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List of Connacht rugby players that represented Ireland in the professional era

Here is a list of Connacht rugby players that represented Ireland in the professional era.

Players in bold still currently play for Connacht and/or Ireland

Current Connacht Players:

Kieran Marmion – Marmion has played over 160 times for the province since his debut in 2012. The 28 year old made his senior Ireland debut in 2014 against Argentina.

Niyi Adeolokun – Has made over 90 appearances for Connacht since 2014. Made Ireland debut in 2016.

Bundee Aki – Has also made over 90 appearances for the province. Has made 26 appearances for Ireland since 2017.

Finlay Bealham – Has played over 140 times for Connacht since 2014. Has gone on to play 9 times for Ireland.

Jack Carty – Is approaching the 140 appearance mark at Connacht. Has been at the province since 2012. Made Ireland debut in 2019.

Ultan Dillane – Has been with Connacht since 2012. Has made 93 appearances to date. Has made 16 appearances with Ireland since debut in 2016 against England.

Matt Healy – Healy has been at Connacht since 2012. He has made 139 appearances scoring 280 points. Made senior Ireland debut on tour in South Africa in 2016.

Dave Heffernan – Still plying his trade at Connacht since 2012. Made 129 appearances. Made Ireland debut in 2017.

Tiernan O’Halloran – Has been with Connacht since 2009. He has made 181 appearances for the province. Made Ireland debut in 2016 against South Africa.

Mack Hansen – Hansen made his debut for Ireland in the 2022 Six Nations, his mother was born in Cork and moved to Australia as a child. Mack moved from the Brumbies to Connacht in 2021.

Past Players

Robbie Henshaw – Played with Connacht from 2012 to 2016. Making 77 appearances. Joined Leinster in 2016. Made Ireland debut in 2013 against Australia. Has made 43 appearances to date. 

Quinn RouxCame to Connacht on loan from Leinster in 2014 and has been at the Sportsground ever since. Has made nearly 100 appearances. Ireland debut came in 2016 against South Africa.

Nathan White – Played for Connacht from 2012 to 2016. Made Ireland debut in 2015 against Scotland. Has since retired from the game.

Gavin Duffy – Had two spells with Connacht 2003/04 and then 2006 to 2014. Made over 170 appearances. Made 10 appearances from Ireland between 2004-2009. His debut came on the 2004 tour to South Africa

Tony Buckley – Played for one season with Connacht 2004/2005 making 60 appearances. Made Ireland debt on tour to Argentina.

Kieran Campbell – Campbell played for Connacht from 2008 to 2010. He made 9 appearances for the club. He would make his Ireland debut in 2005 in Japan.

Rodney Ah You – Played for Connacht from 2010 to 2016. He made over 120 appearances. Ireland debut came in 2014 against Argentina. Currently playing with Newcastle Falcons.

John Cooney – Played for Connacht 2014/15 while on loan from Leinster. Moved permanently to the province from 2015 to 2017. Has since joined Ulster. Made Ireland debut in 2017.

Sean Cronin – Played from 2008 to 2011 with Connacht making 62 appearances. Has been at Leinster since then. Has made over 70 appearances for Ireland since debut in 2009 against Fiji.

James Downey – Downey made 26 appearances for Connacht from 2004 to 2006. Made senior Ireland debut against Canada in 2013. Retired in 2016 after short spell with Wasps.

Pat Duignan – Played 88 times for the province. He played in two qualifying games ahead of 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Eric Elwood – Elwood was one of Connacht’s greatest ever players. He played from 1989 to 2005 with the club. He made 168 appearances scoring over 1000 points. Made Ireland debut in 1995, played 35 times scoring 296 points.

Jerry Flannery – Career began at Connacht in 2001 to 2003 made 6 appearances. Moved to Munster for remainder of career. Would make 41 appearances for Ireland.

John Fogarty – Fogarty made over 100 appearances for Connacht between 2003 and 2008. He made his debut in 2010 against New Zealand. Has since become part of Andy Farrell’s backroom team (scrum coach) with Ireland.

John Muldoon – Made 327 appearances for Connacht from 2003 to 2018. Made Ireland debut in 2009 against Canada.

