Global Statistics

Ireland’s Top-Ranked Sports: A Look at the Nation’s Favourites

Sports play an important role in the cultural and social fabric of Ireland. With its rich history and passion for competition, it’s no surprise that Ireland has a deep love for sports. From Gaelic football to hurling, Irish sports are unique and captivating.

In this blog post, we will explore the most popular sports in Ireland, their origins, and why they are beloved by so many.

Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or just curious about Irish culture, this post will give you an insight into the exciting world of Irish sports. So grab a cup of tea and get ready to dive into the fascinating world of sports in Ireland.

1. Gaelic Football

  • Irish people have played Gaelic football for over 700 years

  • Croke Park is a famous Gaelic football stadium

  • Gaelic football plays an important cultural role in Ireland

For many Irish people, Gaelic football isn’t just a sport, but a way of life. It’s a game that’s been played for over 700 years and is an integral part of the country’s culture and tradition.

Gaelic football is the most popular sport in Ireland and is often compared to rugby due to some similarities in gameplay.

However, there are marked differences between the two, including the intensity and level of physical contact between players.

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) was established in 1884 to promote Gaelic football throughout Ireland, in response to the Rugby Football Union and Football Association in England.

The GAA has played a vital role in bringing together all Irish counties and creating a national-level championship.

For over a century, Irish Gaelic football teams have been playing matches against each other in Croke Park, Dublin.

In this article, we’ll explore the history and popularity of Gaelic football in Ireland and why it has become such an important part of the country’s identity.

Croke Park is one of the most beautiful stadiums in Dublin, hosting All-Ireland competitions since 1895.

With a seating capacity of more than 80,000 people, Gaelic football stadiums create an electric atmosphere for sports enthusiasts to cheer on their favorite teams.

This unique sport involves two teams of 15 players each playing on a rectangular grass pitch, setting it apart from other sports.

But that’s not all – fans of Gaelic football also enjoy other traditional Irish games like hurling, Camogie, and women’s football.

These games hold a special place in Irish culture, with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) established in 1884 to promote and develop these sports throughout the country.

With a rich history dating back over 700 years, Gaelic football is more than just a sport – it’s an integral part of Irish identity and tradition.

So, if you’re planning to visit Ireland, make sure to catch a Gaelic football match and experience the thrill of this unique sport firsthand.

2. Football / Soccer

  • Around 16% of Irish people play football

  • 3.5 million young people play football once a week

  • 128,610 unregistered and 42,057 registered football players in Ireland

Football is the second most popular sport in Ireland.

Hundreds of thousands of Irish people participate in and play football on local and community grounds. Whether eleven-a-side or five-a-side football matches, people of all ages enjoy this sport.

Around 16% of Irish people play and watch football in Ireland, and 3.5 million young people aged 16+ play football at least once weekly, making it 4.8% of the country’s population.

On average, 170,000 players participate in football every week. Ireland has 128,610 unregistered and 42,057 registered football players.

The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for this sport.

It runs and manages:

  • The League of Ireland

  • The National Football Team

  • National-Level Competitions

3. Rugby Union

Rugby Union is a cherished sport in Ireland, with its national team considered amongst the worlds best.

Around 95,000 people play rugby in Ireland on a regular basis and if you are from the other ‘Home Nations’ you will appreciate quite how much the sport means to Irish people when it comes to international competition.

Interestingly, the Irish national rugby team represents both Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is unprecedented in international sport.

Some of Europe’s most successful club Rugby teams play in Ireland’s provincial league, including Munster, Leinster, and Connacht.

4. Hurling

  • Irish people have been playing this sport for more than 3000 years

  • 511,500 registered players in Ireland

  • 74% of primary school students play hurling

Hurling is one of the oldest and most popular sports in Ireland. It is famous for its fast-paced nature and enthusiastic gameplay.

Irish people have been playing hurling for more than 3,000 years, and people of all ages and skill levels participate in this sport at the local, community, and national levels.

Although political, economic, and social turmoil has led to attempts to ban hurling, Irish people’s passion and enthusiasm for this sport is overwhelming.

Thanks to their love for hurling, this sport has survived numerous upheavals.

Ireland established the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in 1884 to revive and promote ancient Irish sports, including hurling.

