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X League (women's football)

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125-680: The Extreme Football League ( X League ) is a women's semi-professional indoor American football league operating in the United States. The league was originally founded in 2009 as the Lingerie Football League ( LFL ), and later rebranded as the Legends Football League in 2013. On December 13, 2019, the league announced that it would not be holding a 2020 season and that it had instead restructured under its current name, placing new teams mostly in

250-557: A 28–6 victory over Philadelphia Passion. The Temptation's Ashley Salerno and Amber Reed were co-MVP's, with Salerno throwing three touchdown passes and Reed scoring two rushing touchdowns. In 2012, the LFL expanded its annual "All-Fantasy" game into a three-game international series, with one game in Mexico and two games in Australia. The Mexico All-Fantasy Game took place on May 5, 2012, at

375-587: A Christian ecclesiastical settlement known as Duibhlinn , from which Dyflin took its name. Evidence indicating that Anglo-Saxons occupied Dublin before the Vikings arrived in 841 has been found in an archaeological dig in Temple Bar . Beginning in the 9th and 10th centuries, there were two settlements which later became modern Dublin. The subsequent Scandinavian settlement centred on the River Poddle ,

500-532: A Protestant city, Queen Elizabeth I established Trinity College in 1592 as a solely Protestant university and ordered that the Catholic St. Patrick's and Christ Church cathedrals be converted to the Protestant church. The earliest map of the city of Dublin dates from 1610, and was by John Speed . The city had a population of 21,000 in 1640 before a plague from 1649 to 1651 wiped out almost half of

625-405: A cut of net revenue, Mortaza stopped paying his players beginning in the 2011 season and converted the league into an amateur organization; players must also pay for their own health insurance. League founder Mortaza admitted at one point the league was marketed toward "mostly beer-drinking college students aged 21 and up." The league received many complaints from players in regards to safety. Since

750-414: A full-time basis, but still receive some payment. Semi-professionals are not amateur because they receive regular payment from their team, but generally at a considerably lower rate than a full-time professional athlete . As a result, semi-professional players frequently have (or seek) full-time employment elsewhere. A semi-pro player or team could also be one that represents a place of employment that only

875-606: A spring/summer schedule and to focus on the 2012 LFL Canada season. On June 27, 2013, the 2013 LFL Canada schedule was released. LFL Canada accepted one proposed expansion team, the Calgary Fillies ; their home games would be played at the Stampede Corral . Meanwhile, the Toronto Triumph suspended operations for the 2013 season, bringing the number of LFL Canada teams back to four. On September 16, 2013,

1000-519: A team sparked some controversy, including expressed concern from at least one city councilor, as "Abbotsford is a deeply religious agricultural community." On February 22, 2012, the LFL announced that Regina, Saskatchewan , would be the next Canadian city to host a team in the League. Home games would be played at the Brandt Centre . On March 6, the LFL announced that the franchise would be named

1125-574: A trade centre, despite an attempt by King Robert the Bruce of Scotland to capture the city in 1317. It remained a relatively small walled medieval town during the 14th century and was under constant threat from the surrounding native clans. In 1348, the Black Death , a lethal plague which had ravaged Europe, took hold in Dublin and killed thousands over the following decade. Dublin was the heart of

1250-838: A tributary of the Liffey in an area now known as Wood Quay . The Dubhlinn was a pool on the lowest stretch of the Poddle, where ships used to moor. This pool was finally fully infilled during the early 18th century, as the city grew. The Dubhlinn lay where the Castle Garden is now located, opposite the Chester Beatty Library within Dublin Castle . Táin Bó Cuailgne ("The Cattle Raid of Cooley") refers to Dublind rissa ratter Áth Cliath , meaning "Dublin, which

1375-404: Is full-contact and similar to other indoor football leagues. There are seven players from each team on the field during play. The field is 50 yards between end zones , 30 yards wide, and the end zones are 8 yards deep, roughly the same as other indoor leagues. Many fields are just over 28 yards wide, as games are often played in converted National Hockey League -sized rinks (85 feet wide), with

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1500-688: Is a place name referring to a fording point of the River Liffey near Father Mathew Bridge. Baile Átha Cliath was an early Christian monastery, believed to have been in the area of Aungier Street, currently occupied by Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church . There are other towns of the same name, such as Àth Cliath in East Ayrshire , Scotland, which is anglicised as Hurlford . The area of Dublin Bay has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times; fish traps discovered from excavations during

1625-575: Is an illustrated manuscript created by Irish monks circa 800 AD. The Ha'penny Bridge , an iron footbridge over the River Liffey, is one of the most photographed sights in Dublin and is considered to be one of Dublin's most iconic landmarks. Other landmarks and monuments include Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick's Cathedral , the Mansion House , the Molly Malone statue, the complex of buildings around Leinster House, including part of

1750-711: Is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range and sub range of the Wicklow Mountains , to the south and surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west. The River Liffey divides the city in two, between the Northside and the Southside. The Liffey bends at Leixlip from a northeasterly route to a predominantly eastward direction, and this point also marks the transition to urban development from more agricultural land usage. The city itself

1875-571: Is called Ath Cliath". In 841, the Vikings established a fortified base in Dublin. The town grew into a substantial commercial center under Olaf Guthfrithson in the mid-to-late 10th century and, despite a number of attacks by the native Irish, it remained largely under Viking control until the Norman invasion of Ireland was launched from Wales in 1169. The hinterland of Dublin in the Norse period

2000-722: Is encircled by the Royal Canal and Grand Canal , bounded to the west by Heuston railway station and Phoenix Park , and to the east by the IFSC and the Docklands . O'Connell Street is the main thoroughfare of the inner city and many Dublin Bus routes, as well as the Green line of the Luas , have a stop at O'Connell Street. The main shopping streets of the inner city include Henry Street on