Mike McCarthy – Had two spells at Connacht 2003/04 making 24 appearances. Would join province permanently in 2007 making 136 appearances. Ireland debut came in 2011 against Scotland in a World Cup warm up game. Finished up with Ireland in 2016.

Ian Keatley – Played three seasons at Connacht 2008-2011. Made 77 appearances scoring 688 points. Ireland debut came in 2009 against Canada.

Bernard Jackman – Jackman played with Connacht from 1997 to 2005 under Warren Gatland. He made 9 appearances for Ireland from 2000 to 2008. He joined Leinster in 2005.

Ronan Loughney – Loughney played with Connacht from 2006 to 2017 making over 180 appearances. Made Ireland debut in 2012 against New Zealand.

Eoin Reddan – Played with Connacht from 2001 to 2003. Made 18 appearances before going on to play for Munster, Wasps and Leinster. 71 caps for Ireland. Retired in 2016.

Johnny O’Connor – Had two spells at Connacht from 2001 to 2003 and again 2007 to 2013. Making 137 appearances in all. 12 appearances for Ireland between 2004 -2006. Debut coming against South Africa.

Mark McHugh – Played for Connacht, Montpelier and Nice. Made Ireland debut in 2003 against Tonga

Matt Mostyn – Began playing with province in 1999 to 2000 and again 2000 to 2008. Would go onto play 100 times for the province. Would make 6 appearances for Ireland debut, four of these at the 1999 World Cup.

Tom Tierney – Played for Connacht and won 8 international caps from 1999 to 2000. Has coached the women’s national team in the past.

Noel Mannion – He played for the Ireland team from 1988 to 1993, winning 16 caps and scoring 3 tries, after making his debut in October 1988 against Samoa in a 49–22 win at Lansdowne Road. He was part of the Ireland team at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

 

Carbery starts for Ireland against France

Joey Carbery starts at outhalf for Ireland against France in the Six Nations due to Ireland captain Johnny Sexton being ruled out with a hamstring strain sustained in training yesterday.

The game will be a first Six Nations start for Carberry and a first return to a match day 23 for Jack Carty since the 2019 World Cup.

The centre partnership of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose continues in midfield.

The back three is made up of Hugo Keenan at fullback, with Mack Hansen and Andrew Conway on the wings.

James Ryan will captain the side and is joined at lock by Tadhg Beirne.  The backrow sees Caelan Doris at six, Josh van der Flier at seven and Jack Conan at No.8 with Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong completing the front row.

Iain Henderson, Robbie Henshaw and Jack Carty are added to the replacements for this week joining Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray. 

Ireland v France will be televised live by VIRGIN (ROI) and ITV (NI).

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v France, 2022 Guinness Six Nations, Aviva Stadium, Saturday, February 12, kick-off 4.45pm):

 

Player/Province/Club/Caps –

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 17 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 28 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 34 caps
11. Mack Hansen (Connacht) 1 cap
10. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 28 caps
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 13 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 41 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 17 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 53 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 26 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 41 caps CAPTAIN
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 13 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 36 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 23 caps

Replacements
16. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 3 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 113 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 19 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 65 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 80 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 93 caps
22. Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 10 caps

 

Fitzgibbon Cup Hurling 2022 – Fixtures, Results & Live Scores

REPRO FREE***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup & Fitzgibbon Cup Photocall 13/1/2022 Pictured is UCC & Waterford hurler, Iarlaith Daly who today has teamed up with Electric Ireland to preview the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup. Iarlaith was joined by his college teammate and intercounty rival, Cork’s Rob Downey as they prepare for their opening fixture of the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup against Mary Immaculate College Limerick on 19th of January. This year, Electric Ireland’s #FirstClassRivals campaign celebrates unexpected alliances formed by County rivals coming together in pursuit of a common goal to win some of the most coveted titles in GAA. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

Fitzgibbon Cup Hurling 2022- Fixtures, Results & Live Scores, we have some great matches and outright betting on the winner.

