Although an Irish player hasn't actually won the Premier League since Darron Gibson and John O'Shea did so seven years ago, there are myriad exciting Irish players rising through the ranks at (almost) every club in the division. (We're looking at you, Chelsea).
Here is our guide to the most exciting Irish prospect at each club in the Premier League.
Arsenal - Nathan Tormey
18-year old Tormey signed his first professional contract with Arsenal a year ago, having first joined the club at under-12 level. Described by the Arsenal site as a "technical and pacy winger", Tormey then saw his first professional season badly disrupted by injury and limited to just a thirty-minute appearance in the Under-18 Premier League. He has trained with both the Irish and English under-16 squads, so his committing to Ireland is far from guaranteed.
Anyone else? Keep an eye out for Derry-born Jordan McEneff, who was involved in the Irish under-17s squad in the recent larceny at the European Championships.
Bournemouth - Mark Travers
The Lucan-born 'keeper has played with the Republic of Ireland at under-16 and under-18 level, and was awarded with a one-year academy contract by Bournemouth having impressed on a one-year trial. He was then loaned out to Weymouth...and scored on his debut.
Anyone else? Nope.
Brighton - Jayson Molumby
Waterford native Molumby made his senior debut for the club in the Milk Worthington Carling EFL Carabao Cup and captained the Irish under-19s last season, so he will should be on the fringe of the regular Premier League squad soon if he maintains his upward trajectory. His now former teammate Tim Krul agrees, telling Balls recently that "he is a really big talent and while he's had a couple of injuries this year, if he has a full pre-season he will be pushing close to the first-team".
Anyone else? Aaron Connolly is on the verge of making a breakthrough, and ex-Bohs player Warren O'Hora is in place to make waves at the club this season, too.
Burnley - Jimmy Dunne
Dunne is a central defender from Drogheda, who joined the Manchester United academy at just ten years of age. In 2016 he joined Burnley on loan and has since been loaned out to Barrow and Accrington Stanley. He has since returned and scored the only goal in a pre-season win against Cork City. Dunne made his debut for the Irish under-21s earlier this year.
Anyone else? No. Irish under-19 striker Khius Metz, who made this list last year, has been released.
Cardiff - N/A
We're not aware of anyone at underage level with the Bluebirds, although perhaps in Brian Murphy's case, 35 may still be considered young for a goalkeeper.
Chelsea - N/A
We're unaware of any Irish-eligible players at Chelsea, either. If you know of someone we missed - get in touch!
Crystal Palace - Kian Flanagan
Midfielder Flanagan was named Palace's Scholar of the Year for his performances last season, which were split between the under-18 and the under-23 squads. Flanagan's name has been mentioned in the same breath as Manchester United and Arsenal in the past, and he was named as one of the Premier League's brightest talents by The Guardian in 2015. Oh, and he has played at under-19 level with Ireland.
It all sounds great, doesn't it?
Well, Flanagan was born in England and Perfidious Albion are said to be interested.
Anyone else? None that we are aware of.
Everton - Harry Charsley
Irish under-21 Charsley made his senior Everton debut at left-back last season, playing against Apollon Limassol in the Europa League. He then joined Bolton on loan in January, where he played just once. With Everton doing things as reckless as splurging £40 million on Richarlison, he may find first-team opportunities hard to come by this season.
Anyone else? Steven Kinsella has been released, but keep an eye on the delightfully-named Barney McKeown, a centre-back who has represented Ireland up to under-17 level.
Fulham - N/A
Again, nobody that we are aware of although we think that their English-born youth midfielder Matt O'Reilly must have a bit of Irish in him.
Huddersfield Town - Mason O'Malley
Defender O'Malley has been at Huddersfield since under-14 level, and was an ever-present for the club's under-23s last season in spite of the fact he turned 17 last month. Among the garnishes on top of an impressive season was his inclusion in the club's Goal of the Month competition for September.
WATCH: Which one is your favourite? Vote for your #htafc Goal of the Month for September ⬇️⚽️ (SE) pic.twitter.com/Ue8anpnw9g
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) October 2, 2017
Leicester City - N/A
We couldn't find anyone in the youth squads at Leicester eligible for Ireland, as Dylan Watts has returned to Ireland.
