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What Is the Most Popular Sport in Dublin?

Sports play an integral role in Irish society. Nearly 50% of Ireland natives participate in a sport at least once a week. This percentage does not include the additional number of residents who consider themselves avid sports fans. With the largest population in Ireland, you are bound to find a surplus of sports fans walking the streets of Dublin or at the local bar. Some popular sports in the Dublin area include; boxing, equestrian, cricket, and golf, to name a few.

Top 4 Most Popular Sports in Dublin

Sports have an enchantment about them in that they can bring communities and the most unlikely of friends together. However, they can also create rivalries and stir hatred towards someone you have never met. However, there is just something about them that keeps people coming back time and again, and Dublin is a hotspot for sports fans. 

Although there are many sports for locals and visitors to choose to experience or even participate in, here are four sports that top the popularity charts in Dublin:

Rugby

Dublin boasts its ability to produce some of Ireland’s finest rugby players. This is partially due to Dublin’s ability to meet the needs of determined, young, talented players and shape them into the skilled and seasoned players the community has come to know and love. Dublin is home to four provincial rugby teams; Leinster, Munster, Ulster, and Connacht.

Rugby began to take off in popularity around the 1860s and continued to grow into the early 1900s in Ireland. Although it is popular among the general Dublin population, Rugby’s popularity has struggled on the professional stage as other professional sports have taken the interests of the local consumers. 

Soccer

Although soccer is considered “the world’s sport” and Europe is the most prominent soccer market in the world, it does not hold the title of overall most popular sport in Dublin. However, soccer does rank highest in participation among male participants vs. other sports. 

Dublin is home to three Premier Division soccer teams and three First Division teams. There are also four teams in the Women’s National League that call Dublin home. Dublin is the home of the Football (soccer) Association of Ireland and has produced several talented players who have played at the international level.  

Soccer is a sport that has continued to gain momentum throughout the world as its popularity increases. Some believe the sport has continued to grow because of its simple concept or because it is relatively inexpensive to play as it does not require much equipment. Either way, it remains one of the top sports in Dublin and doesn’t seem to be losing that title any time soon. 

Hurling

Hurling is yet another sport in Dublin that has continued to gain momentum over the years. Hurling is considered to be one of the most skilled sports in the world and is admired for the fast pace at which it is played. Having been around for over 3,000 years, Hurling is noted as Ireland’s oldest sport.

This sport combines the skills of lacrosse, baseball, and field hockey to create a very high-paced, entertaining competition to observe. The female version of Hurling, called Camogie, was invented in 1903, with the first official competition taking place in 1904. Approximately 100,000 women across Ireland now play Camogie.

Gaelic Football

Considered the most popular sport in Dublin, Gaelic Football has roots dating back to the 1800s. Not to be confused with Rugby, Gaelic Football is played by advancing to one end of the field by kicking, bouncing, and running with the ball while the opposing team attempts to stop the advance. The objective of the sport is to advance to one end of the field and kick or hit the ball (similar to a volleyball) into the opposing team’s goal.

Gaelic Football has a scoring system similar to that of American Football or basketball in that a different number of points are awarded based on the type of goal scored. Three points are awarded when the ball is kicked into a netted goal (as in soccer), and one point is awarded when a goal is scored by kicking the ball over the crossbar between two upright posts (like a field goal in American Football). 

It’s no wonder Gaelic Football is the top-ranked sport in Dublin; you get a little taste of all other sports mixed in one. 

Conclusion

Each sport Dubliners have embraced brings a different style and skill set to the playing field. Rugby, Soccer, Hurling, and Gaelic Football have been around for centuries yet remain top choices for locals to follow. Sports are woven into Dublin’s society that it shouldn’t be a surprise for you to spot someone wearing their team’s jersey around every corner. 

Royal Ascot Day 2 Going and Non-Runners

The going for day two of Royal Ascot is Good to Firm.