CLICK HERE FOR FITZGIBBON CUP HURLING LIVE SCORES

Tuesday 8th February
Fitzgibbon Quarter-Finals
IT Carlow 1-17 0-14 UCC Result
UL 2-22 1-19 MTU Cork Result

Wednesday 9th February
Fitzgibbon Quarter-Finals
GMIT 1-19 1-12 MTU Midwest Result
NUI Galway 1-22 2-13 Waterford IT Result

Wednesday 2 February 2022

Fitzgibbon Cup Round 3
N.U.I. Galway 0-23 0-14 University College Cork Result

Fitzgibbon Cup Round 3 –
Mary I 6-15 6-15 UCD Result DRAW

Fitzgibbon Cup Round 3
DCU 2-13 3-10 IT Carlow Result

Fitzgibbon Cup Round 3
Waterford IT 5-17 0-20 Maynooth Result

Thursday 3 February 2022

Thursday 3 February 2022

Fitzgibbon Round 3 – TU Dublin Grangegorman
TU Dublin 1-13 5-25 University of Limerick Result

Fitzgibbon Round 3 – MTU Cork Campus
MTU Cork 1-17 1-19 G.M.I.T. 7:30pm Result

Electric Ireland HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup Finals

Wednesday 9 February 2022

Quarter-Final A
Winner A
19:00
Runner Up B
Quarter-Final B
Winner B
19:00
Runner Up A

Thursday 10 February 2022

Quarter-Final C
Winner C
19:00
Runner Up D
Quarter-Final D
Winner D
19:00
Runner Up C

Thursday 17 February 2022

Semi-Final
Quarter-Final A Winner
TBC
Quarter-Final C Winner
Semi-Final
Quarter-Final B Winner
TBC
Quarter-Final D Winner

Saturday 19 February 2022

Final
Semi-Final Winner
TBC
Semi-Final Winner

Wednesday 26th January

Fitzgibbon Hurling
It Carlow 2-22 2-19 NUI Maynooth Result
UCC 3-22 1-14 UCD Result
NUI Galway 1-20 2-09 Mary I Result
DCU 0-18 2-20 WIT Result

Thursday 26th January
Fitzgibbon Cup
TUS Midwest v TU Dublin, 2pm
Trinty v MTU Cork, 7pm

Fitzgibbon Cup Hurling

Mary I 0-19 1-21 UCC Result
NUI Maynooth 0-11 0-21 DCU Result
WIT 2-16 1-21 IT Carlow Result
UCD 1-18 1-21 NUI Galway Result

Thursday 20th January
GMIT v Trinity, 2pm
UL v TUS Midlands, 7pm

Outright betting
UCC 7/4
IT CArlow 5/1
NUIG 5/1
UL 5/1
DCU 7/1
Mary I 14/1

Live GAA, Football & Sporting fixtures Dublin May

ENHANCE_RESOLUTION

Sporting events May 2022

We have a list of Sporting Fixtures for Dublin in May 2022. Gaelic Football , League of Ireland Soccer, Hurling, Rugby and more.
Updating as events are scheduled

Click to see April Sporting events Dublin

 March Sporting events Dublin

Friday 6th May 2022 Ireland Premier League U.C.D. vs Dundalk 7:45 pm UCD Bowl
Friday 6th May 2022 Ireland Premier League Shelbourne FC vs Sligo Rovers 7:45 pm Tolka Park
Friday 6th May 2022 Ireland Premier League Drogheda United vs St. Patrick’s Athletic 7:45 pm Head in the Game Park
Friday 6th May 2022 Ireland Premier League Derry City vs Bohemians Bohemians 7:45 pm Brandywell Stadium

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Live GAA, Football & Sporting fixtures Dublin – April

ENHANCE_RESOLUTION

Sporting events April 2022

We have a list of Sporting Fixtures for Dublin in April 2022. Gaelic Football , League of Ireland Soccer, Hurling, Rugby and more.

 