2125-483: Is intended to mark Dublin's place in the 21st century. The spire was designed by Ian Ritchie Architects , who sought an "Elegant and dynamic simplicity bridging art and technology". The base of the monument is lit and the top is illuminated to provide a beacon in the night sky across the city. The Old Library of Trinity College Dublin , holding the Book of Kells , is one of the city's most visited sites. The Book of Kells

2250-631: Is partially in Dublin City, but predominantly in Fingal . At the 2020 general election , the Dublin city area elected 5 Sinn Féin , 3 Fine Gael , 3 Fianna Fáil , 3 Green Party , 3 Social Democrats , 1 Right to Change , 1 Solidarity–People Before Profit and 1 Labour TDs. Dublin is situated at the mouth of the River Liffey and its urban area encompasses approximately 345 square kilometres (133 sq mi) in east-central Ireland. It

2375-447: Is prohibitive, semi-pro football is common at the adult levels, in the outdoor or indoor variety , providing an outlet for players who have used up their NCAA eligibility and have no further use for maintaining amateur status. As a sport that normally plays only one game per week, American football is especially suited for semi-pro play and commonly known as "working man's" football; meaning the players have regular jobs and play football on

2500-573: Is rain; however snow showers do occur between November and March. Hail is more common than snow. Strong Atlantic winds are most common in autumn. These winds can affect Dublin, but due to its easterly location, it is least affected compared to other parts of the country. However, in winter, easterly winds render the city colder and more prone to snow showers. The city experiences long summer days and short winter days. Based on satellite observations, Met Éireann estimates that Dublin's coastal areas typically receive over 1,600 hours of sunshine per year, with

2625-462: Is the capital city of Ireland . On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey , it is in the province of Leinster , bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2022 census , the city council area had a population of 592,713, while Dublin City and its suburbs had a population of 1,263,219, and County Dublin had a population of 1,501,500, making it

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2750-823: The 2011–12 LFL United States season , the All-Fantasy Game was played in Hamilton, Ontario . This was due in part to the league's announcement that in 2012 there would be a Canadian Lingerie Football League. LFL Canada was originally scheduled for a twelve-week season with teams in six markets. On September 28, 2011, it was announced that, in addition to the Toronto Triumph who began play in LFL United States, LFL Canada's other five markets would consist of Vancouver , Calgary , Edmonton , Quebec City , and Montreal ; ironically, none of those five markets would actually get an LFL franchise. On February 9, 2012,

2875-802: The Acts of Union in 1800. Following independence in 1922, Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State , renamed Ireland in 1937. As of 2018 , the city was listed by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) as a global city , with a ranking of "Alpha minus", which placed it among the top thirty cities in the world. The name Dublin comes from the Middle Irish word Du(i)blind (literally "Blackpool"), from dubh [d̪ˠuβˠ] "black, dark" and linn [l̠ʲin̠ʲ(dʲ)] "pool". This evolved into

3000-523: The Atlanta Empire . The league did not announce plans for a 2023 season and later updated their website with plans to announce a 2024 schedule in October 2023. This was later updated again to indicate a 2025 schedule, to be announced October 15, 2024. The schedule would be pushed back and finally released on November 21, 2024 which revealed the league's intentions to return in 2026. Playing style

3125-601: The Chicago Bliss defeating the Seattle Mist 31–26 to win their third Legends Cup . The championship game was played at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona . The 2017 season began with new teams at Pittsburgh and Denver replacing New England and Dallas. Three teams (Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle) completed the regular season with perfect 4–0 records, a first in LFL history. Chicago and Atlanta advanced to

3250-452: The Dublin and Monaghan bombings in which 34 people died, mainly in central Dublin. Large parts of Georgian Dublin were demolished or substantially redeveloped in the mid-20th century during a boom in office building. After this boom, the recessions of the 1970s and 1980s slowed down the pace of building. Cumulatively, this led to a large decline in the number of people living in the centre of

3375-736: The Early Modern Irish form Du(i)bhlinn , which was pronounced "Duílinn" [ˈd̪ˠiːlʲin̠ʲ] in the local dialect . The name refers to a dark tidal pool on the site of the castle gardens at the rear of Dublin Castle , where the River Poddle entered the Liffey . Historically, scribes writing in Gaelic script , used a b with a dot over it to represent a modern bh , resulting in Du(i)ḃlinn. Those without knowledge of Irish omitted

3500-714: The National Museum of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland , The Custom House and Áras an Uachtaráin . Other sights include the Anna Livia monument . The Poolbeg Towers are also landmark features of Dublin, and visible from various spots around the city. There are 302 parks and 66 green spaces within the Dublin City Council area as of 2018, with the council managing over 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) of parks. Public parks include

3625-793: The Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City ; the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 37–7. The second match of the "2012 LFL All-Fantasy Tour" took place in Brisbane , Australia, on June 2, 2012, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre ; the Western Conference again emerged victorious, this time by a 45–36 score. The Western Conference took a 3–0 series sweep with a 31–24 victory in

3750-521: The Phoenix Park , Herbert Park , St Stephen's Green , Saint Anne's Park and Bull Island . The Phoenix Park is about 3 km (2 miles) west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey . Its 16-kilometre (10 mi) perimeter wall encloses 707 hectares (1,750 acres), making it one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since

3875-672: The Pro Football Hall of Fame . Samantha Gordon was also named an owner in May 2022. The league is scheduled for return in 2026, in a hybrid format of tackle and flag football . The concept of the league originated from an alternative Super Bowl halftime television special called the Lingerie Bowl , a pay-per-view event broadcast opposite the Super Bowl halftime show. In 2009, league chairman Mitch Mortaza expanded