Liverpool - Conor Masterson
A dominant centre-half with quite a bit of ability on the ball, Masterson has played further forward but he's really making a name for himself at Anfield as a defender. Masterson was included on the Liverpool bench for last season's Champions League quarter-final against Man City at Anfield, with the Liverpool defence consumed by an injury crisis. With the club electing not to strengthen in that position despite the fact that Joel Matip and Joe Gomez are injury-prone and Ragnar Klavan is a year older, opportunity knocks for Masterson.
Anyone else? Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has been involved in Liverpool's pre-season games, impressing against Manchester City. With Simon Mignolet likely to leave the club and Danny Ward already gone, Kelleher is probably Liverpool's third-choice 'keeper behind Loris Karius and Alisson Becker. Plus, if Karius elects to leave and rediscover his form up a Nepalese mountain/in the Bundesliga, Kelleher might be second-choice, a scenario that's not exactly implausible. Keep an eye out for forward Glen McAuley, too.
Man City - Tyreke Wilson
Things didn't work out at City for Jack Byrne or Ian Lawlor, so Irish hopes are pinned on full-back Tyreke Wilson. Encouragingly, the Irish under-19's defender has been involved in City's pre-season tour of America.
Anyone else? Nobody that we are aware of.
Man United - Kieran O'Hara
Goalkeeper O'Hara was included in the Irish senior squad for the March friendly with Turkey and has been on the fringes of the United first-team squad, and was involved in a couple of European squads last season. Frustratingly, however, United have this summer moved to sign Lee Grant as the club's third-choice goalkeeper further distancing O'Hara's hopes of a first-team breakthrough.
Anyone else? Lee O'Connor might just be the next Waterford man to taste a bit of success at Old Trafford.
Newcastle United - Oisin McEntee
Defender McEntee was part of Colin O'Brien's under-17 squad for the recent European championships, and has been snapped up by Newcastle. A Cavan native, McEntee's father played intercounty Gaelic football in the early 1980s. When Jimmy Corcoran was so disgracefully sent-off in the shoot-out defeat to Holland, it was McEntee who replaced him.
Anyone else? Nope.
Southampton - Michael Obafemi
Here's where it gets interesting. Irish under-19 striker Obafemi made his Premier League debut last season in January, and now we face a fight to keep hold of him: both England and Nigeria are potential alternative choices for the prodigious talent.
Anyone else? Plenty. Jonathan Afolabi is another striker on the club's books who has played at under-19 level for Ireland, while the Irish under-19 squad has also featured the club's midfielder Thomas O'Connor. Elsewhere, defender Kameron Ledwidge was named by The Guardian as one of the most talented prospects of 2017, while Sean Brennan is a midfielder who, like Ledwidge, has played with the Irish under-17s.
Spurs - Troy Parrott
We have high hopes for striker Parrott: he scored three times at the European Championships this summer and then signed his first professional contract at Tottenham. Once of Belvedere, Parrott will be playing with Tottenham's under-18s next season.
Anyone else? None that we know of, meaning the focus is on Parrott.
Watford - Ryan Cassidy
Striker Cassidy left Kevin's Boys for Watford a year ago...and scored 25 goals in his first season. He was promoted to train with the Watford first-team, and runours abound that he left an impression on Marco Silva to the extent that the Portuguese wants to bring him to Everton. Watch this space.
Anyone else? None, with Tommie Hoban loaned to Aberdeen for the season.
West Ham - Josh Cullen
Declan Rice has officially made the breakthrough, and perhaps Cullen will be next. Like Rice, Cullen has been playing with the Irish under-21s although has yet to become a first-team regular for the Hammers. That said, the midfielder has played in the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup for the club, bit has been farmed out on loan to Bradford and Bolton. This season will be very important.
Anyone else? It's worth tracking the progress of Conor Coventry, who won the club's Dylan Tombides award for best Academy player last season.
Wolves - Connor Ronan
Ronan is that rarest of things: a Wolves player without Jorge Mendes as his agent. An attacking midfielder, Ronan snaffled a bit of media attention last season when Kevin De Bruyne asked him for his jersey after a cup game. Ronan spent the back end of last season on loan at Portsmouth, and perhaps another loan awaits this season.
Anyone else? Callum Thompson, a winger involved at the recent under-17 Euros, has signed a pro contract with the club.
See Also: Young Irish Keeper Caoimhin Kelleher Impresses Against Man City
