles H. Ford
- Frederick St John Worrall
- Henry Ogle Moore
- James Carroll Daly
- James Douglas Ogilby
- James Gorman
- R.T. Belcher
- Laurence W. Nunns
- William Ewart Beamish Barter
- William Joseph Hamilton
- Willis C. Williams
Pictured below at the plaque unveiling are Cyril White (RIP), Cyril Smyth, Tony O’Donoghue (RIP), Larry Ryder (RIP) and Maeve Kyle (RIP).
Cyril White, Cyril Smyth, Tony O’Donoghue and Larry Ryder were representing the Hibernian Athletic Historical Association, while Maeve Kyle, three-time Olympian – Melbourne, Rome and Tokyo – and the first female athlete to represent Ireland, unveiled the commemorative plaque.
Pictured at the plaque unveiling are Cyril White (RIP), Cyril Smyth, Tony O'Donoghue (RIP), Larry Ryder (RIP) and Maeve Kyle (RIP).
Newspaper clipping from the Freeman's Journal reporting on the historic match.