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4000-794: The Regina Rage after an online fan vote. Six days later, on February 28, the LFL announced that Saskatoon , Saskatchewan, would join Regina as LFL Canada's second team in the Wheat Province. Home games would be played at the Credit Union Centre . Upon releasing the Saskatoon Sirens ' logo and colors, the league announced that LFL Canada was set at four teams for the 2012 season, with the league playing an eight-game schedule, scheduled to end with Lingerie Bowl I Canada

4125-632: The Royal Exchange . The Wide Streets Commission was established in 1757 at the request of Dublin Corporation to govern architectural standards on the layout of streets, bridges and buildings. In 1759, the Guinness brewery was founded, and would eventually grow to become the largest brewery in the world and the largest employer in Dublin. During the 1700s, linen was not subject to the same trade restrictions with England as wool, and became

4250-763: The Scottish Premiership , with most teams below the second-level Scottish Championship being semi-professional. Historically, English rugby league and rugby union have had one full-time professional division, with semi-professional divisions at the next level down. The second tier of union, the RFU Championship , became fully professional beginning with the 2009–10 season. Dublin Dublin ( / ˈ d ʌ b l ɪ n / ; Irish : Baile Átha Cliath , pronounced [ˈbˠalʲə aːhə ˈclʲiə] or [ˌbʲlʲaː ˈclʲiə] )

4375-538: The barony of Dublin . Since 2001, both baronies have been redesignated as the City of Dublin . Dublin Castle , which became the centre of Anglo-Norman power in Ireland, was founded in 1204 as a major defensive work on the orders of King John of England . Following the appointment of the first Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1229, the city expanded and had a population of 8,000 by the end of the 13th century. Dublin prospered as

4500-631: The 17th century has been home to a herd of wild fallow deer . The residence of the President of Ireland (Áras an Uachtaráin), which was built in 1751, is located in the park. The park is also home to Dublin Zoo , Ashtown Castle , and the official residence of the United States Ambassador . Music concerts are also sometimes held in the park. St Stephen's Green is adjacent to one of Dublin's main shopping streets, Grafton Street , and to

4625-654: The 9th and 10th centuries. Prisoners from slave raids and kidnappings, which captured men, women and children, brought revenue to the Gaelic Irish Sea raiders, as well as to the Vikings who had initiated the practice. The victims came from Wales , England, Normandy and beyond. The King of Leinster, Diarmait Mac Murchada , after his exile by Ruaidhrí, enlisted the help of Strongbow , the Earl of Pembroke, to conquer Dublin. Following Mac Murchada's death, Strongbow declared himself King of Leinster after gaining control of

4750-465: The Angels joined the Mist while a few key players from Las Vegas Sin joined the Temptation. Following the two All-Fantasy games held in Australia in 2012, LFL Australia premiered in December 2013. Prior to the playing a game, the LFL's deal with the Ladies Gridiron League (LGL) fell through and the LGL no longer served as a minor league to the LFL. The New South Wales Surge, Queensland Brigade, Victoria Maidens, and Western Australia Angels participated in

4875-425: The Civic Offices on Wood Quay . The party or coalition of parties with the majority of seats assigns committee members, introduces policies, and proposes the Lord Mayor. The Council passes an annual budget for spending on areas such as housing, traffic management, refuse, drainage, and planning. The Dublin City Manager is responsible for implementing City Council decisions but also has considerable executive power. As

5000-461: The Cleveland Crush stated, "Just because we play in the LFL does not mean we promote promiscuity. We are smart females. We are athletes who take care of our bodies. We are the total package." Similarly, Toledo Crush player Marija Condric stated, "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Sit down and watch. You'll forget what we are wearing and you will be thinking about how hard that girl got hit on that last play." Other players are quoted as viewing

5125-477: The Docklands Quarter (around the Dublin Docklands and Silicon Docks ), the Cultural Quarter (around Temple Bar ), and Creative Quarter (between South William Street and George's Street). Dublin has dozens of suburbs; northside suburbs include Blanchardstown , Finglas , Ballymun , Clontarf , Raheny , Malahide and Howth , while southside suburbs include Tallaght , Sandyford , Templeogue , Drimnagh , Rathmines , Dún Laoghaire and Dalkey . Starting in

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5250-510: The Great Recession, Dublin has rebounded and as of 2017 has close to full employment, but has a significant problem with housing supply in both the city and surrounds. Dublin City Council is a unicameral assembly of 63 members elected every five years from local electoral areas . It is presided over by the Lord Mayor , who is elected for a yearly term and resides in Dublin's Mansion House . Council meetings occur at Dublin City Hall , while most of its administrative activities are based in

5375-400: The Greco-Roman astronomer and cartographer , called it Eblana polis ( ‹See Tfd› Greek : Ἔβλανα πόλις ). Dublin celebrated its 'official' millennium in 1988, meaning the Irish government recognised 988 as the year in which the city was settled and that this first settlement would later become the city of Dublin. It is now thought the Viking settlement of about 841 was preceded by

5500-404: The LFL Australia season. A team must attempt to get a first down on every fourth down, or they risk a turnover. After a touchdown , a team can attempt a one-point conversion from the one-yard line, or a two-point conversion from the three-yard line. Since 2015, teams are given the option to punt if within their own 10 yard line; the ball is placed on the 15 or wherever it went out of bounds if

5625-429: The LFL announced that Abbotsford, British Columbia , would be the next Canadian city to host a team in the League. The franchise played its home games at the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre and competed in the Western Division of LFL Canada. On February 20, 2012, the LFL announced that the franchise would be named the BC Angels following the results of an online fan vote. The decision for Abbotsford to host

5750-399: The LFL players had a background in other competitive athletics at the college and semiprofessional level, as well as some experience in tackle football from playing in other semiprofessional leagues. The initial uniforms consisted of shoulder pads, elbow pads, knee pads, performance wear, and ice hockey -style helmets with clear plastic visors in lieu of face masks. The original uniforms of

