Ireland rugby clash against Argentina has a special Mayo significance
Did you know that next Saturday in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, the Ireland versus Argentina November rugby international will see the two nations compete for the Admiral Brown Cup.
Mayo County Council are delighted to be associated with the Admiral Brown Cup, named after the first Admiral of the Argentinian Navy, Foxford native Admiral William Brown.
The trophy was first presented when Ireland hosted Argentina in the 2012 November international series and has been played for on three occasions, including the two game Irish tour of Argentina in 2014, with Ireland coming out on top each time.
Admiral William Brown is a national hero in Argentina who was born in 1777 in Foxford, County Mayo.
William Brown emigrated at an early age, at first to Philadelphia and then to Buenos Aires where he went on to be regarded as a national hero for his efforts in setting up and leading the Argentinian Navy.
The Admiral Brown Cup will be presented to the winning captain of this Saturday’s clash between rivals Ireland and Argentina and began in 2012 as a joint initiative between the Embassy of Argentina in Dublin and Ireland in Buenos Aires, the UAR and the IRFU.
It is a great honour for both Mayo County Council and the Foxford Admiral Brown Society to be associated with the international trophy for a legendary figure both in East Mayo and throughout South America.
The cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Councillor Blackie Gavin, said: “It’s a great honour for a Mayo native to have a trophy named after him which is competed for by two of the best teams in World Rugby. Ireland already claimed the Six Nations earlier this year and will hopefully keep hold of the Admiral Brown Cup this weekend.”
Mayo County Council chief executive, Peter Hynes, stated; “Argentina honors this Irishman as a national hero and many streets and parks, as well as sports stadiums throughout the country are named in his honor. It’s great that he is being honoured in this capacity by both his home countries.”
The Irish Navy cooperates with ceremonies commemorating the anniversary of Brown performed in Foxford and Dublin annually.
In his hometown of Foxford, is a museum and a park dedicated to Brown, and in the capital city, Dublin, located on Sir John Rogerson's Quay, is an imposing statue of the naval hero of Argentina.
Ireland and Argentina have one of the newest rivalries in the world game, dating back to their first meeting in 1990. Since 1999 the two sides have met on 16 occasions.
Despite Ireland having a superior record, 11 wins against six, it is the South Americans who own the main bragging rights, knocking Ireland out of three World Cups in 1999, 2007 and 2015.