Sport in Ireland

Sport in Ireland is very important to the country’s culture and daily life. Many people enjoy watching and playing different kinds of sports. Some of the most popular sports include Gaelic games like Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, and handball, as well as association football, horse racing, and rugby union.

In Ireland, many people play soccer, which is also called association football, more than any other team sport. Gaelic football and hurling are also very popular and draw large crowds to their big matches. The government supports these sports to help develop them and build better places to play.

People in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, can choose to compete for either Ireland or Great Britain in the Olympic Games. This shows how sports bring people together.

Gaelic games

Main articles: Gaelic Athletic Association and Gaelic games

Gaelic games are very popular in Ireland. These games include Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, and handball.

Gaelic football

Further information: Gaelic football

Gaelic football is often just called "football" in Ireland. It is the most popular sport in Ireland. Players compete for local clubs or county teams. The final of the big championship is held every year in September.

Hurling

Hurling is an old Irish sport. It is known for being very fast. Hurling is similar to hockey but uses a special ball called a sliotar. The main competitions are the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and the National Hurling League.

Camogie

Camogie is a version of hurling played only by women. It began in County Meath in 1904.

Gaelic handball

Gaelic handball is similar to squash or racquetball but uses hands instead of rackets. The sport is managed by GAA Handball, a part of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Rounders

Rounders is a game similar to baseball. Players take turns batting and fielding, and score points by running around four bases on the field.

Association football

Further information: Association football in Northern Ireland and Association football in the Republic of Ireland

Association football is a popular sport in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. People like to watch big international matches, but local league games usually have fewer fans. Many Irish fans also go to watch English football matches.

The main groups that manage the sport are the Football Association of Ireland in the Republic and the Irish Football Association in Northern Ireland. Top teams in the Republic include Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk FC, and Shelbourne FC, while Glentoran, Linfield, and Derry City are well-known in Northern Ireland. Some of Ireland’s best players go to play in England and Scotland for better opportunities.

Both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland teams have played in three FIFA World Cups, and the Republic has also been in three European Championships. The Milk Cup is a yearly youth tournament in Northern Ireland, and Northern Ireland hosted the 2005 UEFA Under-19 European Championships.

Rugby union

Further information: Rugby union in Ireland

Rugby union is a popular sport in Ireland, especially in cities like Dublin, Limerick, Belfast, and Cork. It is played at different levels, including clubs, provinces, and the national team. The Ireland national team includes players from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and the Irish Rugby Football Union manages the sport for the whole island.

The sport has grown in popularity, especially as more people watch games. Rugby is also played in schools across Ireland, with many traditional schools helping to develop young players.

Boxing

Further information: Irish Athletic Boxing Association and Boxing Union of Ireland

Boxing in Ireland is managed by two groups: the Boxing Union of Ireland and the Irish Athletic Boxing Association. Many Irish amateur boxers have done very well and have won medals in big competitions around the world, including the Olympics.

Some famous Irish boxers are Steve Collins, Bernard Dunne, Barry McGuigan, Michael Carruth, Ryan Burnett, Andy Lee, John Duddy, Carl Frampton, Kellie Harrington, and Katie Taylor. Katie Taylor is one of the best female boxers in the world. She has won many titles and a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics.

Athletics

See also: Tailteann Games (ancient) and Tailteann Games (Irish Free State)

Athletics in Ireland is managed by Athletics Ireland and in Northern Ireland by Athletics Northern Ireland. Many Irish athletes have done well in the Olympics, competing for both Ireland and Great Britain & Northern Ireland. Some famous athletes include Denis Horgan, who won many titles and broke world records, and Dr. Pat O'Callaghan, who won Olympic medals. Other top athletes are Ron Delany, Mary Peters, John Treacy, Eamonn Coghlan, Sonia O'Sullivan, and Robert Heffernan.

The Dublin Marathon and Belfast Marathon happen every year and are very popular. The Women's Mini Marathon in Dublin often has many runners.

Equestrian

Equestrian sports are very popular in Ireland. After Gaelic games, horse racing is the second most watched sport. Many people go to watch races each year.