5875-662: The LFL postponed the entire 2013 LFL Canada season until 2014 with plans to merge the US, Canada, and Mexico teams into a single league called LFL North America. The LFL then formed another league in Australia in December 2013 and played one season. LFL Australia's debut season in the beginning of 2014 marked the debut of the new performance wear uniforms. The LFL planned to launch a fourth global league – LFL Europa – in 2015 with teams in Dublin (Ireland), Manchester (England), Düsseldorf and Hamburg (Germany). Barcelona (Spain) and Frankfurt (Germany) had previously been mentioned as potential franchise cities. With four global leagues,

6000-472: The LFL then postponed the entire 2013 LFL Canada season until 2014. However, the BC Angels were expected to participate in the second-annual Pacific Cup, an exhibition game between the Angels and LFL US's Seattle Mist scheduled for December 2013. On October 3, it was announced that the Angels would be replaced in the game by the LA Temptation, citing not enough preparation. The Pacific Cup was played at ShoWare Center on December 6, 2013. Several key players from

6125-561: The Legends Cup, played at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California , to cap off their perfect 6–0 season to go with their second LFL title. The 2019 season was the tenth and final season of the Legends Football League. It began April 5 and concluded on August 10. Following a regular season reduced to two games per team, the Chicago Blitz defeated the Atlanta Empire in the first X Cup championship game, 19–12. Semi-professional sports Semi-professional sports are sports in which athletes are not participating on

6250-424: The Lingerie Football League consisted of an athletic bra and underwear that were more revealing than protective, as well as added lace, ribbons, and garters as decoration. While these uniforms were routinely criticized by media, players' reactions were typically mixed on the use of the uniforms, comparing the similarities in coverage to track and field uniforms or beach volleyball bikinis . After three seasons,

6375-442: The New York Majesty and Denver Dream suspended operations. The 2011 Lingerie Bowl was held in Las Vegas , Nevada, on February 6, 2011. The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Temptation defeated Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia Passion, 26–25. The 2011 All-Fantasy Game was held in Hamilton, Ontario , on July 30, 2011, at Copps Coliseum . Trailing 18–6 in the second half, the Eastern Conference rallied to win, 24–18, over

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6500-419: The Northside, and Grafton Street on the Southside. In some tourism and real-estate marketing contexts, inner Dublin is sometimes divided into a number of quarters. These include the Medieval Quarter (in the area of Dublin Castle , Christ Church and St Patrick's Cathedral and the old city walls), the Georgian Quarter (including the area around St Stephen's Green, Trinity College, and Merrion Square ),

6625-461: The Olympic Club was accused by a rival club of enticing athletes to jump to its ranks with offers of jobs. An investigation by the Amateur Athletic Union ruled that the Olympics' practice was not actually professionalism but only a "semi" form of it, inventing the term "semi-pro". Although the Amateur Athletic Union did not like the idea very much, it decided that clubs could indeed offer employment without losing their amateur status or compromising

6750-401: The United States, where college ice hockey dominates at that age group; the junior leagues in the United States generally operate as fully amateur teams to maintain the players' eligibility to play in college. Lower-end minor leagues and more obscure sports often operate at a semi-professional level due to cost concerns. Because the cost of running a fully professional American football team

6875-750: The Western Conference. Anonka Dixon, quarterback for the Orlando Fantasy, was awarded offensive MVP for her 3 touchdown passes and game-winning rushing touchdown, while Liz Gorman, a safety with the Tampa Breeze, was named defensive MVP. The LFL accepted five expansion franchises – the Cleveland Crush , Green Bay Chill , Las Vegas Sin , Minnesota Valkyrie , and Toronto Triumph , while the Dallas Desire , San Diego Seduction , and Miami Caliente suspended operations. The season kicked off on August 26, 2011, and culminated with Lingerie Bowl IX on February 4, 2012. The LFL Eastern and Western Conference championship games were played back-to-back on January 28, 2012, at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California . For

7000-400: The area known as the Pale , a narrow strip of English settlement along the eastern coast, under the control of the English Crown . The Tudor conquest of Ireland in the 16th century spelt a new era for Dublin, with the city enjoying a renewed prominence as the centre of administrative rule in Ireland where English control and settlement had become much more extensive. Determined to make Dublin

7125-404: The athlete. In North America, semi-professional athletes and teams were far more common in the early and mid-20th century than they are today. Large blue-collar employers such as factories and shipyards often fielded baseball and basketball teams, with players receiving full-time salaries comparable to other employees. In theory, such players split their work week between athletic training and

7250-498: The attendant scholarships , in maintaining amateur status (unlike the Amateur Athletic Union, the NCAA forbade any sort of compensation outside of scholarships, including job offers tied to their playing, until 2020). Eligibility for participation in the Olympics in some sports is still dependent upon maintaining a purely amateur status (although far less so than was previously the case), and such athletes may be supported by government money, business sponsorships, and other systems. At

7375-481: The best record in the Western Conference while Chicago had the best record in the Eastern Conference. Chicago and Atlanta advanced to the playoffs in the East while Seattle and Dallas advanced in the West. Chicago and Seattle won their Conference Championships and advanced to the Legends Cup in a rematch of both the previous championship and a meeting earlier in the season though with the opposite result of those two prior matches. The season ended on August 27, 2016, with

7500-413: The capital city, Dublin is the seat of the national parliament of Ireland, the Oireachtas . It is composed of the President of Ireland , Dáil Éireann as the house of representatives, and Seanad Éireann as the upper house. The President resides in Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park , while both houses of the Oireachtas meet in Leinster House , a former ducal residence on Kildare Street . It has been

7625-440: The capital of the Irish Free State (1922–1937) and now is the capital of Ireland. One of the memorials to commemorate that time is the Garden of Remembrance . Dublin was also a victim of the Northern Irish Troubles , although during this 30-year conflict, violence mainly occurred within Northern Ireland. A Loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force , bombed the city during this time – notably in an atrocity known as