Friday 1 April 2022 Ireland Premier League St. Patrick’s Athletic v Drogheda United 7:45 pm Richmond Park
Friday 1 April 2022 Ireland Premier League Dundalk v U.C.D. 7:45 pm Oriel Park
Friday 1 April 2022 Ireland Premier League Bohemians v Derry City 7:45 pm Balymount Park
Friday 1 April 2022 Ireland Premier League Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers 8:00 pm Finn Park
Saturday 2nd April 2022 United Rugby LEINSTER VS MUNSTER 7:00 pm RDS ARENA
Saturday 2nd April 2022 Race Meeting Leopardstown Race Meeting -048 12:45 PM Leopardstown
Wednesday, 6 April 2022 Race Meeting Leopardstown Race Meeting -048 12:45 PM Leopardstown
Friday 8th April 2022 Ireland Premier League Shelbourne FC v Shamrock Rovers 7:45 pm Tolka Park
Friday 8th April 2022 Ireland Premier League St. Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk 7:45 pm Richmond Park
Friday 8th April 2022 Heineken Champions Cup – Round of 16 First leg Connacht Rugby v Leinster  Rugby 8:00 PM The Sportsground
Friday 15th April 2022 Heineken Champions Cup – Round of 16 second leg Leinster Rugby v Connacht Rugby 5:30 PM Aviva Stadium
Friday 15th April 2022 Ireland Premier League Derry City v Shelbourne FC 7:45 PM Brandywell Stadium
Saturday 16th April 2022 Leinster SHC round 1 Dublin v Laois TBC TBC
Monday 18th April 2022 Ireland Premier League Bohemians Bohemians v Shelbourne FC 7:45 PM Tolka Park
Monday 18th April 2022 Ireland Premier League Bohemians Bohemians v Shelbourne FC 7:45 PM Tolka Park
Monday 18th April 2022 Ireland Premier League St. Patrick’s Athletic v U.C.D. 7:45 PM UCD Bowl
Monday 18th April 2022 Ireland Premier League Shamrock Rovers FC 20:00 Dundalk 7:45 PM Tallaght Stadium
Friday 22nd April 2022 Ireland Premier League St. Patrick’s Athletic v Finn Harps 7:45 PM Richmond Park
Friday 22nd April 2022 Ireland Premier League Shelbourne FC v Dundalk 7:45 PM Oriel Park
Friday 22nd April 2022 Ireland Premier League Derry City v U.C.D. 7:45 PM Brandywell Stadium
Friday 22nd April 2022 Ireland Premier League Bohemians 19:45 Shamrock Rovers FC 7:45 PM Dalymount Park
Friday 22nd April 2022 Ireland Premier League St. Patrick’s Athletic v Derry City 7:45 PM Richmond Park
Friday 22nd April 2022 Ireland Premier League Bohemians 19:45 U.C.D. 7:45 PM Dalymount Park
Saturday 23rd April 2022 United Rugby SHARKS VS LEINSTER 5:15 PM KINGS PARK
Saturday 23rd April 2022 Leinster SHC round 2 Longford v Dublin TBC PM TBC
Saturday 30th April 2022 United Rugby DHL STORMERS VS LEINSTER 4:15 PM DHL STADIUM
Saturday 30th April 2022 Leinster SFC quarter-final Dublin v Offaly / Wexford TBC PM TBC

GAA fixtures August 2022

We have an up to date list of GAA fixtures for August 2022 the list will be updated as information becomes available

Fixtures dates and times will be announced in Later





Saturday 6 August

All-Ireland SFC final replay (if required).

Allianz FL1 2022 P W D L Dif Pts
Kerry 0
Dublin 0
Galway 0
Tyrone 0
Donegal 0
Monaghan 0
Roscommon 0
Armagh 0
Allianz FL2 2022 P W D L Dif Pts
Mayo 0
Meath 0
Kildare 0
Westmeath 0
Laois 0
Clare 0
Cork  0
Down 0
Allianz FL3 2022 P W D L Dif Pts
Cavan 0
Fermanagh  0
Derry 0
Longford 0
Tipperary 0
Offaly 0
Limerick 0
Wicklow 0
Allianz FL4 2022 P W D L Dif Pts
Leitrim 0
Louth 0
Antrim 0
Wexford 0
Carlow 0
Sligo 0
Waterford 0
London

GAA fixtures May 2022

We have an up to date list of GAA fixtures for May 2022 the list will be updated as information becomes available last updated 08-02





 

We have an up to date list of GAA fixtures for May 2022, the list will be updated as information becomes available

Sunday 1 May

Connacht SFC semi-final
Roscommon v New York / Sligo

Leinster SFC quarter-finals
Kildare v Louth / Carlow
Meath v Laois / Wicklow
Westmeath v Longford

