Sport In Ireland Information (Gaelic Football) @ HolyAmerica.com

Sport in Ireland is popular and widespread. Levels of participation and spectating are high on the island of Ireland Ireland (pronounced [ˈaɾlənd],; Irish: Éire, pronounced [ˈeːɾʲə] ( listen); Ulster Scots: Airlann) is the third largest island in Europe and the twentieth largest island in the world. It lies to the northwest of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland is Great Britain, separated from, but as in other western countries, participation has been dropping due to the increasing popularity of other activities such as watching television Television is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images, either monochromatic ("black and white") or color, usually accompanied by sound. "Television" may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission. The word is derived from mixed Latin and playing computer games A video game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The word video in video game traditionally referred to a raster display device. However, with the popular use of the term "video game", it now implies any type of display device. The electronic systems used to.

Gaelic football Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "Football", "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. It is, together with hurling, one of the two most popular spectator sports in Ireland is the most popular sport in Ireland in terms of match attendance and community involvement, and represents 34% of total sports attendances at events in Ireland and abroad, followed by hurling Hurling is an outdoor team sport of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. The game, played primarily in Ireland, has prehistoric origins and is thought to be the world's fastest field team sport in terms of game play. One of Ireland's native Gaelic at 23%, soccer Association football, commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. It is the world's most popular sport at 16% and rugby at 8%, ^[1] and Initiative's ViewerTrack study measuring 2005 sports audiences showed the sport's highest-profile match, the All-Ireland Football Final The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland Football Final being played on the third or fourth Sunday in September in, to be the most watched event of the nation's sporting year.^[2] Swimming, golf, aerobics, soccer, cycling, Gaelic football and billiards/snooker are the sporting activities with the highest levels of playing participation.^[3]

Many other sports are also played and followed, particularly rugby league Rugby league football, usually called simply rugby league, is a full-contact form of football, played with a prolate spheroid ball by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, following rugby league's split from the strictly amateur Rugby Football Union in 1895 its rules were changed in, horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times are an early example, as is the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. It is inextricably associated with gambling. The common sobriquet for Thoroughbred horse racing is The Sport of Kings but also show jumping Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping" or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows are limited exclusively to jumpers,, greyhound racing Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner, boxing Boxing is a combat sport and martial art in which two people fight using their fists. Boxing is typically supervised by a referee engaged in during a series of one- to three-minute intervals called rounds, and boxers generally of similar weight. There are three ways to win; if the opponent is knocked out and unable to get up before the referee, baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond. Players on one team take turns hitting against the pitcher of the other team (the fielding team), which tries, basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules. Basketball is one of the most popular and widely viewed sports in the world, cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball team sport. Many variations exist, with its most popular form played on an oval-shaped outdoor arena known as a cricket field at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch that is the focus of the game. A game (or match) is contested between two teams of eleven players each. One team bats, and will try to, fishing Fishing is the activity of catching fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping, handball Gaelic handball is a sport similar to Basque pelota, racquetball and squash and it is one of the four Gaelic games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The game may be played with two, three, or four players. The important difference between it and racquetball and squash is that the players hit the ball with the hand instead of a racquet, motorsport In addition to motor racing, there are many other forms of motorsport which don't involve racing. Examples include motorcycle trials, freestyle motocross and tractor pulling, tennis Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a racquet that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court, kendo Kendo , meaning "Way of the Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu. Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements, and hockey Hockey refers to a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball, or a puck, into the opponent's goal, using a hockey stick.

In Ireland many sports, such as boxing, hockey, rowing, cricket, rugby union, Gaelic football and hurling, are organised in an all-island basis, with a single team representing Ireland in international competitions. Other sports, such as Association Football, have separate organising bodies in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west. At the time of the 2001 UK Census, its population was 1,685,000, constituting about 30% of the island's total population and about 3% of the population of and the Republic of Ireland Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɪərlənd/ , locally [ˈaɾlənd], Irish: Éire, pronounced [ˈeːɾʲə] ( listen)), described as the Republic of Ireland (Irish: Poblacht na hÉireann), is a country in north-western Europe. The modern sovereign state occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned into two jurisdictions in 1921. At the Olympics The Olympic Games are a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Games are currently held every two years in even-numbered years, with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating, although they occur every four years within their respective seasonal, a person from Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west. At the time of the 2001 UK Census, its population was 1,685,000, constituting about 30% of the island's total population and about 3% of the population of can choose to represent either Ireland or Britain The British Olympic Association is responsible for the United Kingdom's participation in the Olympic Games. It was formed on 24 May 1905 at the House of Commons. The first chairman of the BOA was Lord Desborough. It originally had representatives of 7 sports but now all 35 Olympic sports have a member.

Gaelic football

Further information: Gaelic football Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "Football", "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. It is, together with hurling, one of the two most popular spectator sports in Ireland

This game (along with hurling) is considered the national sport of Ireland.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] As well as being known as "football", the sport may be refereed to as Gaelic football, Gaelic, Gah, or GAA if confusion might otherwise arise with soccer. Though it has existed for centuries in Ireland as Caid Caid is the name given to various ancient and traditional Irish football games. "Caid" is now used by people in some parts of Ireland to refer to modern Gaelic football, football was formally arranged into an organised playing code by the Gaelic Athletic Association The Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, [ˈkʊmˠən̪ˠ ˈl̪ˠuh.xlʲæsˠ ɡeːl̪ˠ]) is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders. The GAA also (GAA) in the late nineteenth century. It is the most popular sport in Ireland in terms of match attendance - in the senior football championship in the summer, attendance is upwards of 80,000 for the most prestigious fixtures. In 2003 for example, 34% of all attendances to sports events in Ireland were to Gaelic football matches. Hurling is the closest rival with 23%.^[8]

The game is played at underage, minor (under 18), under 21 and adult levels. All players are amateur, although players at a high level may receive income from sources such as sponsorship and grants. Every Gaelic footballer plays for a local club or parish team, and the best are chosen for the inter-county sides. There is great pride associated with playing for a county team in Ireland. County players may be chosen to play in inter-provincial (Railway Cup games or for the 'International Rules' International rules football is a team sport consisting of a hybrid of football codes, which was developed to facilitate international representative matches between Australian rules football players and Gaelic football players team to face Australia. However, the main national competitions are the inter-county All-Ireland Senior Football Championship The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland Football Final being played on the third or fourth Sunday in September in and National Football League, also known as the NFL.