The GAA is the largest sports organization in Ireland, with unique regulatory policies for hurling and other Gaelic sports.

The objective is to promote, support, and encourage young people to play this game at different levels.

Ireland has 32 county boards with over 1,616 GAA clubs and 511,500 registered players.

These regulatory bodies work with the GAA to create a sporting community and promote this sport in schools and colleges.

In addition, 74% of primary school students and 66% of post-primary students play hurling.

Around 98,000 children in Ireland play hurling, and the country has over 177,096 amateur players.

Around 6% of the country’s adult population also volunteers within the GAA to promote hurling throughout the country.

Around 100,000 Irish women participate and play Camogie, the female version of this sport.

5. Horse Racing

  • Around 39% of Irish people take an interest in horse racing

  • Horse owner retention rates were 80% in 2021

  • Horse racing is rooted in Irish culture

Horse racing is another popular sport in Ireland that is deeply rooted in the country’s culture and society.

Irish-bred horses compete in national-level competitions, as well as tournaments held in Great Britain. In fact, Irish players are famous for winning on British racing circuits.

The popularity of horse racing and people’s interest in this sport has increased in recent years. Around 39% of Irish people take an interest in modern horse racing, compared to 23% in 2020.

The Covid-19 pandemic affected the sports industry in Ireland, including horse racing in 2020. However, the nationwide mass vaccination campaign has revived the horse racing sector.

Despite the impact of the pandemic in 2021, horse owner retention rates were 80% compared to 74.7% in 2019.

Moreover, Bloodstock sales increased by 71.3% compared to 10.6% in 2019.

6. Basketball

  • Basketball Ireland promotes this sport across the country

  • Irish basketball player Pat Burke played in the NBA

  • The National League is a popular basketball league in Ireland

Irish people play basketball for recreational purposes, but the government has also promoted it as a professional sport in Ireland.

Basketball Ireland runs and manages grassroots programs, school-level competitions, and national tournaments to promote basketball in Ireland.

The National League is the most popular and top-level basketball league in Ireland. It facilitates competitions for both male and female basketball teams and clubs.

Basketball Ireland organizes the league and includes teams from different regions.

Basketball programs and training facilities have allowed Ireland to produce some of the best players.

For example, Irish basketball player Pat Burke participated in NBA. Burke played 62 games with the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic.

7. Cricket

  • Over 1000 local cricket teams in Ireland

  • Around 25,000 children play this sport every year

  • The national cricket team played in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup tournaments

Cricket has gained popularity in Ireland over the last three or four years. The number of young domestic cricket players has doubled compared to the previous three years.

Currently, Ireland has over 1,000 local cricket teams participating in different competitions.

Around 25,000 children participate in this sport every year.

Although the national cricket team has not made remarkable achievements recently, it participated in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup tournaments in West Indies and India respectively.

The national team earned “test-playing” status in 2018 but failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup in England.

8. Boxing

  • Irish boxer Steve Collins won Super Middleweight and WBO Middleweight championships

  • Katie Taylor is a famous female Irish boxer

  • Irish boxers have won two gold medals at the Olympics

Boxing is one of the most popular sports in Ireland because it has hundreds of thousands of fans and passionate young boxers.

Irish boxers have made considerable achievements in the Olympics, with two gold, three silver, and five bronze medals.

Ireland has produced some of the world’s best boxers throughout history.

Steve Collins won the Super Middleweight and the WBO Middleweight championships. He also won 26 Irish titles before participating in international competitions.

Ireland has also produced some of the greatest female boxers, such as Katie Taylor, with an HPI of 25.76. Taylor was also a former footballer.

The popularity of boxing in Ireland is growing at a rapid rate, and the future of this sport is bright. The demand for boxing matches has increased in recent years, particularly by the online audience.

Summarising the Most Popular Sports in Ireland?

Ireland’s sports heritage is deeply ingrained in its culture.

People have immense love for traditional games such as Gaelic football and hurling- and these sports date back centuries.

However, Irish people also participate in modern sports, including football, horse racing, basketball, cricket, and boxing.

The passion and dedication these sports inspire unite communities and foster a vibrant sporting atmosphere and the recent success of the Irish rugby team has bolstered the already positive mood around the country’s sporting future.

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