noncommissionedofficers

The fellow standing on the left (not the lurker) has on his right forearm a "four-bar Chevron" which evidently denotes years of overseas service in WW1.

The Overseas Service Chevron was created by the British Army on 20 December 1917 and was awarded for each year of overseas service. It was retroactive to December 31, 1914, and was eligible for award until May 1, 1920.
Overseas service was calculated from the day the soldier disembarked from the United Kingdom. A blue chevron was awarded for each 12 months of overseas service after December 31, 1914, with a maximum of 4 blue chevrons (or 5 if the soldier served in Russia after the war). A single red chevron could be awarded for at least a year or more of overseas service before December 31, 1914, and was worn under the blue chevron(s). The Overseas Chevrons were worn on the lower right sleeve of the uniform jacket. Official wear was discontinued in 1922."
From - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Service_Chevron#
Also - lawranceordnance.com

Which might imply the photo is 1918 - 1922 (??)

The fellow seated second from right (smoking a cigarette with ash on his leg!) has chevrons on his left forearm denoting 'Long Service/Good Conduct Badge'. See the second link above.
Edit - He also has a medal bar on his chest. No idea what ...

beachcomber australia Alright, hazarding 1918-1922? above.

Football team and ball?

We have encountered Mr J.S. Coombs the photographer previously. Based in Portland, UK. I wonder if this and another photo are somewhere near Portland ?
catalogue.nli.ie
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/53705945897/]

As best as I can see, the following is written on the reverse of the Postcard.

Left to Right, Corporal Peter Golden, Sergeant Major Kehoe, Corporal O’Mahony,
Sergeant Bailey, xxx Zerhusen, xxx Kavanagh
Corporal O’Callaghan, xxx Quinlisk

We have heard of the Irish Brigade before - Roger Casement's plan to recruit Irishmen in German POW camps to fight for Ireland instead. He made an agreement with the Germans in Dec 1914, and managed to get 50 or so men to sign up. I think the plan ended with his death, so this must be in 1915 or early 16.

Wikipedia has the same photo, and says 1915.

Niall McAuley Date done.

The wiki image gives names for all the men, but I don't know where the names come from: Cpl Peter Golden, Sgt Maj Keogh, Cpl O'Mahony, Sgt Daniel Julien Bailey (alias Beverley), Interpreter Zerhussen, Cpl Kavanagh, Cpl O'Callaghan, QMS H. Quinlisk

A group of Redmondite volunteer Non Commissioned Officers in full regalia! I don't think I've seen anything like this before. All patriotic and well meaning and caught out by the Rising in 1916 and the decision of their leaders to support Britain in WW1 in the hope of gaining Home Rule by peaceful means. Many of them joined the war effort in Europe and lost their lives and many more changed over and took an active part in the war of independence. They are surprisingly well equipped with rifles, those are Lee-Enfield Mark II riflles the standard issue to the British Army at that time though they are sporting Boer War bandoliers.

Swordscookie Thanks, Sean, for condensing 10 turbulent years of Irish history into a few lines, and for the techie information. I've tagged from what you've said. You say "surprisingly well equipped". The rifles may have been up to date, but I wonder how many of those rifles the Volunteers had - not just those that would be displayed for PR reasons in a photo like this?

Swordscookie Pigsticker = Bayonet??

National Library of Ireland on The Commons Of course. The chap near the pointy end better not move in a hurry or he'll be bleeding like a stuck pig!

Swordscookie Thank you for that eloquent and evocative descripion! :)