A football year starts with pre-season competitions and the NFL. In early summer, the Championship begins. Each of the four provinces has its own tournament, and teams which are knocked out must do well in the 'qualifiers' if they are to gain a spot along with the four Provincial Champions in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The All-Ireland Senior Football final The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland Football Final being played on the third or fourth Sunday in September in is traditionally held on the third Sunday in September. Kerry The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (or Kerry GAA) is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry. The county board is also responsible for the Kerry inter-county teams are football's most successful team, with 35 All-Ireland senior titles. There are many rivalries within the game in Ireland - an example is that between Dublin and Meath. Other notable teams include Tyrone and Armagh.

Hurling

Further information: Hurling Hurling is an outdoor team sport of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. The game, played primarily in Ireland, has prehistoric origins and is thought to be the world's fastest field team sport in terms of game play. One of Ireland's native Gaelic

Hurling Hurling is an outdoor team sport of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. The game, played primarily in Ireland, has prehistoric origins and is thought to be the world's fastest field team sport in terms of game play. One of Ireland's native Gaelic is a sport native to Ireland, organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association The Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, [ˈkʊmˠən̪ˠ ˈl̪ˠuh.xlʲæsˠ ɡeːl̪ˠ]) is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders. The GAA also. In terms of attendance figures, hurling is second only to Gaelic football.^[8]

Many aspects of the organisation of hurling are similar to football, as both sports are organised by the GAA. Amateurism and the club/county/province structure are similar. Hurling is well-attended and the most prestigious games fill Croke Park Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Ireland's biggest sporting organisation. The stadium is in the heart of the city, a 15 minute walk from the main thoroughfare O'Connell Street to its capacity of well over 80,000. The main competitions are the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland and the National Hurling League (NHL). As with football, pre-season competitions and the League are over by early summer. The Provincial Championships and Qualifiers are then played, followed by the All-Ireland series. The All-Ireland Hurling Final is traditionally held on the first Sunday in September of each year. The most successful teams have been Cork and Kilkenny The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Coiste Cill Channaigh) is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams. Kilkenny have won the last four championships and are currently regarded as the top team in the history of hurling.^{[citation needed]}

Association football

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

Often known as soccer (to avoid confusion with Gaelic football) ^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12] or just football ^[13]^[14], association football is the largest participation team sport in Ireland.^[15] The national body in the Republic of Ireland is the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) while the national body in Northern Ireland is the Irish Football Association The Irish Football Association is the organising body for football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for the whole of the island of Ireland. It should not be confused with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), which is the organising body in the Republic of Ireland (IFA).

On the international stage, the Republic of Ireland have competed in three FIFA World Cups and a single European Championships and all since 1988. Northern Ireland's international team, despite a poor run of form in the late 1990s and first few years of the 21st century, and a corresponding slump in the FIFA World Rankings, enjoyed great success in the early and mid-1980s and has recently had a revival in fortunes under former manager Lawrie Sanchez, with home wins over Spain and England. Starting in 2011, both national teams on the island will compete with Scotland and Wales in the 4 Associations' Tournament, intended to be held in odd-numbered years. The inaugural competition will be held in Dublin at the new Aviva Stadium, which will also host the 2011 UEFA Europa League Final.

The Milk Cup is a successful international youth tournament held annually in Northern Ireland, in which clubs and national teams from anywhere in the world may compete. Northern Ireland also played host to the 2005 UEFA Under-19 European Championships.

The Setanta Sports Cup was set up by its sponsors, television channel Setanta Ireland. It is an all-island mini-World Cup style tournament featuring teams from both domestic leagues. The first four editions (2005 through 2008) featured eight teams, four from the League of Ireland and four from the Irish League, and were conducted with groups of four teams, semi-finals and a final. Beginning with the 2009–10 edition, the competition features nine teams, with the extra team being the current Setanta Cup holders; the tournament has been reorganised into three groups of three clubs each, followed by semi-finals and a final. Despite fairly low turnouts for each jurisdiction's leagues, the Setanta Cup has so far drawn relatively successful gate receipts.^{[dubious – discuss]}

Rugby union

Further information: Rugby union in Ireland

Rugby union is played and supported throughout Ireland, but is especially popular in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Ulster. Rugby union is played at club, province and national levels. The Ireland national team is composed of players from both Northern Ireland and the Republic, and the Irish Rugby Football Union governs the sport throughout the island. School rugby union is generally played at primary and secondary level. Notable rugby union schools include Belvedere College, Blackrock College, Rockwell College, Castleknock College, Clongowes Wood College, The High School, St Mary's College, Dublin, Terenure College, Crescent College, Limerick, Castletroy College, Limerick, St Munchin's College, Limerick, Ardscoil Rís, Limerick, PBC Cork and CBC Cork in the south and the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Methodist College Belfast in the north. Recent success at international level and the establishment of four professional teams has increased interest in rugby union as a sport in Ireland.^[16] Also, schools who would not have played the game traditionally have started to field teams in the sport increasing the player base in the country.