The main organization for these sports is Horse Sport Ireland. It includes many groups that care about different horse activities. These activities include show jumping, eventing, dressage, endurance riding, para-equestrian, polo, and carriage driving.

Horse Racing Ireland manages all the race tracks in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Some of the best tracks are the Curragh and Fairyhouse. The country is also known for breeding race horses, with Coolmore Stud being a large place for breeding thoroughbred horses.

Golf

Further information: Golf in Ireland

Golf is very popular in Ireland. It became one of the top sports there by 2008. Ireland was the first country to organize golf in a big way, with two important groups starting in 1891 and 1893. These groups later joined to become Golf Ireland.

There are many golf clubs and courses all over Ireland. Some famous ones are Royal County Down Golf Club, Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portmarnock, Ballybunion, and Lahinch. Big golf events, like the Irish Open, are held there often.

Ireland has produced many great golfers. Pádraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, and Shane Lowry have won important tournaments around the world. From Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy has achieved amazing feats. Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke have also won big championships.

Cricket

Further information: Cricket in Ireland and Ireland cricket team

Cricket has been played in Ireland since the early 1800s. The game against Scotland has been played every year since 1909.

The sport is managed across the whole island by the Irish Cricket Union, which was formed in 1923. Ireland joined international cricket in 1993 and co-hosted the 1999 Cricket World Cup. The game is most popular in Northern Ireland and Dublin.

The Ireland cricket team played in big tournaments, like the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, and the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Field hockey

Main article: Hockey Ireland

Field hockey, often just called "hockey" in Ireland, is played all over the country, especially in schools. The Irish Hockey Association manages the sport. The Ireland women's national field hockey team reached the final of the Women's Hockey World Cup in 2018. In 2018, the Ireland men's national field hockey team was ranked 10th in the FIH World Rankings.

Other sports

Australian rules football

Further information: Australian rules football in Ireland and Irish experiment

Australian rules football is getting more popular in Ireland because of the International rules series held each year between Australia and Ireland. In 2000, the Australian Rules Football League of Ireland began, and an Irish team joined the 2005 Australian Football International Cup. The Irish Green Machine became the first International champions in 2002. They have been in the finals of every AFL International Cup since then and won the 2011 International Cup. Belfast and Dublin have hosted the AFL Euro Cup.

Chess

The Irish Chess Union (ICU), formed in 1912, is the group in charge of chess in Ireland. It is part of FIDE since 1933 and the European Chess Union. The ICU helps with chess in Ireland and keeps track of player scores, publishing them three times a year. It runs events like the Irish Chess Championship and picks teams for international competitions.

Croquet

Croquet was first played in Ireland in the 1830s. The Croquet Association of Ireland oversees the sport. Most big matches and tournaments happen at the Carrickmines Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club near Dublin.

Cycling

There are many local cycling clubs all over Ireland with regular races. The biggest non-professional race is the Rás, meaning "race" in Irish. Cycling Ireland is the main group in charge of cycling across the island. Famous Irish cyclists include Stephen Roche, who won both the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia in 1987, and Sean Kelly, a winner of the Vuelta a España in 1988. Mountain biking is popular in places like Wicklow, Dublin, Galway, and Tipperary.

Darts

The Irish National Darts Organisation (INDO) is the group in charge of darts in Ireland and is recognized by the World Darts Federation and the British Darts Organisation.

Extreme sports

Extreme sports in Ireland include skateboarding, rollerblading, surfing, BMX, mountain biking, mountain boarding, kitesurfing, and wakeboarding. Speed climbing became an Olympic sport in 2020 and is overseen by Mountaineering Ireland, which also gives safety advice for mountain climbing, indoor climbing, bouldering, abseiling, and hill-walking.

Greyhound racing

Greyhound racing started in Ireland in 1927, with races in Belfast and Dublin. Hare coursing was already popular, and greyhounds have been bred for racing since then. There are twenty licensed greyhound stadiums in Ireland, seventeen in the Republic and three in Northern Ireland.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics in Ireland is managed by Gymnastics Ireland, formed in 1999. There are 83 registered clubs. The most successful gymnast is Rhys McClenaghan, who has won many titles, including gold in men's pommel horse at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Kendo

Kendo is a smaller sport in Ireland with clubs in Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Cavan. The Irish Kendo Federation is in charge, and the Irish National Kendo Squad competes in international events. Kendo in Northern Ireland is overseen by the British Kendo Association.

