ok, he had the 2 kids before he met his wife.
This story kind of backs up what Ireland said in this interview…
Jesus that’s shameful from City, if it’s true
gthe 2 kids are from a previous relationship, still doesnt explain how, or if, he got full custody
the missus just fucked off apparently
‘‘Nor was it easy for Jessica, at just 21, to become a mum to Stephen’s two toddlers’’ … who was the mother of the kids so, a local English wan?
I have no idea bud. She must have just fucked off, if Ireland was left with the two kids. There’s no way a court would just give full custody to a young Dad
There must have been some serious circumstances alright … Not many women walk from that meal ticket … I didnt realise that … what the fuck were City at?
It’s probably not true though
Blockquote “After that it became a bit of a circumstance thing. Steve Staunton [the Ireland manager] said I could bring my kids and they would put them in a hotel room with a babysitter, but what kind of life is that for two kids? So I didn’t do it and I had to pick and choose my moments that I could play for Ireland and when I couldn’t. I just found the 10-day camps were too much for me to give.
We’ll put the kids up in a hotel with a babysitter… that’s problem solving by Stan 
this is lies. yer one Jessica was definitely on the scene when he was playing for Ireland.
He felt bad about leaving her with the two kids probably … they weren’t hers, she was 21 and alone … and he wanted the relationship to work … could he not have got onto a family member, or her mother, to help out … internationals were only 5 / 6 times a year.
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yeah, it’s fucked up.
he had no family support, she said she was alone and without friends and family at that point as well.
City could surely have made this easier on the guy. Without a doubt
I hope the 10 or so million he has made was all worth it … 
Our best player was mental. We had to manage that situation. We didn’t. Scummy journalists were no help, as per usual.
I remember at the time being very disappointed with Johnny Giles and how quickly he turned on him. A lot of personality politics and petty egos with the FAI. It’s unprofessional.
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I said it at the time, Johnny Giles was a cancer on Irish football.
The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth
cc @myboyblue
He reckons he was on a salary of £4,400 a year whilst starting for a premier league team. I know Kevin Doyle was signed by Reading around the same time. His salary changed 4 times within the first 4 months at Reading due to him progressing through the side during pre season where it went from something like £400/week to £5k per week by the time he was starting for them. Obviously increased a lot more after that, but I doubt a championship side would be paying over 4 times less than a premier league side signing a player.
anyway.
Ireland goes on about the granny thing too. Did he not say it was a second granny at the time?
Look at the help the IRFU gets from the media and all the stories that are covered up and compare that to the constant sensationalism and shit-stirring with the football team.
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there’s a definite pro Dublin agenda, root and branch in the FAI and the media
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Yes he was always an outsider because he was from Cork. Are there are Cork folk involved at the top end of the FAI or are they all Dublin/greater Leinster types?
ireland was on £26000 per week with city, then he signed a new contract in 09 putting him on 80k STG per week
My pal across the road cc @balbec, his son plays with Stephen Irelands lad at Stoke, so he talks to him a lot. Says he’s a really nice lad (Stephen that is)
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