Other sports

Athletics

Athletics in the Republic of Ireland is governed by Athletics Ireland, and in Northern Ireland by Athletics Northern Ireland. The various track and field events tend to be supported by local athletics clubs rather than schools. Athletics has seem some of the Ireland's highest performers at the Olympics, with several Irish athletes performing well for both the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the games over the years. Denis Horgan won the Shot Putt 13 times at the AAAs, (still holding a title for greatest number of individual titles won), before emigrating to New York to (inevitably) become a policeman, where he also won many American titles. Horgan broke the world record on several occasions, and - at the tail end of his career (despite having a fractured skull) - he won the silver medal at the Olympics 1908. Dr. Pat O'Callaghan (also from North Cork) won the hammer throw in 1928 and again in 1932 at the Olympic Games. Bob Tisdall also won gold for Ireland in 1932, competing in the 400m hurdles. In more recent years, notable athletes have included Ron Delany, Mary Peters, Eamonn Coghlan and Sonia O'Sullivan. Despite these past successes, the sport suffers from low media attention and dropping interest^{[citation needed]} due to the popularity of other sports and past underinvestment.

The Dublin Marathon and Belfast Marathon are run annually and are two of the most popular athletics events in the country. The Women's Mini Marathon in Dublin regularly gets upwards of 40000 competitors.

Australian rules football

Further information: Australian rules football in Ireland and Irish experiment Ireland's All-International Mike Finn takes a mark over a pack of South African opponents in the 2008 AFL International Cup

Australian rules football in Ireland has a small following. Now due to the International rules series that takes place annually between Australia and Ireland, the profile of the sport has increased. In October 2000, the Australian Rules Football League of Ireland was established, and a representative Irish team took part in the 2005 Australian Football International Cup. The Irish Green Machine became inaugural International champions in 2002.

The sport first gained exposure in when former underage Gaelic football player Jim Stynes moved to Australia to play AFL and in 1991 became the first Gaelic footballer to win the prestigious Brownlow Medal.

In the 2005 AFL Grand Final, Tadhg Kennelly (son of Tim Kennelly) became the first Irishman to be part of a premiership-winning side, with the Sydney Swans. Australian journalist Andrew Maher flew out to Ireland with Kennelly's family to watch the game on television with them.

Recent exposure however has been somewhat controversial, marred as it was due to the spiteful 2005 series, which prompted calls form some sections of the GAA to have the International series banned. In response to the on field aggression displayed in that series, both the AFL and GAA agreed that harsh penalties should be imposed on players who resorted to violence. Despite some press indignation both in Ireland & Australia, interest in the 2006 International Rules Series reached an all time high, with the series selling both games out in Ireland including a record crowd at Croke Park for any international sporting event in the country.

Baseball

Main articles: Baseball in Ireland and Irish National Baseball Team

Baseball is an emerging sport in Ireland. The sport is played on an organized level in Dublin, Greystones, Belfast, Cork and Kerry. The Irish National Baseball Team won the bronze medal at the 2004 European Championships in Germany and followed up that performance with a silver medal in the 2006 European Championships in Belgium. On a club level, baseball is organized through Baseball Ireland, which operates an adult league established in 1997 with teams in Dublin, Greystones and Belfast. Irish baseball was the subject of an award-winning documentary The Emerald Diamond in 2006.

Basketball

See also Ireland national basketball team

Basketball is an emerging sport in Ireland. Basketball Ireland is the governing body and organises the main competitions such as the SuperLeague. The main basketball arena in Ireland is the ESB Basketball Arena in Dublin. The sport receives small amounts of media attention, with a few games broadcast on television annually - usually when there is no Gaelic football on. Basketball is mainly driven by school, college and club support. Pat Burke is the only Irish born to play in the NBA, he played for Orlando Magic & Phoenix Suns. Marty Conlon also represented Ireland while playing in the NBA for the Boston Celtics however he was born in the United States.

Boxing

Dunne celebrates in Dublin

Boxing, which was once one of Ireland's most popular sports is now regaining popularity. The international success of boxers such as Bernard Dunne, Andy Lee and John Duddy has much to do with this. RTEs coverage of the sport through ProBox live is also partly responsible for the surge in boxing's popularity in Ireland. 12 of Irelands 23 Olympic medals were won in Boxing.

In recent years Ireland's amateur boxers have won medals at numerous top level competitions worldwide including Olympics, World Senior Championships, European Senior Championships, World Junior Championships, World Youth Championships, European Junior Championships and European Youth Championships. Ireland also boasts the top pound-for-pound female amateur boxer in the world in Katie Taylor who has won three European Championships and two World Championships.

Cricket

Further information: Cricket in Ireland and Ireland cricket team

Cricket in Ireland is a minority sport, and all players are amateurs, but the game is showing signs of development.^{[citation needed]} Cricket is now getting more and more popular^{[citation needed]} thanks to Ireland's successful Cricket World Cup campaign in 2007.^{[citation needed]} It has been played in Ireland since the early 19th century, and the game against Scotland (a match which has first-class status) has been played annually since 1909. The Irish team was fairly strong in the mid and late 19th century, and sent several touring parties abroad, but development of the sport was adversely affected first by the Gaelic Athletic Association's ban on its members taking part in "foreign" sports and then by the creation of the Irish Free State; many of the best cricketers in Ireland had been British soldiers and civil servants and their withdrawal led to a decline in the overall standard of the game.^{[citation needed]}

There have been brighter spots in recent years, however. Dublin-born batsman Ed Joyce has played with some success as part of Ireland's ICC Trophy team and is now a key member of the Middlesex side in England's County Championship; he captained the county in 2004. Interest in Irish cricket was also generated by the national team's startling victory over West Indies in 1969; they did it again on 17 June 2004. The sport is organised on an all-island basis and is overseen by the Irish Cricket Union, founded in its present incarnation in 1923. Ireland has entered some domestic English tournaments since the early 1980s, but becoming an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council in 1993 paved the way for participation in international competition, and indeed the 2005 ICC Trophy was hosted by Ireland. The Irish finished second in the tournament, beaten by Scotland. Ireland has co-hosted the Cricket World Cup in 1999. Dublin also hosted one game of the 1999 World Cup. The 2007 World Cup which was held in the West Indies was a very successful tournament for the Irish Cricket team. Having qualified for the first time for the tournament, Ireland entered the arena with much to gain. Ireland tied the match with Test Cricket playing team, Zimbabwe and shocked Pakistan by defeating them on St. Patrick's day. Suddenly there was much talk about Cricket in Ireland. Ireland qualified for the super 8 and recorded some good results, including a win against Bangladesh. Ireland have been granted ODI status and now they appear in the ODI ranking table. In June 2007 Ireland played ODI matches against India and South Africa.