Munster SFC quarter-final
Waterford v Tipperary

Ulster SFC quarter-final
Derry v Fermanagh / Tyrone

Leinster SHC round 3
Westmeath v Dublin

Joe McDonagh Cup round 3
Down v Offaly

Saturday 7 May

Munster SFC semi-final
Kerry v Cork

Christy Ring Cup round 4
Derry v London
Wicklow v Kildare
Mayo v Sligo

Nickey Rackard Cup round 4
Roscommon v Tyrone
Warwickshire v Donegal
Armagh v Fermanagh

Lory Meagher Cup round 4
Lancashire v Leitrim
Louth v Cavan
Monaghan v Longford

Saturday 7/Sunday 8 May

All-Ireland U20FC semi-finals
Connacht v Leinster
Munster v Ulster

Sunday 8 May

Connacht SFC semi-final
London / Leitrim v Galway / Mayo

Ulster SFC semi-final
Donegal / Armagh v Antrim / Cavan

Munster SHC round 3
Waterford v Cork
Clare v Limerick

Saturday 14 May

Leinster SHC round 4
Dublin v Kilkenny
Laois v Galway
Westmeath v Wexford

Joe McDonagh Cup round 4
Meath v Antrim
Carlow v Down
Kerry v Offaly

Christy Ring Cup round 5
Kildare v Sligo
Mayo v Derry
London v Wicklow

Nickey Rackard Cup round 5
Fermanagh v Roscommon
Tyrone v Donegal
Warwickshire v Armagh

Lory Meagher Cup round 5
Cavan v Longford
Monaghan v Lancashire
Leitrim v Louth

Saturday 14/Sunday 15 May

All-Ireland U20FC final

Sunday 15 May

Leinster SFC semi-finals

Munster SFC semi-final
Tipperary / Waterford v Clare / Limerick

Ulster SFC semi-final
Monaghan / Down v Fermanagh / Tyrone / Derry

Munster SHC round 4
Limerick v Tipperary
Cork v Clare

Saturday 21 May

Leinster SHC round 5
Laois v Westmeath
Kilkenny v Wexford
Galway v Dublin

Joe McDonagh Cup round 5
Antrim v Kerry
Offaly v Carlow
Down v Meath

Saturday 21/Sunday 22 May

All-Ireland SFC preliminary round (If required)

Tailteann Cup preliminary round (If required)

Christy Ring Cup final

Nickey Rackard Cup final

Lory Meagher Cup final

All-Ireland U20HC final
Leinster winner v Munster winner

Sunday 22 May

Munster SHC round 5
Clare v Waterford
Tipperary v Cork

Saturday 28 May

Leinster SFC final

Munster SFC final

Saturday 28/Sunday 29 May

Tailteann Cup round 1

Sunday 29 May

Connacht SFC final

Ulster SFC final

Live GAA, Football & Sporting fixtures Dublin – March

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The 2022 Preakness Stakes Contenders

6 Horses You Should Be Betting On This Racing Season 

With a prize purse of $1 million, all the best horses will be taking part in the Preakness Stakes this year. 

This race is the second race in the American Triple Crown and takes place between the Belmont Stakes and the Kentucky Derby. It is at this race where we discover if we could have a Triple Crown winner each year. 

If you are looking to do any preakness stakes betting this year – then these are the 6 horses you should be keeping a close eye on. 

#6 – Keepmeinmind – David Cohen 

Let’s kick this list off with Keepmeinmind. This horse trained by David Cohen has only ever won one race. However, they may be the most inconsistent horse out there because they have finished between 2nd and 7th in every other race.  

Keepmeinmind will be starting his third year as a competitive horse this year. They are another horse that we haven’t seen race since the middle of last year. Last August to be exact. 

The one race that Keepmeinmind won was in 2020 and it was the Kentucky Jockey Club G2 race. 

#5 – Rombauer – Michael W. McCarthy

Despite not having raced since June last year, we have to talk about last year’s winner as a serious contender for the 2022 Preakness Stakes. 

Of the 8 races Rombauer has taken part in, they have won 3, come 2nd once, and come 3rd twice. This is a pretty good record for any horse. 

However, it is worth noting that Rombauer has not taken part in a race since he came 3rd in the Belmont Stakes last season – where he lost to Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie. 

#4 – Crowded Trade – Chad Brown 

This is the first of Chad Brown’s horses that we are going to talk about today. While Crowded Trade isn’t Brown’s best hope at the Race for Black Susans this year, Crowded Trade does have a history of surprising bookies. 

