Ireland National Quidditch Team

The Ireland National Quidditch Team is the national Quidditch team representing Ireland. They are most famous for their victory against the Bulgaria National Team in the dramatic final of the 422nd Quidditch World Cup in 1994. The team was renowned for its exceptional Chasers, its use of top-of-the-line Firebolt racing brooms, and its spirited Leprechaun mascots. Their victory was a testament to team strategy and scoring prowess, as they won the match despite their opponent's Seeker, Viktor Krum, catching the Golden Snitch.

The Irish team's most documented achievement is their performance during the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. After defeating Peru in the semi-finals, they advanced to face Bulgaria in the final match, which was held on Dartmoor, England. The final was an exceptionally fast and aggressive game. Ireland's Chasers, Troy, Mullet, and Moran, immediately took control, scoring repeatedly and demonstrating superior teamwork through formations like the Hawkshead Attacking Formation. Despite the skill of Bulgaria's star Seeker, Viktor Krum, Ireland established a commanding lead of one hundred and thirty points to ten early in the match. The game was also marked by fouls and magical interference. Bulgaria's Veela mascots distracted the referee and Ireland's Seeker, Aidan Lynch. In retaliation, Ireland's Leprechaun mascots formed a giant hand making a rude gesture. The match concluded when Viktor Krum caught the Golden Snitch. However, as Bulgaria was trailing by 160 points at the time, his 150-point gain was not enough to secure a victory. The final score was Ireland 170, Bulgaria 160. The Irish team and their supporters, including the Weasley family (with the exception of Ron Weasley) and Seamus Finnigan, celebrated wildly. The victory also became the subject of a disastrous bet for Ludo Bagman, who had bet against Bulgaria catching the Snitch and ended up owing a significant amount of Leprechaun Gold to a group of Goblins.

The 1994 championship-winning roster was composed of highly skilled players, all of whom flew on Firebolt racing brooms.

• Chasers: Troy, Mullet, and Moran. This trio was considered the best in the world at the time, known for their incredible coordination and scoring ability.
• Beaters: Connolly and Quigley.
• Keeper: Ryan.
• Seeker: Aidan Lynch. A talented but seemingly reckless Seeker who crashed multiple times during the final match.

The team's uniform consists of emerald green robes, prominently featuring a large, green shamrock emblem on the chest. Their supporters often wear green and paint shamrocks on their faces.

The Irish team's strategy revolved around overwhelming their opponents with superior Chaser play.

• Offensive Strategy: Their primary tactic was the Hawkshead Attacking Formation, where the three Chasers fly together in a spearhead formation. This move is designed to force the opposing Keeper to defend all three goal hoops simultaneously, creating scoring opportunities. This was used to great effect against Bulgaria.
• Team Synergy: Ireland's victory demonstrated that a well-rounded team could defeat a team that relied heavily on a single star player. While Aidan Lynch was ultimately outflown by Viktor Krum, the massive point lead built by the Irish Chasers secured their win. This type of victory, where the Snitch-catching team loses the match, is a rare but possible outcome in Quidditch.

• In the video game Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup, Ireland is a playable national team. The game provides first names for the players mentioned only by their surnames in the novel. For example, Troy is named Darren O'Hare and Moran is named Katrina McCormack. (video game)
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Irish mascots create a more elaborate display, forming a giant, dancing Leprechaun in the sky that shoots fireworks. (film)
• Seamus Finnigan, a student in Harry Potter's year at Hogwarts, is a particularly avid supporter of the Irish team. His support for Ireland and Ron Weasley's admiration for Viktor Krum led to several arguments between them at the campsite.