Martial arts

The Irish Martial Arts Commission is the main group for martial arts in Ireland, representing styles like Aikido, Ju-Jitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Kung-Fu, TaeKwon-Do, Ninjutsu, Sambo, and Tai Chi. Taekwondo and Karate have many clubs across the country.

Motorsport

Motorsport in Ireland is managed by Motorsport Ireland. Rallying is popular, with three major Rally Championships each year. Ireland has also hosted rounds of the World Rally Championship. Circuit racing takes place at Mondello Park in County Kildare. Famous Irish drivers include Derek Daly, Peter Dempsey, Tommy Byrne, Eddie Jordan, and David Kennedy.

Olympic Handball

Olympic Handball is a smaller sport in Ireland, with the Irish Olympic Handball Association as the governing body. Ireland hosted the European Challenge Trophy in Olympic Handball in 2011.

Orienteering

Orienteering in Ireland is managed by the Irish Orienteering Association. The Shamrock o-Ringen, Ireland’s biggest orienteering event, happens every two years in Cork or Kerry. Irish orienteers compete at all levels, sometimes reaching the finals of the World Orienteering Championships.

Pitch and putt

Pitch and putt started in County Cork in the 1930s and grew across Ireland in the 1940s. The Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland has overseen it since 1960. The Ireland men's national pitch and putt team won the 2008 Pitch and Putt World Cup.

Racquet sports

Tennis, badminton, racquetball, and squash are common in Ireland. Tennis Ireland runs competitions for around 200 clubs. Ireland competes in the Davis Cup and Fed Cup. Badminton is managed by the BUI.

Road bowling

Irish Road Bowling is an old sport, mainly in Cork and Armagh, but also played in the United States and the United Kingdom. International championships have been held since the 1960s with athletes from several countries.

Rowing

Rowing Ireland manages the sport. In winter, there are Head of the River Races, and in summer, there are Regattas. Successful rowers include Paul O'Donovan, Fintan McCarthy, Gary O'Donovan, and others who have won Olympic medals.

Rugby league

Rugby league in Ireland is managed by Rugby League Ireland, which runs the Irish Elite League. There are about 20 teams across Ulster, Munster, and Leinster. The Irish rugby league team competes in the European Cup and the Rugby League World Cup.

Sailing

Sailing in Ireland is managed by Irish Sailing, based in Dún Laoghaire. The first sailing club was the Cork Water Club, founded in 1720. The earliest One-Design sailboat class is the Dublin Bay Water Wag, first built in 1886.

Skydiving

The National Aero Club of Ireland (NACI) is the group in charge of skydiving. It is part of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale and represents Irish skydivers at national and international levels.

Snooker and pool

Snooker and pool are popular in Ireland, with media coverage of major international tournaments. Ireland has produced successful players like Ken Doherty, Alex Higgins, and Dennis Taylor.

Target shooting

Target shooting in Ireland includes Olympic rifle and pistol shooting, metallic silhouette shooting, precision pistol, benchrest rifle, gallery rifle, sporting rifle, Olympic Penthathlon, Olympic and non-Olympic clay pigeon shooting, and long-range rifle shooting. Ireland has had representation at international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

Triathlon and adventure racing

Triathlon, duathlon, pentathlon, and decathlon are growing in Ireland. Triathlon Ireland organizes about 200 events each year. Adventure racing also happens, with events like the Wicklow Adventure Race and Gaelforce West.

Tug of war

Tug of war has been in Ireland for a long time. The Irish Tug of War Association, created in 1967, helps with competitions and lets Ireland join international events like the Tug of War International Federation World Championships.

Underwater sports

Ireland is good for recreational diving, with the dive season from March to October. Underwater hockey is the only underwater sport practiced, mainly in Dublin and Cork, with teams competing internationally.