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7750-446: The castle formed one corner of the outer perimeter of the city, using the River Poddle as a natural means of defence. One of Dublin's most prominent landmarks is the Spire of Dublin , officially entitled the "Monument of Light." It is a 121.2-metre (398 ft) conical spire made of stainless steel, completed in 2003 and located on O'Connell Street , where it meets Henry Street and North Earl Street. It replaced Nelson's Pillar and

7875-422: The centre of administration and a transport hub for most of the island. Ireland had no significant sources of coal, the fuel of the time, and Dublin was not a centre of ship manufacturing, the other main driver of industrial development in Britain and Ireland. Belfast developed faster than Dublin during this period on a mixture of international trade, factory-based linen cloth production and shipbuilding. By 1814,

8000-462: The city, and by 1985 the city had approximately 150 acres of derelict land which had been earmarked for development and 10 million square feet (900 thousand square metres) of office space. Since 1997, the landscape of Dublin has changed. The city was at the forefront of Ireland's economic expansion during the Celtic Tiger period, with private sector and state development of housing, transport and business. Following an economic decline during

8125-401: The city. In response to Strongbow's successful invasion, Henry II of England affirmed his ultimate sovereignty by mounting a larger invasion in 1171 and pronounced himself Lord of Ireland . Around this time, the county of the City of Dublin was established along with certain liberties adjacent to the city proper. This continued down to 1840 when the barony of Dublin City was separated from

8250-445: The climate getting progressively duller inland. Dublin airport, located north of city and about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the coast, records an average of 1,485 hours of sunshine per year. The station at Dublin airport has been maintaining climate records since November 1941. The sunniest year on record was 1,740 hours in 1959, and the dullest year was 1987 with 1,240 hours of sunshine. The lowest amount of monthly sunshine on record

8375-432: The coldest month is February, with an average minimum temperature of 4.1 °C (39.4 °F), and the warmest month is July, with an average maximum temperature of 20.1 °C (68.2 °F). Due to the urban heat island effect, Dublin city has the warmest summertime nights in Ireland. The average minimum temperature at Merrion Square in July is 13.5 °C (56.3 °F), and the lowest July temperature ever recorded at

8500-440: The concept from a single annual exhibition game to a ten-team league, branded as the Lingerie Football League , or LFL . The league operated on a similar schedule to the National Football League (NFL), playing in fall and winter and played most of its games indoors with similar rules to indoor football . Many of the teams were coached by former NFL players and coaches who were already well known in their respective cities. Many of

8625-413: The construction of the Convention Centre Dublin indicate human habitation as far back as 6,000 years ago. Further traps were discovered closer to the old settlement of the city of Dublin on the south quays near St. James's Gate which also indicate mesolithic human activity. Ptolemy's map of Ireland , of about 140 AD, provides possibly the earliest reference to a settlement near Dublin. Ptolemy ,

8750-437: The dot, spelling the name as Dublin . The Middle Irish pronunciation is preserved in the names for the city in other languages such as Old English Difelin , Old Norse Dyflin , modern Icelandic Dyflinn and modern Manx Divlyn as well as Welsh Dulyn and Breton Dulenn . Other localities in Ireland also bear the name Duibhlinn , variously anglicised as Devlin, Divlin and Difflin. Variations on

8875-435: The employees are allowed to play on. In this case, it is considered semi-pro because their employer pays them, but for their regular job, not for playing on the company's team. The semi-professional status is not universal throughout the world and depends on each country's labour code and each sports organization's specific regulations. The San Francisco Olympic Club fielded an American football team in 1890. That year,

9000-508: The end of the 2010–2011 season, retaining the Dallas Desire name, at Dr Pepper Arena . The Las Vegas Sin then suspended operations. A team was also added for New England bringing the league's total to eight teams. During the season, New England was forced to forfeit its final game as injuries caused the team to have below the minimum number of players needed to field a team. Seattle won a three-way tie with Dallas and Los Angeles for

9125-570: The football field. You take beach volleyball, you take volleyball, you take other sports where it's pretty much the same thing." Adrian Purnell of the Jacksonville Breeze said that the outfits were only for marketing purposes. Heather Furr, a quarterback for the Chicago Bliss said "I think with little girls watching the game ... if they can see past the uniform and see us as role models, then that's what I want." Abbie Sullivan of

9250-460: The game and advances to the next round or wins the championship. Teams get two timeouts per half or overtime period. The league was met with criticism throughout its existence. Critics say the league degrades female athletes through "pernicious objectification". The uniforms received extensive criticism for their revealing nature. In an ESPN article, Sarah Spain, the co-host of espnW, wrote, "After watching these women play, I can honestly say I respect

9375-634: The game's MVPs. On December 15, 2012, the first annual Pacific Cup was played between the Seattle Mist of LFL US and the BC Angels of LFL Canada. Dubbed the 'Border War', the game was hosted by the Seattle Mist at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington , with home venues alternating each season. The league delayed the next LFL US season from fall/winter 2012 to April 2013 in order to shift to

9500-572: The heck out of them as athletes, but I'll still never respect the Lingerie Football League, no matter what name they give it." LFL players with experience in track and field competitions noted that the typical LFL uniform is comparable to other uniforms, with Elizabeth Govrick of the Minnesota Valkyrie stating she "ran track and I was wearing, you know, stuff if not close to almost smaller than what I'm wearing out on

9625-976: The home of the Irish parliament since the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922. The old Irish Houses of Parliament of the Kingdom of Ireland , which dissolved in 1801, are located in College Green . Government Buildings house the Department of the Taoiseach , the Council Chamber, the Department of Finance and the Office of the Attorney General . It consists of a main building (completed 1911) with two wings (completed 1921). It

