In Ireland, Australian rules football (Irish: Peil rialacha na hAstráile) (known locally as "Aussie Rules") began in 1999 when clubs were simultaneously formed in Dublin and Belfast, however awareness of it dates back to the 20th century due to similarities with Gaelic football and hyrbid matches played between Irish and Australian teams.

Professional AFL/AFLW players to have represented Ireland internationally include Laura Duryea, Clara Fitzpatrick and Padraig Lucey.

Thomas H. Smith of Carrickmacross, County Monaghan[11] was involved in the formation of the Melbourne Football club from 1858 and the drafting of the first rules for the code in 1859.

[12] The Carlton Football Club is said to have been initiated in 1864 by Sir Redmond Barry of Ballyclough, County Cork.

[13] One of the founders of the St Kilda Football Club in 1873, J.J. Casey, was from Tromroe, County Clare.

In the 1920s, the GAA and Australasian Football Council were becoming increasingly aware of each other's growing global footprint and the first test matches between the two countries were proposed though were never contested with correspondence occurring between the two sporting bodies.

Some, including Jim Stynes, Tadgh Kennelly and Martin Clarke, achieved a level of fame in Ireland either going on to careers in Australia or returning home to achieve success in their sports at home and along with the International Rules Series, increase the profile and awareness of the Australian game.

The Australian Rules Football League of Ireland (ARFLI) was formed in October 2000 after the first ever Irish Grand Final was contested between them.

An Irish National Aussie rules team, drawn from all ARFLI affiliated clubs headed to London between 6–15 October to take part in the Atlantic Alliance Cup 2001 – a five nations International competition with United States, Canada, Great Britain and Denmark providing the opposition.

Ireland, playing their first ever competitive International matches, won all their games in the round robin series and went on to record a win against Denmark (pre-tournament favourites) in the Grand Final.

Darren Fitzpatrick of Kilkenny, who previously played Aussie Rules at a professional level with the Western Bulldogs in Australia, coached the team.

With injuries and late withdrawals, the team managed a fourth place behind New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and USA.

[citation needed] The sport, and International Rules has been covered in the media for many years, though it was only in 2010 that there has been regular AFL coverage on television through TG4.