Sports

The Irish are mad about sports and Dubliners are no different. Here’s an introduction to Dublin’s sport scene.

Ireland’s leading sports

According to the most recent findings of the Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index, Ireland’s three favourite sports are: Gaelic games, soccer and rugby.

Gaelic games, which include Gaelic football, hurling and camogie, are by far the most popular. For 24%, it’s their favourite sport. 14% chose soccer and 13% chose rugby.

The poll suggests tennis, cycling, golf and athletics are well-liked too. In fact, the Dublin Marathon is among the biggest in Europe. And, unlike other capital cities, Dublin is home to dozens of top-class golf courses.

But whatever niche sport you’re into, you’ll find an outlet. From boxing and cricket to water sports and American football, there’s no shortage of sports in Dublin.

Getting involved in sports in Dublin

The Federation of Irish Sport estimates that Ireland has around 12,000 clubs across 64 sports. Wherever you are in Dublin, the nearest football or Gaelic club is likely to be located just a few minutes away.

With millions of members and thousands of volunteers, they’re central to local communities. Most Irish adults are members of a sports or fitness club so they are a great way to meet like-minded people. Whether you take part or help out, joining a local club can really help you settle into life in Dublin.

However, if you’d rather be a spectator, Dublin is also home to Ireland’s two largest stadiums – Croke Park and the Aviva. Dublin’s top soccer teams also play at smaller stadiums dotted throughout the city.

Find out more about the most popular sports in Dublin by clicking through to the articles below.

Gaelic Games in Dublin

As the name suggests, Gaelic games are Ireland’s national sports. They are unique to Ireland and officially include Gaelic Football, Ladies Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie, Handball and Rounders. The two primary men’s Gaelic games are football and hurling, which fall under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Women also play Gaelic football under the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association and camogie, which is almost identical to hurling, under The Camogie Associati

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Dublin rugby

By the banks of the River Dodder, the mighty Aviva Stadium rises up from the surrounding red brick terraces of Beggars Bush. This is the home of Irish rugby. Rugby has been played here at Lansdowne Road since 1872 when Henry Dunlop and the Irish Champion Athletics Club first laid out sports grounds. Ireland’s first international fixture against England took place here in 1878, making it the world’s oldest rugby union test venue. Today, the Aviva Stadium is home to the Irish Rugby Football Union – the body that manages rugby union in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

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Soccer in Dublin

While Gaelic games are the most watched sports in Ireland, more people play soccer than any other sport. Soccer, which is commonly referred to as football in Dublin, is governed by the FAI. It oversees Ireland’s domestic leagues, as well as its national teams. The different levels of soccer in Dublin Football is especially popular in Dublin’s urban areas. The Leinster Senior Football League, which operates the city’s amateur leagues, has 20 different divisions to suit players of every calibre.

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Other popular sports

If you’re not into Gaelic games, soccer or rugby, there are plenty of other popular sports to play across the city and county of Dublin. The Federation of Irish Sport represents national and local sports bodies in Ireland. Its membership consists of over 100 different organisations from every corner of the country. So this just shows the diversity of activities available. Below is a list of just some of the sporting activit

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