Irish Migration Studies in Latin America Irish Association Football in Argentina By Víctor Raffo Translated by Ciara McGuire Little has been documented about the Association Argentina Football League (AAFL, descendants of Irish migrants and their the first in South America), founded in 1893, connection with the introduction of football to were two clubs founded by Hiberno-Argentines: Argentina, a country that is passionate about this Lobos Athletic Club and Porteño Athletic Club. sport to such an extent that it is now a powerful Although this is not the place to elaborate global competitor. During the last decade of the greatly upon the characteristics of Irish nineteenth century, Hiberno-Argentines immigration to Argentina, it is helpful to founded clubs such as Lobos and Porteño, highlight some pertinent points. The total which competed in the League of Buenos Aires, number of Irish migrants to Argentina in the the first of its kind in South America. Both clubs nineteenth century is thought to be 40-45,000 have lasted until the present-day, but they do (Murray 2004: 28). Almost all of these people not identify themselves with the Irish moved to the province of Buenos Aires. [1] community of Argentina. This shift is due to Compared with the numbers of migrants who changes in Argentine sport which resulted in went to North America, Australia or New Hiberno-Argentines moving away from football Zealand, the number of Irish migrants who into different spheres. arrived in the River Plate region seems Argentina is recognised world-wide as a force to insignificant. Here however, they arrived at a be reckoned with in football. One of the factors destination in which an unfamiliar language was that might explain this supremacy is the early spoken, and though the Catholic faith was development of this sport in the River Plate practiced they were immersed in a land where when compared with the development of sport unfamiliar customs were practiced by entirely in other parts of the world. Football was different peoples. This presented challenges to regulated officially in England in 1863, and the possibility of swift integration. scarcely four years later it was already being Prior to the 1840s, the few Irish in Argentina practiced in Buenos Aires, where a small group were clustered mainly in the city of Buenos of British residents, including some Irish people, Aires. From that time, corresponding to a time founded the Buenos Aires Football Club of economic crisis in Ireland, an organised and (BAFC), a pioneer in South America. continuous flow of immigrants began to But to what can we attribute this speedy increase. In 1844, Father Anthony Fahy arrived, development? The British colony in Argentina and for the next three decades he played a was small and isolated in the main, in the fundamental role in the consolidation and the context of a country in which another language development of the Irish Catholic community in was spoken. The community strongly felt the Argentina. urge to recreate ‘ethnic associations’ which From 1870 onwards, the number of migrants could typify the culture of their country of origin diminished significantly, almost to the point of and might serve them in a more long-term way disappearing. This relates to the changes which during their residence in foreign lands. It is the socio-economic structure of Argentina common to hear that football was introduced to underwent at the time. This complicated Irish Argentina by 'the English', but in fact the Irish migrants’ chances of becoming part of the and the Scottish played a significant part also. community. Nevertheless, because of its own Even amongst the founders of the BAFC in organic growth, the community of Hiberno- 1867 there was one Dubliner, and another who Argentines had doubled in number. In the hailed originally from County Armagh. Among 1890s, an internal migration began from the clubs that competed in the first years of the communities in the countryside towards the city Raffo, Víctor. ‘Irish Association Football in Argentina’ 15 Vol. 6, n°1 (March 2008) of Buenos Aires and the other towns in the Football', as he introduced to Argentina the province. It was customary at this time for rules of association football, which prohibited farmers and landowners to ‘have a house in the handling, as distinct from the rules of Rugby city’ and this coincided with the organisation of Union, which did not. Watson Hutton taught the clubs which we will now analyse. football to his students, among whom were Tomás Moore and his cousins Tomás and Football in the Countryside: Lobos Santiago McKeon, who were in charge of Work was tough and distractions few in the teaching the game to the other founders of the immense expanses of the Pampas. Marriages club. The Secretary’s report tells of the and wakes were the