Water sports

Water sports in Ireland include canoeing, swimming, surfing, diving, water polo, sailing, and kayaking. The National Aquatic Centre, opened in 2003, has hosted European and World Para Swimming Championships. Successful Olympic swimmers include Mona McSharry and Daniel Wiffen.

Winter Sports

The Ski Club of Ireland is the main center for snowsports, with four outdoor dry slopes in Kilternan, Dublin. An Irish team has competed in the Winter Olympic Games since 1992.

North American sports

American Football

Main article: American Football Ireland

American football started in Ireland in the 1940s when American soldiers played during World War II. Local teams began in 1986. Today, teams from Ireland and Northern Ireland compete, and the best team wins the Shamrock Bowl. There are leagues for younger players and teams for women and mixed groups.

Baseball

Main articles: Baseball in Ireland and Irish National Baseball Team

Baseball is growing in Ireland. The national team has won medals in European competitions. The sport is managed by Baseball Ireland, which runs leagues and clubs across the country.

Basketball

See also Ireland national basketball team

Basketball is managed by Basketball Ireland, which runs leagues and the main basketball arena in Dublin. The sport gets some TV attention and is supported by schools and clubs. One Irish player, Pat Burke, has played in the NBA.

Ice hockey

There is one professional ice hockey team in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Giants. The Irish Ice Hockey Association manages the national teams for men and women.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse in Ireland is managed by Ireland Lacrosse. In 2020, the Irish men’s team gave up their spot in a big competition so that the Iroquois team could play.

Softball

See also Softball in Ireland

Softball in Ireland started in 1982, with the first league in 1984. The Irish Softball Association runs tournaments and teams for mixed and women’s softball. The national team has competed in Europe since 1998.

Volleyball

Volleyball is played by men, women, and students, with both indoor and beach versions. It is managed by Volleyball Ireland. National teams compete in international events, and there are many club competitions and school tournaments across the country.

Competitions and events

Big sports events happen in Ireland every year. The most famous is the final of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. This game is played at Croke Park in September. Many people come to watch.

Ireland also holds many international events. The country does well in sports like rugby union, horse racing, show jumping, amateur boxing, and golf. Irish athletes have won Olympic medals. The national soccer team reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup in 1990. Ireland’s rugby union team was ranked first in the world in 2019. The country has hosted big events like the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 2003 and the Ryder Cup Matches in 2006.

Stadiums

See also: List of stadiums in Ireland by capacity

Ireland's biggest stadium is Croke Park in Dublin, part of the GAA. It can hold many people and is one of the largest in Europe. Other big GAA stadiums are Semple Stadium, Thurles, Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, and Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork.

International soccer and rugby games happen at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. It opened in 2010 and replaced the old Lansdowne Road stadium. Thomond Park in Limerick is a modern rugby stadium.

Ireland has Olympic-sized swimming pools, with the biggest one at the National Sports Campus, called the National Aquatic Centre. There are also tracks for horse and greyhound racing, like Fairyhouse.

The Ireland national cricket team plays games at Stormont in Belfast and at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin. They also play at the Woodvale Road ground and have played at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin.

Media coverage

Newspapers in Ireland talk a lot about sports. The most popular sports are soccer, Gaelic games, rugby, and horse events.

On TV, Gaelic football, hurling, and soccer get the most attention. Channels like RTÉ Two and TG4 show Gaelic games. RTÉ Two, TV3, and other channels show soccer leagues like the League of Ireland, the Champions League, and the English Premier League. People with satellite or cable TV can watch channels such as Sky Sports, Eurosport, and Attheraces.

There are not many sports magazines from Ireland, except for ones about Gaelic games like Hogan Stand.

Student sport

In Ireland, sports at schools and universities are managed by Student Sport Ireland (SSI). This group helps students take part in many sports events, both in Ireland and around the world. Universities in Northern Ireland also join in sports competitions with universities in Britain. SSI was created in 2005 and changed its name to Student Sport Ireland in 2013. It gets some money from Sport Ireland and works with other university sports groups in Europe. SSI helps plan sports events and activities for students at schools and universities.