9750-699: The inaugural 2013–14 LFL Australia season. The LFL Australia Legends Cup was played on February 8, 2014, at nib Stadium in Perth , Western Australia. On March 23, 2014, LFL Australia accepted one proposed expansion team, the Adelaide Arsenal, with home games to be played at the Coopers Stadium . However, on September 29, the 2014–2015 season was cancelled due to the lack of a broadcast partner with competition planned to resume in 2015–2016 including an expansion into New Zealand. In February 2015, it

9875-481: The inhabitants. However, the city prospered again soon after as a result of the wool and linen trade with England and reached a population of over 50,000 in 1700. By 1698 the manufacture of wool employed 12,000 people. As the city continued to prosper during the 18th century, Georgian Dublin became, for a short period, the second-largest city of the British Empire and the fifth largest city in Europe, with

10000-574: The largest city by population on the island of Ireland . A settlement was established in the area by the Gaels during or before the 7th century, followed by the Vikings . As the Kingdom of Dublin grew, it became Ireland's principal settlement by the 12th century Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland . The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century and was briefly the second largest in the British Empire and sixth largest in Western Europe after

10125-458: The late 2010s, there was a significant amount of high density residential developments in the suburbs of Dublin, with mid to high-rise apartments being built in Sandyford, Ashtown , and Tallaght. A north–south division once, to some extent, traditionally existed, with the River Liffey as the divider. The southside was, in recent times, generally seen as being more affluent and genteel than

10250-523: The league announced intentions to compete in a LFL World Bowl in São Paulo in 2015. By July 2014, the league planned a three leagues: LFL Americas, LFL Europa, and LFL Oceania. On June 10, 2015, the LFL announced that there would be no international play through at least 2017 with sole focus on growing the league in the US, the exception being international exhibition games to introduce prospective countries to

10375-569: The league announced it was adding a companion league in Canada that began play in August 2012. It then pushed back the US season to 2013 on a spring and summer schedule, mirroring other indoor football leagues. During the hiatus, the league announced it would change its name to the Legends Football League , retaining the LFL initials, on January 10, 2013. The league also announced that the athletes would wear "performance apparel" instead of lingerie, but

10500-534: The league announced that it would not be producing a 2020 season and would re-evaluate markets in the future. Four days later, the LFL was restructured into the Extreme Football League, which was announced to begin play in April 2020. The league size remained at eight teams, which initially were all in the same markets as the former LFL teams, but under new team identities. The Nashville Knights were

10625-467: The league responded by claiming that fines were given because the equipment worn was in direct conflict with the league's sponsored gear. The league also prohibited players from commenting on personnel matters, a rule that prompted the vast majority of the Toronto Triumph , including team captain Krista Ford , to quit in protest in October 2011. Originally a professional league with players receiving

10750-635: The league, with plans on expanding into 24 US markets. The season was ultimately cancelled on May 18, 2021, pushing the league's relaunch to the summer of 2022 due to the pandemic. The 2022 season began on June 10 with the Chicago Blitz facing the Kansas City Force . After a nine-week regular season with a total of seven games, four teams advanced to the playoffs, with the Blitz capturing the first X Cup title on September 10 when they defeated

10875-413: The league. The LFL announced new uniforms with new colors for the 2016 season. Numbers and logos were printed on the uniform as opposed to previously being sewn on. In addition, the league also announced that teams would have a choice of camouflage or black alternates. In 2017, the league also added a long pants uniform in lieu of the regular bikini bottom for the final home games. On December 13, 2019,

11000-574: The modern city stands. The Viking settlement of about 841, Dyflin , and a Gaelic settlement, Áth Cliath ("ford of hurdles") further up the river, at the present-day Father Mathew Bridge (also known as Dublin Bridge), at the bottom of Church Street. Baile Átha Cliath , meaning "town of the hurdled ford ", is the common name for the city in Modern Irish, which is often contracted to Bleá Cliath or Blea Cliath when spoken. Áth Cliath

11125-632: The most important Irish export. Over 1.5 million yards of linen was exported from Ireland in 1710, rising to almost 19 million yards by 1779. Dublin suffered a period of political and economic decline during the 19th century following the Acts of Union 1800 , under which the seat of government was transferred to the Westminster Parliament in London. The city played no major role in the Industrial Revolution , but remained

11250-493: The name are also found in traditionally Gaelic-speaking areas of Scotland ( Gàidhealtachd , cognate with Irish Gaeltacht ), such as An Linne Dhubh ("the black pool"), which is part of Loch Linnhe . It is now thought that the Viking settlement was preceded by a Christian ecclesiastical settlement known as Duibhlinn , from which Dyflin took its name. Beginning in the 9th and 10th centuries, there were two settlements where

11375-673: The new parliament, the Oireachtas , in Leinster House . Since the beginning of Norman rule in the 12th century, the city has functioned as the capital in varying geopolitical entities: Lordship of Ireland (1171–1541), Kingdom of Ireland (1541–1800), as part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922), and the Irish Republic (1919–1922). Following the partition of Ireland in 1922, it became

11500-590: The normal duties of the company's employees, though highly competitive teams often evolved into "sponsored" squads which trained for sports full-time and only nominally worked in the factory. The National Industrial Basketball League evolved out of these company-branded basketball teams. By the 1940s, baseball split off into separate truly amateur softball teams, sometimes sponsored by employers, and an expanded system of fully professionalized minor leagues whose lower ranks included many former industrial players. There are many benefits, such as collegiate eligibility and

11625-441: The northside. There have also been some social divisions evident between the coastal suburbs in the east of the city, and the newer developments further to the west. Dublin has many landmarks and monuments dating back hundreds of years. One of the oldest is Dublin Castle , which was first founded as a major defensive work on the orders of England's King John in 1204, shortly after the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, when it