Crowded Trade won his very first race – the Maiden Special Weights 2021. They haven’t won a race since but they did put in a few podium finishes across 2021. 

We are yet to see Crowded Trade race in 2022, but if they have improved their form slightly, then there is a good chance they could make it into the Top 3 again. 

#3 – Risk Taking – Chad Brown 

Risk Taking is the top (but not the only) offering from renowned trainer Chad Brown this year. 

He came 7th in the Preakness Stakes last year but performed much better than most had expected him to. This horse is still young and has a lot of potential that a good trainer like Brown could harness. 

Brown has won the Preakness Stakes before, and this year, Risk Taking is his best hope of repeating that. His best length is 11/8 miles, so we are all looking forward to seeing what the horse can do this year. 

#2 – Midnight Bourbon – Steve Asmussen 

2021 might not have been the best year for Steve Asmussen and his horse Midnight Bourbon – although it ended better than it started. 

Midnight Bourbon finished 6th in the Kentucky Derby, 3rd in the Preakness, and didn’t even compete in the Belmont. However, he was a fierce competitor for Medina Spirit all year. 

However, after the tragic death of Media Spirit, all of the odds of Midnight Bourbon have jumped up and Steve Asmussen seems confident that his horse is going to have a much better year. 

#1 – Concert Tour – Bob Baffert 

If you like to look up your horses before you bet on them – then good luck with this one. Baffert has given this horse a name that makes them nearly impossible to find on Google. 

Concert Tour looks like they will be the next big thing in the world of horseracing. Bookies currently have them down as most likely to win all three Triple Crown races this year. 

With Bob Baffert as their trainer, we are really not shocked to find this out. Baffert has more Triple Crown wins under his belt than any other trainer in history. *

There is no doubt that Bob Baffert is one of the greatest American trainers of all time – so, none of us are surprised to see that his top horse for the season looks most likely to win the Preakness Stakes. 

 

The results of the Kentucky Derby will give us a good insight into his form. 

 

Who are Ireland’s biggest sports stars?

Ireland is home to a number of famous sports stars who have had a huge impact across the world with what they have been able to achieve in their respective disciplines.

Whilst many will instantly know about the phrase in regard to “the luck of the Irish” and hope that it rubs off on them especially when they play the Irish-themed games using their Happyluke bonus, there certainly is no luck associated to those who are considered to be amongst the biggest sports stars to hail from the Emerald Isle.

Indeed, Ireland has always been associated as a nation that has featured a number of tough people and, whilst some may suggest that it is a stereotype, it would seem to be one that is true given the names that can be argued to be amongst the biggest sports stars.

However, with so many to have come from the small country, who can be considered to be amongst the biggest?

Conor McGregor

Perhaps at the top of the list for many when thinking of Irish sports professionals, Conor McGregor is an individual that is certainly one that is renowned around the world due to what he has managed to do whilst in the Octagon for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) promotion.

Nicknamed ‘The Notorious’, McGregor became a household name all over the world and has been recognised for his fight style and ability, with him having been able to prove how good he has been throughout his career with various Championships.

Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch is one of the top athletes to be currently competing in the WWE’s female division at the moment and through her work for the promotion, she has become a huge name and one that Ireland has been able to be proud of.

She is a four-time WWE champion and has even been named as one of the Top Female Athletes in the World on a list in 2019 via Twitter. She created history within the WWE recently, as she managed to become both the Raw Women’s Championship and the SmackDown Women’s Championship at the same time.

Roy Keane

Perhaps one of football’s hardmen in his playing days, Roy Keane is another famous sports star to have hailed from the Emerald Isle.

Although he spent a few years at Nottingham Forest, many will associate the former combative midfielder with his time at Manchester United where he was the club’s leader and a player who had a no-nonsense approach as he won seven Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League title.

Indeed, his career was not without controversy, with Republic of Ireland fans remembering him for his infamous falling out with Mick McCarthy ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan whilst he has always shown that he is not scared of saying things the way he felt they were.

Admittedly, the Cork-born hardman does appear to have mellowed out in recent years, with many having witnessed an unlikely relationship with Micah Richards appear to blossom in recent years.

Others to mention

Rory McIlroy

Johnny Sexton

Katie Taylor