Ireland compete against Essex at Castle Avenue

Ireland went on to win the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier, securing their place in the 2011 Cricket World Cup and ODI status for the next four years.

Cycling

Cycling retains a strong following in Ireland. There are many regional clubs throughout the country and many competitions are organised regularly, the largest non-professional one being the Rás (Irish for race). The main governing body is Cycling Ireland which is responsible for cycling throughout the island. Ireland's most famous cyclists are Stephen Roche, who won both the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia in 1987; and Seán Kelly, who won the Vuelta a España in 1988, the sprinter's green jersey in the Tour de France four times, and numerous single-day classics.

Gaelic handball

Handball, once very popular in Ireland, has lost much of its popularity over the years to other sports such as Gaelic football and association football, and since the game has been predominantly indoors for the last 30 years many of the older outdoor handball alleys throughout Ireland are in a state of neglect.^{[citation needed]} Ireland still produces numerous top-class handballers, including three-time world champion Paul Brady, but the sport had not gained much media coverage for much of the 1990's and new century. However in recent years there has been a pronounced effort from within handball to address this problem, with increased game promotion and higher media profile for the top players. The sport is governed by the GAA.

Golf

Strandhill Golf Course in County Sligo: just one of the many coastal golf courses throughout Ireland

Further information: Golfing Union of Ireland

Golf is very popular in Ireland, with over 400 golf clubs throughout the country, and over 300 courses in the Republic of Ireland. A number of these courses can be booked online at teetimes.i.e. Golf is regularly televised in Ireland, with both domestic and international events broadcast. Among Ireland's most famous golf courses are Portmarnock, Ballybunion, Royal County Down Golf Club and Royal Portrush Golf Club.

The K Club in County Kildare was the venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup. Ireland has produced several top golfers in recent years, with players like Pádraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke achieving significant success internationally. All three were part of the European team that successfully defended the Ryder Cup on home soil, with Clarke arguably being the emotional leader as he was recovering from the death of his wife from breast cancer. Most recently, Harrington won "The Open Championship"(The British Open) in 2007, then successfully retained the title in 2008 and a month later won his 3rd major, the "USPGA Championship". A new star in Irish golf is Rory McIlroy, who at the tender age of 19 is already in the Worlds top 10.

Greyhound racing

Greyhound racing began in Ireland in 1927; there were greyhound races in Celtic Park in Belfast on 18 April of that year and the Shelbourne Park greyhound stadium opened in Dublin four weeks later. Hare coursing was already a well established sport in the country and greyhounds were bred for racing in Ireland from the very start. The great Mick the Miller, winner of the English Derby in 1929 and 1930, was an Irish greyhound and Ireland continues to export greyhounds.

There are now twenty licensed greyhound stadiums in Ireland. There are seventeen in the Republic where the licensing authority is Bord na gCon, the Irish Greyhound Board. This is a semi-state body and was established by the Irish government in 1958. The three stadiums in Northern Ireland are licensed by the Irish Coursing Club, which also organises hare coursing throughout the Island.

Once seen as a sport in decline, the popularity of greyhound racing has surged since 1995 and several million euro are now bet "at the dogs" annually. Bord na gCon has invested substantial amounts of money in developing and marketing the sport, prize money has increased and greyhound stadiums have been refurbished, helping the sport sell itself as a social event. It is now common for families and groups of friends or colleagues to go for "a night at the dogs" instead of to the cinema, the pub or a nightclub. Prize money ranges from a few hundred euro to several thousand for top dogs. The annual Paddy Power Irish Greyhound Derby run each year in August at Shelbourne Park is one of the richest greyhound races in the world.

Equestrian

The various equestrian sports have a sizeable following in Ireland. Thanks to generous tax treatment, many of the world's best race horses retire to Ireland to stud. The local industry (including the world's largest thoroughbred breeding operation; Coolmore Stud) produces many top race horses every year. Ireland's top tracks are the Curragh and Fairyhouse. Show jumping also has quite a good following in Ireland, however the disqualification of Cian O'Connor at the 2004 Summer Olympics has deeply damaged the sport.

File:Me Strandhill

Extreme sports

There is a large underground following of extreme sports in Ireland, with many sports such as skateboarding, rollerblading, surfing, BMX, mountainbiking and mountainboarding (Kitesurfing), (wakeboarding)growing. Although many people participate in these sports, few of them do so competitively. Most of these sports have national governing bodies, such as the Irish Surfing Association, and national competitions, such as mountainbiking's national series.

Since 2005, skateparks (for skateboarding, rollerblading, etc.) have been developed up in several places. Concrete skateparks, are in Gorey, Greystones, Bushy park (Dublin) and Lucan (Dublin). Modular parks can be found in other parts of Ireland.^[17]

Hockey

Hockey^[18] (known in some countries as 'field hockey') is quite popular as a participative sport in Ireland. It is played throughout the country, particularly in secondary schools. There are many hockey clubs throughout the country. The main body in Ireland is the Irish Hockey Association.

