100 Years Later: A Lasting Legacy Of Freedom and Football

To the average Hamiltonian, even the average Hamilton Tiger-Cats fan, the significance of George “Snooze” Ireland to the history of the city and the Ticats might be unknown.
George Ireland was a football player back in early 20th century. He was one of the people instrumental in forming the 205th Battalion.
Mostly members and supporters of the Hamilton Tigers Football Club formed the 205th Battalion. George Ireland was no exception and, in fact, would be a leader in recruiting more people. The battalion also saw many other Hamilton athletes join, including 1908 Olympic gold medalist Robert Kerr.
The recruitment began in February of 1916, only a few months after the Hamilton Tigers won the Grey Cup. Hamilton had defeated the Toronto Rowing Association 13-7 at Toronto’s Varsity Stadium.
Around that time, recruitment in Canada was down. The world had quickly learned that war was no longer romantic. Following the Battle of the Somme, Canada learned that war was being redefined in a very dark way.
Ireland knew this.

Snooze looked at the opportunity and went ahead and signed with the 205th. He wouldn’t stop there though as he would act as a lead recruiter in getting many of his teammates from the Tigers to enlist as well.
His efforts would eventually lead to the battalion being recognized and known as the 205th Tiger Battalion. Along with many Tigers players, the battalion also saw the likes of other Hamilton area athletes signing up as well.
At the time the Tigers held celebrity-like status in Hamilton. That status acted like a recruiting tool to increase the number of people enlisting, with the hopes of fighting alongside favourite players and other recognized athletes.
Ireland was eventually drafted to another battalion that saw him go overseas to the front lines.
When he returned to Canada, it did not take long for Snooze Ireland to want to move on and get his life back to the way it was prior to the war. That meant playing football.
After the war, a monument with the 25 names of Hamilton athletes who did not return from the war alive was unveiled at the HAAA Grounds.
Ireland was successful in getting the Tigers back together again. However, despite the efforts of Ireland and getting the Hamilton Tigers reunited, the Grey Cup wouldn’t be played in 1919.
It was not until the following year that the Grey Cup was played again after the First World War.
Ireland continued playing until 1923.
The life of George “Snooze” Ireland would come to an end on October 26, 1964 but the legacy that he left continues with each game the Black and Gold take the field.