Chris Stickels, Ascot’s Clerk of the Course, said: “We put four millimetres of irrigation on the track last night.

“The forecast for today is a hot, dry day through racing and then we are expecting some thunderstorms building up later tonight and through tomorrow.”

Going Stick Readings at 8am:
Stands’ side: 8.3
Centre: 8.0
Far side: 8.2
Round: 7.8

Stalls:

Straight Course: Centre

Round Course: Inside

The running rail on the Round Course will be positioned approximately three yards out from approximately nine furlongs out to the Home Straight. This rail will remain in place until after racing on Wednesday.

Weather

Dry warm conditions forecast today then thunderstorms are forecast during the night and through Thursday and Friday. A little more settled with occasional showers for Saturday.

Non-Runners

2.30pm Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)
8 Eve Lodge (Going)

3.05pm Queen’s Vase (Group 2)
15 Zinc White (Going)

3.40pm Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)
5 Bounce The Blues (Going)

4.20pm Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1)
3 Lord North (Self Cert – Going)

5.35pm Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)
24 Tipperary Sunset (Going)

All races will be live on Virgin Media, UTV/ITV and Sky Sports Racing.

Day One Highlights

Iceland 2 Republic of Ireland 0

The Republic of Ireland Women’s side produced an impressive display in their 2-0 loss to Iceland in an international friendly.

This Irish side pressed high, not giving their hosts time to settle, early in the game.

The Irish Women’s side looked the more dangerous inside the opening 10 minutes with Megan Connolly firing. Katie McCabe and Heather Payne provided width for the side while Denise O’Sullivan made impressive breaks from midfield.

Iceland responded with a couple of half chances but brave defending – particularly by Louise Quinn – ensured that they could not find a way through. Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan was fully alert between the posts.

On 31 minutes, Amber Barrett hooked a left-footed shot wide from just inside the penalty area. It was a positive sign of Ireland’s intent to shoot when within distance of the Iceland’s goal.

Iceland broke free five minutes later with Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir but her shot was well dealt with by Brosnan. At the other end, Connolly forced a save from goalkeeper Rúnarsdóttir with a shot from distance.

Early in the second half, Iceland almost broke the deadlock when Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir got free inside the area. Brosnan put her off, however, before Diane Caldwell charged down a shot.

Iceland finally made the breakthrough with poor Irish defending assisting their effort. Þorvaldsdóttir pounced inside the area to poke the ball past Brosnan after breaking free from her marker to score the opening goal of the game.

The Republic of Ireland tried to find a way back into the game and substitute Jessica Ziu added a lot of speed. A brilliant strike from Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir then ended the contest as she secured a 2-0 victory for her side.

The Republic of Ireland will travel to Georgia in September for their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier.

Iceland: Rúnarsdóttir; Halldórsdóttir, Viggósdóttir, Gísladóttir; Vilhjálmsdóttir, Brynjarsdóttir (Ágústsdóttir 72), GY Jónsdóttir (Tómsdóttir 80), SJ Jónsdóttir (Albertsdóttir 72), Jóhannsdóttir (Hauksdóttir 46), Sigurðardóttir (Arnardóttir 46); Þorvaldsdóttir (Jensen 80).

Republic of Ireland: Brosnan; Finn, O’Riordan, Quinn, Caldwell, O’Mahony (McLaughlin 80); O’Sullivan, Connolly; Payne, Barrett (Ziu 62), McCabe.

Referee: Kirsty Dowie (England).