Ice hockey

Ice hockey has a measure of popularity in Northern Ireland, with one professional team, the Belfast Giants, playing in the Elite Ice Hockey League. The Irish Ice Hockey League comprises a number of amateur teams from both sides of the border. The National Hockey League in North America has one active Irish born player, Owen Nolan, as well as several former players from the 1930s through 1950s: Jim McFadden, Jack Riley, Sid Finney, Bobby Kirk, and Sammy McManus.

Kendo

Kendo is enjoying increasing popularity over the last 10 years with significant clubs based in Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Kildare. The Irish Kendo Federation, or Kendo Na h-Eireann is the governing body for the country and has sent teams to represent Ireland at the World Kendo Championships (WKC) 3 times. The WKC is held every 3 years and has mens, ladies and team competitions. There is an annual Irish National Championship event (INC) which is used by our National & Assistant Coach to select Kendoka to enter the National team. This team represents Ireland at the annual European Kendo Championship (EKC) and at the WKC when staged. Other events in the Kendo calendar are the Irish International Goodwill Taikai (IIGT) (Dublin are the current champions) and the Dublin International Open.

Martial arts

Taekwondo and Karate have had some success over the past 20 years, with various new clubs being founded throughout the country. The All-Ireland Taekwondo Association has worked in recent years to promote the sport in the country and to organise more competitions. However, the rise in popularity of Kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) tournaments in Ireland and beyond has led to many of the traditionally popular disciplines such as karate and taekwondo beginning to lose some of their following.^{[citation needed]}The All Styles and Kickboxing Association of Ireland [2](AKAI), the governing body of kickboxing in Ireland, has become one of the first competitive martial arts organisitations to be recognised by the Irish Sports Council and receive official recognition. The AKAI is primarily associated with WAKO as well other kickboxing and sports karate organisations. Through the hard work of this organisation Ireland is ranked in the top 5 countries for kickboxing and has produced more European and World Champions than any other sport in Ireland. The lack of media coverage in Ireland in regards to martial arts has meant that very few of these champions have been recognised for their achievements. Most notable of all Irish martial artists is Karate and Kickboxing Irish, European and World Champion Roy Baker. Baker has been the most successful martial arts competitor in Irish history winning over 50 prestigious international titles. He has also trained numerous other world champions including Nicola Corbett, Ilija Salerno, Colm O'Saughnessey, Darragh Geoghean, Elaine Small, David Tarpey as well as numerous national champions, European and world medalists. Other World Champion Kickboxers of note are Julie McHale, Sally McArdle, Tony Stephenson and Alan O'Connell. Mixed Martial Arts has gained a lot of popularity in the past 5 years with many clubs opening in citys like Dublin, Cork and Limerick. The UFC held an event in Dublin, January, 2009. The event sold out in the first day.

Olympic Handball

Olympic Handball is a minority sport in Ireland despite it being the second most popular team sport in Europe. Olympic handball has a growing following and participation with a continued growth particularly in primary and secondary schools. The Irish Olympic Handball Association is the governing body in Ireland and there are currently 8 clubs in the Senior National League. In October 2007 the Irish Men's team recorded their best result in the European Challenge Trophy (a competition for developing nations) coming 4th ahead of Scotland and Malta.

Racquet sports

Tennis, badminton and squash are quite popular in Ireland. Tennis has a growing following, with Tennis Ireland, the governing body running several competitions between the some 200 clubs throughout Ireland. Ireland competes in tennis internationally in the Davis Cup (men's) and the Fed Cup (ladies). Badminton in Ireland is run by the BUI. Squash, which exploded in the 1970s and 1980s has been in decline for several years, but despite this there remain several clubs throughout the country.

Road bowling

Irish Road Bowling is an ancient sport. It is centred in Ireland (particularly Cork and Armagh) but is also played in the United States and the United Kingdom. Similar sports are played in Holland, Germany and Italy and since the 1960s the sport has enjoyed a genuine international dimension with an international championship being played on a regular basis by athletes from all these countries.

Rounders

Rounders (Irish: cluiche corr) is regulated by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Ireland, and is not dissimilar to baseball. Game-play centers around innings where teams alternate at turns being batters and fielders. Points ("rounders") are scored by the batting team by completing a circuit around the field through four bases without being put 'out'. The earliest nationally formalised rules of play were devised by the GAA in Ireland in 1884.

Rugby League

Rugby league in Ireland is represented by the Ireland national rugby league team. They compete in the European Cup and the Rugby League World Cup, they made the semi finals of the 2008 world cup losing to Fiji 30-14^[19]. The Irish Elite League (known as the Carnegie League) for sponsorship purposes^[20] is the top level rugby league competition in Ireland. Brian Carney is one of Ireland most famous rugby league players, playing in Super League for Gateshead Thunder, Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves and in the National Rugby League for the Newcastle Knights he then left to play rugby union for Munster Rugby and then became an Irish rugby union international before returning to rugby league, he now does some commentary for SKY Sports.

Scuba diving

Diving the Skellig Islands, West of Ireland

Ireland, being an island on the western edge of Europe and on the continental shelf, is perfectly suited for the sport of SCUBA diving. Ireland's waters provide diving sites of various qualities and standards to encompass all individual requirements. Because of its small size it is relatively easy to travel from one part of the country to another; giving divers the opportunity to travel for one or more days diving. The dive season in Ireland generally starts around March and ends around October. It is possible of course, to dive outside these times, but due to adverse weather and sea conditions it is not appealing.

Diving started in Ireland in the early 1950s with the founding of the Belfast Branch of the British Sub Aqua Club. In the early 1960s the independent Irish diving clubs formed the Irish Underwater Council (or Comhairle Fó-Thuinn in Irish). This voluntary body regulates all aspects of diving for its members and represents Ireland at the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques.

There are also about 40 dive centres affiliated to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), mostly along the west coast.