11750-490: The only team listed in the X League announcement to not change names, but they were replaced by the Kansas City Force in January 2020. As part of the league restructuring, it began offering ownership stakes to its players and coaches based on the individuals contributions and commitment to the organization, as well as revenue distribution program for merchandise featuring an individual player's likeness. The league also said it

11875-712: The other four teams in their conference. The top two teams in each conference advanced to the conference championship games held on February 4, 2010, in Miami, and the conference champions played in Lingerie Bowl VII on February 6, 2010. The Western Conference Los Angeles Temptation defeated the Eastern Conference Chicago Bliss by the score of 27–14. For the 2010–2011 season, the LFL added new franchises in Orlando and Baltimore , while

12000-746: The permanent homes of parliament from then on. For elections to Dáil Éireann , there are five constituencies that are wholly or predominantly in the Dublin City area: Dublin Central (4 seats), Dublin Bay North (5 seats), Dublin North-West (3 seats), Dublin South-Central (4 seats) and Dublin Bay South (4 seats). Twenty TDs are elected in total. The constituency of Dublin West (4 seats)

12125-740: The playoffs from the East while Seattle and Los Angeles advanced in the West. Atlanta upset Chicago in the Eastern Conference Championship, their first victory against the Bliss following seven consecutive defeats. In a war of unbeatens, Seattle bested Los Angeles in the Western Conference Championship. The season ended on September 3, 2017, as the Seattle Mist beat the Atlanta Steam 38–28 in

12250-400: The plexiglass removed, dasher boards padded, and ice surfaces covered with artificial turf. There are no kickoffs , except the option for an on-side kick should the game be close near the end, nor field goals ; halves and after scores begin on team's own 15-yard line. Kicking off after every scoring drive was added before the 2013 Pacific Cup, but was removed shortly after the first game of

12375-460: The population exceeding 130,000. While some medieval streets and layouts (including the areas around Temple Bar , Aungier Street, Capel Street and Thomas Street) were less affected by the wave of Georgian reconstruction, much of Dublin's architecture and layout dates from this period. Dublin grew even more dramatically during the 18th century, with the construction of many new districts and buildings, such as Merrion Square , Parliament House and

12500-649: The population of Dublin was 175,319 as counted under the Population Act, making the population of Dublin higher than any town in England except London. The Easter Rising of 1916, the Irish War of Independence , and the subsequent Irish Civil War resulted in a significant amount of physical destruction in central Dublin. The Government of the Irish Free State rebuilt the city centre and located

12625-452: The punt is not returned. A game consists of four ten-minute quarters and a 12-minute halftime (30-minute halftime in championship). In the event of a tie, an extra 8 minute sudden death period is played; whoever scores first wins the game. If still tied, the game ends as a draw, and counts as tie for both teams in the standings. In postseason games, multiple 10-minute sudden death overtime periods are played until one team scores, which wins

12750-523: The rainfall of the west coast. Ringsend in the south of the city records the lowest rainfall in the country, with an average annual precipitation of 683 mm (27 in), with the average annual precipitation in the city centre being 726 mm (29 in). At Merrion Square, the wettest year and driest year on record occurred within 5 years of each other, with 1953 receiving just 463.1 mm (18.23 in) of rainfall, while 1958 recorded 1,022.5 mm (40.26 in). The main precipitation in winter

12875-461: The same locations as the 2019 LFL season. The league also did not operate during 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic . The X League's eight-team 2022 season spanned June to September, concluding with the restructured league's inaugural championship, the X Cup, won by the Chicago Blitz . Since 2021, the league is owned by Mike Ditka , a former National Football League (NFL) player and an inductee of

13000-407: The same time, professional sports have become such a massive and remunerative business that even many low-level feeder teams can afford to have fully professional athletes. In Canada, semi-professionalism is prevalent in junior ice hockey , in which the top level players (most of whom are teenagers still in, or just out of, high school) are paid at a semi-professional level. This is not the case in

13125-558: The sea within the suburban parts of the city. Two canals – the Grand Canal on the southside and the Royal Canal on the northside – ring the inner city on their way from the west, both connecting with the River Shannon . Similar to much of the rest of northwestern Europe, Dublin experiences a maritime climate ( Cfb ) with mild-warm summers, cool winters, and a lack of temperature extremes. At Merrion Square ,

13250-659: The second straight year, the Los Angeles Temptation won the Western Conference championship while the Philadelphia Passion won the Eastern Conference championship, setting up a rematch in the 2012 Lingerie Bowl of the previous year's championship game. The 2012 Lingerie Bowl was played at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas , in the afternoon prior to the start of Super Bowl XLVI . The Los Angeles Temptation won its third consecutive Lingerie Bowl with

13375-594: The short summer seasons and low salaries require players to hold jobs in the offseason to make ends meet. There are several hundred semi-professional football teams at non-League level. The bottom division of the English Football League (the fourth tier of the English football league system ) has traditionally been the cut-off point between professional ("full-time") and semi-professional ("part-time") in English football . However, many teams in

13500-450: The station was 7.8 °C (46.0 °F) on 3 July 1974. The highest temperature officially recorded in Dublin is 33.1 °C (91.6 °F) on 18 July 2022, at the Phoenix Park . A non-official record of 33.5 °C (92.3 °F) was also recorded at Phoenix Park in July 1876 Dublin's sheltered location on the east coast makes it the driest place in Ireland, receiving only about half

13625-654: The third and final "All-Fantasy" match in Sydney , Australia, on June 9, 2012, at Allphones Arena . Queensland native and wide receiver for the Los Angeles Temptation Chloe Butler served as the ambassador of LFL Football coming to Australia and captained the Western Conference squad. The LFL then helped found the Ladies Gridiron League in Australia to serve as a minor league for the announced LFL Australia expansion. For

