Ireland has a rich sporting tradition where international and native sports are sit side by side. Gaelic games, such as hurling and the Irish form of football, predominate but team sports such as association football and rugby football are almost as popular. Boxing, horseracing the importation of sports such as rugby league adds to this diverse mix.

The most popular sports in Ireland are the traditional games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association: Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. The sports are played almost exclusively in Ireland. Matches in the All-Ireland Hurling and Football Championships attract large attendances throughout the summer months culminating in the finals, the highlight of Ireland’s sporting year, held in Dublin each September. The GAA organises competitions that straddle the Irish border and also encompass teams from further afield such as London and New York. In addition, international competitions are often played, under modified rules, with Scotland and Australia. [more]

Historically, the Gaelic Athletic Association proscribed its members from competing in "foreign sports" such as rugby and association football. However, in recent years, this prohibition has been relaxed and when the Landsdowne Road stadium is being rebuilt, these "foreign sports" will be played at the home of Gaelic Games, Croke Park, for the first time.

In association football, two governing bodies operate the sport on the island of Ireland. The Irish Football Association operate the sport in Northern Ireland whilst the Football Association Ireland operate the sport in the Republic. The organisational division stems, almost logically, from the division of ireland during the 1920s. Two separate international teams compete on the world stage. In recent years, the Republic of Ireland has proved more successful qualifying for the World Cup Finals in 1990, 1994 and 2002 while the Under-16 and Under-18 teams won the European titles in 1998. [FAI] - [IFA]

The governance of rugby football in Ireland is not separated between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Instead, two governing bodies operate the two separate sports of rugby union and rugby league. The Irish Rugby Football Union organise the sport of rugby union whilst Rugby League Ireland organise rugby league. Both teams play under a flag of green featuring shamrocks within a sheild at its centre (however - the flags differ slightly). The anthem played at matches is the international rugby anthem to indicate both teams. The anthem features the lines "four proud provinces of Ireland" indicating the geographical nature of the province structure rather than an indication of the two seperate states. [Irish Rugby Football Union] - [Rugby League Ireland]

Rugby union is the most popular form of the game in Ireland: Ireland compete in the annual Six Nations and the IRFU organise the provincial club teams in the Celtic League and European Cup. [more]

Rugby League is increasing in popularity, however, with more teams being established each year and Irish players now regularly appearing in the Engage SuperLeague. In addition, Ireland reached the final of the European Cup of Nations in 2004. [RL European Federation]

In addition to these field sports, Ireland has a strong reputation for field sports such as hunting, shooting and fishing, and for equestrian events, show jumping and horse racing. The Dublin Horse Show is held every August. In horse racing, Charlie Swan, Tony McCoy, Adrian Maguire, and Michael Kinnane are leading jockeys. The biggest flat race on the racing calendar, the Irish Derby, is held at the Curragh race course in July. In steeplechasing, the Irish Grand National takes place each year at Fairyhouse. In motor sports, Eddie Irvine drives in Formula One Grand Prix races. Wayne McCullough, Stephen Collins and Michael Carruth are world class boxers.