Softball

See also Softball in Ireland

Softball in Ireland can be traced back as far as 1982, with the first organised competition, the Dublin Softball League, taking place in 1984. The Irish Softball Association is the governing body of softball in Ireland and is responsible for the running of tournaments, Leagues, development and international competition in both co-ed slowpitch and ladies fastpitch softball. The National Team (Co-Ed) has competed at European level since 1998, with the best results being Silver in 2002 and 2004.

Snooker and pool

Snooker and pool hold some interest in Ireland, with significant media coverage of most major international tournaments. Despite being home to one of the world's most successful snooker players (Ken Doherty), both snooker and pool are in decline in Ireland as major sports. They retain popularity in pubs, but many of the country's snooker/pool halls have closed in recent years. see Irish Snooker Homepage

Target shooting

Target shooting in Ireland comprises a large number of disciplines such as the Olympic shooting disciplines (administered by the NTSA), Metallic Silhouette shooting (administered by the NSAI), Gallery Rifle disciplines (administered by the NASRC), the Tetrathlon (administered by the Pony Club) and Olympic Penthathlon (administered by the Modern Pentathlon Association of Ireland), Clay Pigeon Shooting (administered by the ICPSA) and various long-range rifle shooting disciplines (administered by the NRAI).

Triathlon

The triathlon, as well as the duathlon, pentathlon, and decathlon, are rapidly gaining interest in Ireland. The national body for the triathlon is Triathlon Ireland which organises competitions between various clubs throughout the country. Many participants are members of clubs that specialise in swimming and cycling as well as Triathlon clubs. Although the Triathlon remains the most popular multi-event sport in Ireland, the other sports such as the pentathlon are gaining popularity. The Modern Pentathlon Association of Ireland was set up in 2004.

Tug of war

Tug of war has been in Ireland for a long time and the creation of the Irish Tug of War Association in 1967 boosted the competition among clubs in Ireland and also enabled Ireland to compete in international events, such as the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF) World Championships.

Wrestling

Collar-and-elbow is a type of traditional Celtic wrestling, similar to Breton gouren and Cornish wrestling. Though its popularity waned over the 20th century, it is currently experiencing a small revival.

In December 2009, at World Wrestling Entertainment's pay-per-view TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Stephen Farrelly, who wrestles as Sheamus, became the first Irish born WWE champion by defeating John Cena in a table match.

Water sports

Water sports practised in Ireland include canoeing, swimming, surfing, diving, water polo, sailing, kayaking, and scuba diving. Whilst many people participate in these, few do so competitively. Ireland has had only one Olympic medalist in swimming, Michelle Smith, and her medals have since been tarnished by drug allegations. The National Aquatic Centre was opened in Ireland in 2003 and held the European SC Championships in December 2003 — the first time the country hosted such a competition. At the competition, Ireland won its first medal at the European SC Championships ever, a silver in the 200m breaststroke by Andrew Bree. Swim Ireland is the national governing body of swimming in Ireland. See also List of Olympic-size swimming pools in Ireland.

Orienteering

Orienteering is a popular sport in Ireland and is regulated by the Irish Orienteering Association.^[21]

Competitions and events

National

The various GAA discipline finals are easily the largest sporting events regularly held in Ireland, in both terms of attendance and media coverage. The biggest national sporting event in Ireland is the final of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, held annually in Croke Park, usually in September. It usually attracts a sell out crowd of 82,500 to croke park. Many of the matches in the championship attract crowds of 50,000+, depending on who is playing.

Aside from the GAA, the biggest multi-sport event held in Ireland regularly is the Community Games. The games are organised every year from a local level, where hundreds of thousands of young people compete in different disciplines such as athletics, swimming, cycling etc., in the first half of the year. Winners progress to county level, and then to the Community Games finals. The finals are held over two weekends in the summer where over 3,000 children sleep over at a campus facility such as Mosney (which was used until 2004.)

International

On an international level, Ireland has had mixed fortunes. Ireland has been particularly successful in recent years in rugby union, horse racing, showjumping, snooker, amateur boxing and golf. However, several scandals have arisen in recent years which have tarnished Ireland's international participation. In 2002, Roy Keane, one of Ireland's top international footballers, quit the national squad during the run-up to the World Cup after a bitter and public falling-out with coach Mick McCarthy. Ireland's main swimming body, Swim Ireland, has been involved in damaging child sex abuse scandals and a legal battle with the new CEO, Sarah Keane. There was widespread criticism of the lack of infrastructure and poor resources available to top athletes at the time of the Olympics.

Showjumping

Ten Irish people have won Olympic medals, most recently Cian O'Connor who won a gold for showjumping. However, soon after, O'Connor has lost his medal after his horse tested positive for banned substances. At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Ireland had one of its smallest contingents in its history at the games, with only 106 individuals participating. This was due to the strict policy followed by the Olympic Council of Ireland of only allowing A time athletes and swimmers to attend the games. This prevented several sportspeople from competing.

One of the biggest international events in Ireland is international Association Football. The Republic's national team has punched above its weight in recent years, qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, and performing well against such teams as Brazil and Portugal. In rugby union, Ireland's national team has been ranked in the top five teams regularly over the last few years, and has produced major stars such as Keith Wood and Brian O'Driscoll. In golf, Ireland is home to several top golfers such as Pádraig Harrington.

The traditional Gaelic games of Gaelic football and Hurling are played by Irish expats, with increasingly local involvement in communities around the world, however no nation has enough players to compete with Ireland. To compensate for this the GAA has entered into a partnership with the Australian Football League (Australian rules football) and plays a hybrid annual series called International rules football — this series has been going in various forms since 1967. Also the GAA plays an international Hurling hybrid match with Scotland's national shinty team (although Ireland do not select players from the best hurling teams in Tier One of the All-Ireland championship for this game).