only forms of entertainment beginnings of the club in the year of 1892-1893 and social activity for those Irish migrants who as follows: spent most of their days taking care of ewes. As As our members were few it was difficult to form their income increased, they began to transform two teams of eleven for our practice match, which their way of life, sending their children to was not to be wondered at, as with the exception of schools in the city, or to Britain and Ireland, as four or five none of us had ever played football well as creating institutions which improved before communication between members of the community. At the same time, many left rural life and became part of other sectors of the economy, such as the railroads. Within this context, the Hiberno-Argentines began to set up clubs in the region northwest of the province of Buenos Aires, like the Lobos Athletic Club, founded in the district of Lobos on 3 July 1892, 102 kilometres from Buenos Aires. In its foundation charter, the club set out its aims: Lobos Athletic Club in 1892. Standing: Carlos Buchanan Life seems very dull and monotonous in this town of (left), J. Braken, José Garraham, Eduardo Walsh, and M. Lobos and to make it a little more lively and Braken. Seated: Gualterio Buchanan, Eduardo Burbridge agreeable a few of the youth of this place decided (Jr.), Hefferman, Tomás McKeon (with the ball), A. upon having some amusement in their leisure hours Malcolm, and Eugenio Seery on Sunday. This amusement was decided upon and (Photographer unknown) unanimously namely Association Football. To this Little by little however, new players were joining effect a meeting was called and it was arranged to and before long they were able to form a good form a Club which was to be called “Lobos Athletic team which challenged clubs and schools in the Club”. city of Buenos Aires, achieving some astounding The first board of Directors consisted of results. 'Before the gaze of our fiancées and Edmundo T. Kirk (President), Carlos Page families we felt invincible,' affirmed Tomás (Vice-President), Tomás McKeon (Treasurer), Moore. The first playing-field was located in the Eugene Seery (Secretary) and Tomás Moore hinterland of the railroad, next to the station. At (Team Captain). Other co-founders were the outset they adopted the colours blue and Patricio Kirk, Tomás Garrahan, Santiago white, but as many clubs had this strip in 1893, McKeon, Eduardo Burbridge, Juan Geoghegan, they changed the team colours to dark red and Lorenzo Owens, Felix Dolan, Hugo Lawlor, black. Years later Tomás McKeon remembered William Weir, José Joyce, Eusebio Eguino, these first encounters on the field: Eduardo Slamon and Eduardo Burbridge (Jr.). The spectators were made up mainly of horsemen Among them were several former students of within our group, who in the classical position of Buenos Aires English High School. This school fellow countrymen, edged to the front and were had been founded by the Scottish Professor placed in rows at one side of the field. They were Alexander Watson Hutton in 1884, who is generally labourers of the same rank as the players recognised as 'The Father of Argentine 16 Raffo, Víctor. ‘Irish Association Football in Argentina’ Irish Migration Studies in Latin America who took part in the match, and who came to see Captain. He played in Montevideo in 1902 when ‘the children’s’ performance (Lucero 1962: 3). Argentina defeated Uruguay by 6-0. By 1894 the Lobos Athletic Club had one of the Shortly after the foundation of the Lobos best teams in the country and was registered for Athletic club in 1892, its members tried to the championships of the Football Association establish similar clubs in neighbouring districts, League of Argentina, which despite its name was but all these initiatives either failed outright, or really the League of Buenos Aires. Before the were short-lived. Around 1897 in Salto, Salto threat of armed conflict between Argentina and Athletic Club was founded and their team was Chile arose, the football activity of the club formed by the personnel of the ranches of became paralysed in 1896-1897. The climax 'Santa Rosa' and 'Las Rosas', mainly by the came on 11 September 1898, when the club lost families of Duggan and Healy respectively. [4] in the final to the Lomas Athletic Club. At the same time, the Irish Argentine Football Club was founded in Rojas, with a powerful The following year the Lobos Athletic Club team who crossed the region, laying waste to all became the first Argentine club to tour of its adversaries (Rodrigo 2001). And in internationally. On 30-31 July 1899, they faced Navarro, Lorenzo Gahan as President and his the Albión and Peñarol clubs in Montevideo, brother Federico as Team Captain headed a Uruguay, and defeated them 2-1, and 2-0 rather precarious Navarro Athletic Club.