Irish culture has always travelled well. It moves through music, art and sport, reshaped by the people who carry it with them. With the SS26 17-3 Shirt, Umbro taps into that idea, delivering a jersey that feels rooted in tradition while reflecting a modern, globally connected Ireland.
Positioned as the centrepiece of the SS26 collection, the 17-3 Shirt balances heritage references with a clean, contemporary execution. It is a football shirt designed to exist beyond the pitch and feels equally at home in creative spaces, on city streets or on stage.
Rather than leaning on nostalgia, the design looks forward. The 17-3 Shirt reflects an Irish identity that continues to evolve, shaped by movement, influence and reinterpretation. It focuses less on where Irish culture began and more on where it continues to go.
The release is accompanied by The Thread That Binds, Umbro’s SS26 campaign, which explores the global reach of Irish creativity through three individuals working across dance, music and visual art. Instead of traditional campaign imagery, the project focuses on the shirt in action, worn in the environments where culture is actively created.
Dancer Morgan Bullock represents Irish culture rediscovered and reimagined. Drawn to Irish dance from outside the tradition, she immersed herself in the form and developed a style that pushes its boundaries while respecting its roots.
Musician Rejjie Snow brings an international perspective. Emerging from Dublin onto a global stage, his work reflects a modern Ireland that operates without limits and carries its identity outward rather than holding it in place.
Artist Sean Atmos provides the grounded counterpart. Working from his studio and rooted in his surroundings, his practice reflects the quieter persistence of Irish creativity and the commitment required to build something lasting at home.
Across each discipline, the 17-3 Shirt acts as the constant, a shared element linking different expressions of Irish identity. The campaign positions the jersey not as a static symbol, but as something lived in and shaped by the people who wear it.
Landing in the lead-up to St Patrick’s Day, Umbro’s SS26 release presents the 17-3 Shirt as more than a seasonal drop. Instead, it arrives as a statement on Irish culture as a living, moving force that continues to adapt without losing sight of where it came from.