In 2003, Ireland hosted the Special Olympics World Summer Games, which was the biggest sporting event ever held in the country.^{[citation needed]} In December 2003, Ireland hosted the European SC Championships 2003. In 2006, Ireland hosted the Ryder Cup Matches.

Stadia

Ireland largest stadium is Croke Park in Dublin can hold 82,300^[22] people. It is also the fourth largest stadium in Europe. Until recently, it was only used for Gaelic games and concerts. International association football and rugby in the Republic of Ireland were played at Lansdowne Road prior to its ongoing reconstruction. When the stadium closed late in 2006, it could accommodate approximately 35,000 people for association football and 50,000 for rugby union (the difference is because standing-room terraces cannot be used for international association football but can be used for rugby union). Further to the stadia already mentioned there are several facilities throughout the country capable of accommodating 50,000 or more people such as Semple Stadium, Thurles, Gaelic Grounds, Limerick and Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork (all Gaelic games venues). Ireland currently has three Olympic-sized swimming pools — two of which are open to the public. The largest - located at Sports Campus Ireland - is the National Aquatic Centre. Ireland has several large horse and greyhound tracks such as Fairyhouse.

Early in 2007, the rebuilding of Lansdowne Road into a modern 50,000-capacity all-seater began. The new Aviva Stadium is now expected to open in April 2010. Thomond Park, a rugby ground in Limerick, has been rebuilt into a modern 26,000-capacity stadium, though not all-seated.

Plans to develop a Northern Ireland stadium at the site of the former Maze prison in County Antrim to cater for Gaelic games, rugby and soccer were scrapped in 2009 after opposition from unionists and soccer fans.^[23] Alternative plans from private consortia have emerged to build a stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland's biggest city.^{[citation needed]}

The Ireland national cricket team play One Day Internationals at Stormont in Belfast and at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Clontarf, Dublin. Additionally Ireland play Intercontinental Cup matches at the Woodvale Road ground.

Media coverage

Newspapers: All major newspapers dedicate significant amounts of space to sports coverage. These pages are usually dominated by association football, Gaelic games and equestrian events. The most popular newspapers in Ireland for sports coverage are The Irish Examiner, Star, Irish Independent, The Sunday Tribune and The Sunday World.^{[citation needed]}

Television: Gaelic football, hurling and soccer receive most of the sports coverage on domestic channels. RTÉ Two and TG4 currently hold the right to broadcast Gaelic games in Ireland. Coverage of the League of Ireland is shared between RTE, TG4 and Setanta Sports. TV3 and RTÉ Two both have rights to various European association football competitions, such as the Champions League and the English Premier League. Setanta Ireland launched in early 2004 with the aim of offering a dedicated service to Irish sport. Satellite and Cable subscribers have access to many other foreign channels such as Sky Sports, Eurosport and Attheraces.

Magazines: There are relatively few Irish based magazines apart from GAA ones such as the Hogan Stand. However many foreign sports magazines are widely available.

References

^ "The Social Significance of Sport". The Economic and Social Research Institute. http://www.esri.ie/pdf/BKMNINT180_Main%20Text_Social%20and%20Economic%20Value%20of%20Sport.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
^ http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10004396.shtml
^ "Sports Participation and Health Among Adults in Ireland". The Economic and Social Research Institute. http://www.esri.ie/UserFiles/publications/20070223162340/BKMNINT178_Main%20Text%20Chapters%201-4.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
^ Gaelic Football | Ireland Vacation and Travel Destination Specialist - Get a FREE quote within 24 hours
^ GAA, Gaelic Football and Hurling T-Shirts from PRIDE
^ DVD, GAA, comedy, DVDs, shopping, online, sport, gaelic football, hurling
^ Links
^ ^a ^b "The Social Significance of Sport" (PDF). http://www.esri.ie/pdf/BKMNINT180_Main%20Text_Social%20and%20Economic%20Value%20of%20Sport.pdf. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
^ Irish News UK - News from the Irish Community in Britain
^ FAI.ie - Much done... lots more to do, says FAI Chief Executive John Delaney
^ Ireland Sports News & Latest Soccer, Rugby, GAA & Racing News Headlines - ireland.com
^ http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer
^ A2zsoccer :: Home of Irish Soccer
^ eleven-a-side.com | Irish soccer | eircom League
^ FAI Official Site http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1365&Itemid=9
^ Farrelly, Hugh (2009-09-15). "The most progressive team in Ireland". Scrum.com. http://www.scrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/102547.html. Retrieved 2009-11-17. ""[R]ugby's explosion in popularity means there is talent coming through in greater numbers that at any time in living memory . . . These are heady days for Irish rugby. The Republic of Ireland are pushing hard for qualification for the World Cup but could barely draw 10,000 to Thomond Park for a recent international with South Africa. A few days later, Munster had almost twice that for an early season Magners League match.""
^ Goreyskateclub Co. Wexford Ireland, skateparks in ireland - Wreckless
^ [1]
^ http://www.rlwc08.com/matchreviews/match15.aspx
^ http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=36165
^ http://www.orienteering.org/i3/index.php?/iof2006/iof/member_federations/iof_member_federations#IRL Retrieved on 22 June 2008
^ Croke Park Venue Information
^ http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0128/maze.html

Croke Park: Cathedral of Sport by Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, first printed September 2004 - ISBN 1-903464-54-4
The Ras: Ireland's Unique Bike Race 1953-2003 by Tom Daly, first printed October 2003 - ISBN 1-903464-37-4
Golfing in Ireland: The Most Complete Guide for Adventurous Golfers by Rob Armstrong, first printed May 2000 - ISBN 1-56554-726-8
The Fighting Irish by Roger Anderson, first printed October 2004 - ISBN 1-84018-755-7
Michael Fortune (2002), Greyhound racing in Brian Lalor (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Ireland. Dublin: Gill and Macmillian. ISBN 0-7171-3000-2