13750-422: The top levels, as finances depend on promotion and relegation both of parent male teams and of the female teams themselves. Full professionalism for women is still in the planning stages; top female players often depend on other sources of income (such as coaching and physical training), and many attend university or college while playing. In Scottish football , semi-professional teams compete at all levels below

13875-483: The top non-League competition, the National League , have become "full-time" professional clubs in an effort to achieve League status. Many former League clubs also remain as fully professional teams following relegation to the lower leagues at least for as long as they retain a large enough average attendance to generate the income needed to pay the players. Women's football in England is semi-professional at

14000-506: The uniforms as a necessary evil, with one saying, "Maybe one day, girls won't have to wear lingerie to get people interested [in women's football]." Liz Gorman, a player with the Jacksonville Breeze, stated she would rather wear a conventional uniform: "I mean, I don't like it. You'd rather wear full clothing. I have a bunch of scrapes on me." The league was accused in its earlier years of fining players for wearing too many clothes, as well as not paying medical bills for injured players. However,

14125-516: The uniforms as the originals were too heavy on sex appeal, initially dropping the ribbons and garters. The league designed new ones for the 2014 season closer to more traditional activewear , resembling uniforms similar to volleyball players, replacing the ribbons with shoelaces on the front of the top and bottom. The LFL then began looking into a Latin American league with six franchises throughout Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. On September 16, 2013,

14250-480: The uniforms covered very little skin, the players are more susceptible to injury. Ex-lingerie football player Nikki Johnson was one of the many players who experienced injuries in her time in the league including injuries sustained from hard hits and a broken wrist that required surgery. Ten teams played in the inaugural 2009–2010 LFL season . The league schedule ran from September 4, 2009, to January 29, 2010, with one game each Friday. Teams played one game each against

14375-462: The uniforms look very much the same as before. In addition to the new uniforms, redesigned shoulder pads were introduced to provide more protection for players. Other league changes included eliminating images of sexy women from team logos and changing the league tagline from "True Fantasy Football" to "Women of the Gridiron". Along with the rebrand of the league in 2013, the league also began changing

14500-672: The week before the Grey Cup. The 2012 LFL Canada season began on August 25, 2012, and culminated with Lingerie Bowl Canada I on November 17, 2012, between the Saskatoon Sirens and the BC Angels at the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre in Abbotsford, British Columbia . The BC Angels won the inaugural championship game 25–12 with BC Angels' quarterback Mary Anne Hanson and receiver Aleesa Garcia named as

14625-538: The weekends. In the 20th century the term "semi-pro football league" refer to higher level amateur leagues, though the players do not get paid, the leagues and the games are run in a somewhat professional manner. The National Lacrosse League , whose teams also typically play only one game per week, pays a salary that is enough to be considered fully professional, but players also are able to pursue outside employment to supplement their income. The lowest levels of organized baseball are also effectively semi-professional, as

14750-543: Was 16.4 hours in January 1996, while the highest was 305.9 hours in July 1955. In the 20th century, smog and air-pollution were an issue in the city, precipitating a ban on bituminous fuels across Dublin. The ban was implemented in 1990 to address black smoke concentrations, that had been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory deaths in residents. Since the ban, non-trauma death rates, respiratory death rates and cardiovascular death rates have declined – by an estimated 350 deaths annually. The historic city centre of Dublin

14875-670: Was also announced that the Cleveland Crush were moving to Toledo, Ohio , and play its home games at the Huntington Center . On September 16, 2015, Austin, Texas , received an expansion team for 2016 to play at the Cedar Park Center and the name was announced as the Austin Acoustic . On November 2, it was announced that Dallas , Texas, would rejoin the league in 2016 after being on hiatus since

15000-480: Was commanded that a castle be built with strong walls and good ditches for the defence of the city, the administration of justice, and the protection of the King's treasure. Largely complete by 1230, the castle was of typical Norman courtyard design, with a central square without a keep , bounded on all sides by tall defensive walls and protected at each corner by a circular tower. Sited to the south-east of Norman Dublin,

15125-555: Was designed by Thomas Manley Dean and Sir Aston Webb as the Royal College of Science . The First Dáil originally met in the Mansion House in 1919. The Irish Free State government took over the two wings of the building to serve as a temporary home for some ministries, while the central building became the College of Technology until 1989. Although both it and Leinster House were intended to be temporary locations, they became

15250-650: Was founded where the River Poddle met the Liffey, and the early Viking settlement was also facilitated by the small Steine or Steyne River, the larger Camac and the Bradogue, in particular. Two secondary rivers further divide the city: the River Tolka , running southeast into Dublin Bay, and the River Dodder running northeast to near the mouth of the Liffey, and these and the Liffey have multiple tributaries. A number of lesser rivers and streams also flow to

15375-506: Was named in Old Norse : Dyflinnar skíði , lit.   'Dublinshire'. It was upon the death of Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn in early 1166 that Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair , King of Connacht , proceeded to Dublin and was inaugurated King of Ireland without opposition. According to some historians, part of the city's early economic growth is attributed to a trade in slaves. Slavery in Ireland and Dublin reached its pinnacle in

15500-427: Was revealed that the players and coaches had actually left after disputes and issues with LFL management, namely commissioner Mortaza. Players and coaches left and joined the Ladies Gridiron League , originally a subsidiary of the LFL now operating as its own league. In the 2013 offseason, the LFL announced that the Philadelphia Passion and Minnesota Valkyrie had suspended operations for the 2014 LFL US season. It

15625-456: Was to use 70-yard fields in a press release, although this was never implemented. The league implements a new uniform with full pads. The league's first season was postponed to a scheduled start in June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic . In May, it had been announced that it was postponed again to April 2021. During the hiatus, the league announced Mike Ditka had been named owner and chairman of

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