GENERAL SPORTS

Rugby

Rugby is a free-flowing game that features a combination of strength, speed and strategy to move a ball into an opponents territory. Rugby is a full-contact sport yet players wear little-or no protective gear. Rugby evolved from football (i.e. soccer) and is often called the ‘game played in heaven’. 

Some importants Irish Clubs:

  • Ulster Bank League and Cup
  • The Clubhouse
  • Women’s Rugby
  • Tag Rugby
  • Fraser McMullen
  • Schools Rugby
  • Mini Rugby
  • College Rugby

Gaelic Football

Gaelic football is played by teams of 15 on a rectangular grass pitch with H-shaped goals at each end. The primary object is to score by driving the ball through the goals, known as a goal or by kicking the ball over the bar, this is known as a point. The team with the highest score at the end of the match wins. The female version of the game is known as ladies’ Gaelic football and is very similar to the men’s game with a few minor rule changes .

Hurling

Hurling is a stick and ball game played by teams of 15 on a rectangular grass pitch with H-shaped goals at each end. The primary object is to score by driving the ball through the goals or putting the ball over the bar and thereby scoring a point. Three points is the equivalent of a goal. The team with the highest score at the end of the match wins. It is over three-thousand years old, and is said to be the world’s fastest field game, combining skills from lacrosse, field hockey, and baseball in a hard-hitting, highly skilled game. The female version of the game is known as camogie and is very similar to hurling with a few minor rule changes. It was founded in 1832.

Soccer Dublín

Shelbourne FC:  Shelbourne play at Tolka Park and are one of the countries top teams.Bohemians FC: Bohs play at Dalymount Park and are probably the best team in the capital at the moment.St Patrick’s Athletic FC: Pats play at Richmond Park and were formerly managed by current Irish manager Brian Kerr.Shamrock Rovers FC: The Hoops currently have no home as they await the construction of their new Tallaght home. They are probably the most recognizable Irish club side.UCD: UCD play at Belfield, they are the team for the University College Dublin.Dublin City FC: They play at Whitehall, and were formerly famous Dublin club Home Farm.A good site for latest international and domestic football is soccercentral.ieYou can have news and fixtures visiting the Football Association of Ireland:

Golf

The West and North West regions (Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo) offer pure links golf. From Galway all the way to Ballyliffen, it lies along the Atlantic shoreline. Some parkland courses complete the mix.The South West (Clare, Kerry and Limerick) is the place of pilgrimage for all those who wish to experience the best Irish golf has to offer. The majority of courses are located along the coastline from south of Galway to Waterville with a few par kland courses inland.Golf in the South is in the county and city of Cork. Parkland and heath terrain offers magnificent golf with many new and spectacular courses.The South East region (Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford, Wesford, Wicklow) runs from Dungarvan in the South to Dublin. Courses are mainly park and heath land.Dublin and the North East region (Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath) features over 50 clubs with more on the horizon. Two of best are Portmarnock, venue for 15 Irish Opens, the Walker cup and the Canada Cup and Druid’s Glen, venue for the 1996 Murphy’ s Irish Open.The Midlands region (Cavan, Kildare, Laois, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary) offers a great selection of parkland settings – courses make use of natural, undulating terrain to lakeside locations.

Horse Racing

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)  is the governing body of horse racing on the island of Ireland. The HRI mission statement is “to develop and promote Ireland as a world centre of excellence for horse racing and breeding”. Like most other sports, horse racing is run on an all Ireland basis, so Horse Racing Ireland is responsible for racing in both the Republic of Ireland, which has 24 racecourses, and in Northern Ireland, which has 2 racecourses. The remit of the British Horseracing Authority does not extend to Northern Ireland. HRI was founded in 2001, succeeding the Irish Horse racing Authority, the 1994 successor to the Racing Board founded in 1945.In addition to fulfilling regulatory and promotional functions, Horse Racing Ireland owns Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan and Tipperary racecourses. The group’s current chairman is Mr Denis Brosnan and its CEO Mr Brian Kavanagh.The horse racing industry still contributes significantly to the Irish economy. Bloodstock sales, Tote betting and racecourse attendances produced significant growth in 2011, figures issued by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) show. This marks a positive upturn for the industry which had suffered severe contraction since 2007 across almost all areas. In 2004 this contribution was estimated to be in the region of €330 million euros.