External links

Sports governing bodies in Ireland

Baseball Ireland · Basketball Ireland · Boxing Union of Ireland · Cycling Ireland · Football Association of Ireland · Gaelic Athletic Association · Golfing Union of Ireland · Irish American Football Association · Irish Amateur Boxing Association · Irish Cricket Union · Irish Fencing Federation · Irish Football Association · Irish Hockey Association · Irish Ice Hockey Association · Irish Ladies Golf Union · Irish Orienteering Association · Irish Rugby Football Union · Rugby League Ireland · Irish Sailing Association · Olympic Council of Ireland · Softball Ireland · Swim Ireland · Tennis Ireland

Sport in Europe

Sovereign states	Albania · Andorra · Austria · Azerbaijan¹ · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus¹ · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia¹ · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan² · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia² · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey² · Ukraine · United Kingdom (England • Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales)

States with limited recognition	Abkhazia¹ · Kosovo · Northern Cyprus¹ · South Ossetia¹ · Transnistria

Other entities	European Union

Dependencies, autonomies, other territories	Adjara¹ · Adygea · Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Åland · Azores · Bashkortostan · Chechnya · Chuvashia · Crimea · Dagestan · Faroe Islands · Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina · Gagauzia · Gibraltar · Guernsey · Ingushetia · Jan Mayen · Jersey · Kabardino-Balkaria · Kalmykia · Karachay-Cherkessia · Republic of Karelia · Komi Republic · Madeira · Isle of Man · Mari El · Mordovia · North Ossetia-Alania · Republika Srpska · Svalbard · Tatarstan · Udmurtia · Vojvodina

¹ Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the border definitions. ² Transcontinental country.

Ireland topics

Republic of Ireland (topics) · Northern Ireland (topics)

History

Timeline	Prehistory · Protohistory · Early history Gaelic Ireland / Lordship of Ireland (800–1166 · 1166–1536) Kingdom of Ireland (1536–1691 · 1691–1801) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (since 1922) Irish Free State (1922–1937) Ireland (since 1922)

Events	Battle of Tara/Battle of Glenmama/Battle of Clontarf · Norman invasion · Bruce campaign · Black Death · Tudor reconquest · Desmond Rebellions · Spanish Armada · Tyrone's Rebellion · Flight of the Earls · Plantation of Ulster · 1641 Rebellion and Confederate War · Cromwellian reconquest and Settlement of 1652 · Williamite War · Penal Laws · First Great Famine · 1798 Rebellion · Act of Union 1800 · 1803 Rebellion · Tithe War · Second Great Famine · Land War · Fenian Rising · Dublin Lockout · Home Rule Crisis · Easter Rising · War of Independence · Anglo-Irish Treaty · Civil War · The Emergency · IRA Northern Campaign · IRA Border Campaign · The Troubles

Other topics	List of Irish battles · List of Irish tribes · List of High Kings · Gaelic clothing and fashion

Geography

Natural	Climate · Islands · Loughs · Rivers (List) · Mountains · Extreme points · Fauna · National Parks

Human	Demographics of ROI / Demographics of NI · Provinces · Counties · Cities · Towns · Ports · Tourist destinations · ROI–UK border · Transport · Architecture · Notable buildings · Tallest buildings and structures

Culture

People	Gaels (and the Gaeltachtaí) · Ulster Scots · Anglo-Irish · Hiberno-Norman · Travellers · Irish diaspora · List of Irish people

Languages	Irish · Ulster Scots · Shelta · Hiberno-English · Mid Ulster English

Literature	Poetry · Fiction · Theatre · Gaeilge literature · Irish annals · Irish triads

Mythology	Mythological Cycle · Ulster Cycle · Fenian Cycle · Echtrai · Immrama · Tuatha Dé Danann · Aos Sí

Music	Folk music · Folk music sessions · Céilí · Irish instruments · Traditional singing · Ballads · Rock music

Dance	Sean-nós dance · Stepdance · Set dance · Jig

Cuisine	Irish stew · Barmbrack · Boxty · Champ · Coddle · Colcannon · Drisheen · Soda bread · Ulster fry

Sport	Association football · Gaelic football · Hurling · Camogie · Gaelic handball · Road bowling · Rounders · Gaelic Athletic Association · Rugby union

Symbols	Flags · Flags issue · National coat of arms · County coats of arms · Shamrock · Cláirseach · Red Hand · Irish Wolfhound · Irish Elk

Other	Irish calendar · Irish names · Irish placenames / Irish placenames outside Ireland · Public holidays of ROI · Public holidays of NI

Politics

Ideologies	Irish nationalism · Irish republicanism · Unionism · Ulster loyalism

Republic of Ireland	Government · Parliament (Lower House · Upper House · President) · Constitution · Local government · Economy (Celtic Tiger) · Education · Foreign relations

Northern Ireland	Peace process · Government · Assembly (D'Hondt method) · Local government · Economy · Education

Portal

Categories: Sport in Ireland

The above information uses material from Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Some facts may not have been fully verified for accuracy. [Disclaimers]
This page was last archived by our server on Thu May 20 23:17:54 2010. [ refresh local cache ]
Displaying this page or its contents does not use any Wikimedia Foundation's resources.
The owners of this site proudly support the Wikimedia Foundation.

[Hide]▼

[Hide]▲

or search for "Sport in Ireland" in:	Web:	The Entire Web	Related Sites	Web Directories
	This Site:	Page Titles	Karr Network Sites*
	News:	Headlines	Weather	Events	Blogs
	Reference:	Encyclopedia	Dictionary	eTexts	Quotes
		Local Map	Answers
	Multimedia:	Images	Videos
	People:	Discussion Groups	Social Networking
	Shopping:	General Merch.	Consumer Opinion	Auctions	Classifieds

top user searches:	►

Contents