Ireland originally started off as a fishmonger in his father's shop in Greenock, Renfrewshire for five years before deciding to learn acting.
[3] During his career, Ireland has acted in numerous British television programmes such as Judge John Deed, Two Thousand Acres of Sky, The Bill[1] and Midsomer Murders.
In 2012, he also acted in Australian Broadcasting Corporation comedy, Outland after auditioning and meeting the writers, who told him that they wanted a British actor in the role in the programme.
[7] In 2006, Ireland appeared in the BBC History online interactive game CDX as MacKinnon, a Mithraist soldier.
Since 2018, Ireland appeared in the Australian AFL drama Playing for Keeps as Andrew Macleish, president of the Southern Jets football club.