Premier League 2021/2022 Fixtures and Schedule released – Arsenal

 

AUGUST

14/08/2021 – Brentford v Arsenal (a)

21/08/2021 – Arsenal v Chelsea (h)

28/08/2021 – Manchester City v Arsenal (a)

 

SEPTEMBER

11/09/2021 – Arsenal v Norwich City (h)

18/09/2021 – Burnley v Arsenal (a)

25/09/2021 – Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (h)

 

OCTOBER

02/10/2021 – Brighton v Arsenal (a)

16/10/2021 – Arsenal v Crystal Palace (h)

23/10/2021 – Arsenal v Aston Villa (h)

30/10/2021 – Leicester City v Arsenal (a)

 

NOVEMBER

06/11/2021 – Arsenal v Watford (h)

20/11/2021 – Liverpool v Arsenal (a)

27/11/2021 – Arsenal v Newcastle United (h)

30/11/2021 – Manchester United v Arsenal (a)

 

 

DECEMBER

04/12/2021 – Everton v Arsenal (a)

11/12/2021 – Arsenal v Southampton (h)

14/12/2021 – Arsenal v West Ham United (h)

18/12/2021 – Leeds United v Arsenal (a)

26/12/2021 – Norwich City v Arsenal (a)

28/12/2021 – Arsenal v Wolverhampton (h)

 

JANUARY

01/01/2022 – Arsenal v Manchester City (h)

15/01/2022 – Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal (a)

22/01/2022 – Arsenal v Burnley (h)

 

FEBRUARY

08/02/2022 – Wolverhampton v Arsenal (a)

12/02/2022 – Chelsea v Arsenal (a)

19/02/2022 – Arsenal v Brentford (h)

26/02/2022 – Arsenal v Liverpool (h)

 

MARCH

05/03/2022 – Watford v Arsenal (a)

12/03/2022 – Arsenal v Leicester City (h)

19/03/2022 – Aston Villa v Arsenal (a)

 

APRIL

02/04/2022 – Crystal Palace v Arsenal (a)

09/04/2022 – Arsenal v Brighton (h)

16/04/2022 – Southampton v Arsenal (a)

23/04/2022 – Arsenal v Manchester United (h)

30/04/2022 – West Ham United v Arsenal (a)

 

MAY

07/05/2022 – Arsenal v Leeds United (h)

15/05/2022 – Newcastle United v Arsenal (a)

22/05/2022 – Arsenal v Everton (h)

Fans praise Andy Murray for emotional postgame interview

Scottish tennis player, Andy Murray got emotional after his first singles game back on grass since 2018

The Scotsman beat Benoit Paire in two sets at 6-3 and 6-2 at the Queen’s Championships.

Murray showed a vintage performance at Queen’s, moving fast and dictating the play throughout.

The three-time Grand Slam champion was cheered by a half-full stadium throughout his impressive performance against the Frenchman.

Speaking to the BBC in a postmatch interview, the 34-year-old was overcome with emotion at being back on the court.

 

“For a first match, it was good. I love playing tennis and competing is why you put in the hard work.”

Murray’s recent training had been slow and restricted as he was recovering from a hip injury. He was surprised by his performance as he felt he would not be able to compete properly at this competition.

The Scottish tennis player has had his career hampered by injuries in the last few years with him also suffering a ‘freak’ groin injury at the Miami Open in March.

Paire continued his poor run of form, only having won one game in 13 tournaments.

Murray will face much tougher opponents in his next game as he faces top seed Matteo Berrettini in the next round of Queen’s.

Also, in the interview, he was surprised to hear that he would be playing his next match tomorrow as he was hoping for a day off.

United Rugby Championship: Mixed Reaction From Fans Online

The United Rugby Championship was announced today as the new-look Pro14 with four South African sides joining the ranks.

You can read more about the new league here.

The new-look league comes with a few changes.

The league will be split into four pools of four.

An Irish pool, a South African pool, a Welsh pool and a Scottish-Italian pool.

The pools of four will allow each team to play six derby games – home and away.

The other 12 games will be fixtures against other teams in the championship with an even number of home and away games.

A unified table will display the standings overall.

The top eight teams in these standings will enter into the quarter-finals in an NFL-style climax to the season.

The aforementioned pools will be key for European qualification as all 16 teams will be eligible.

The winners of each pool will qualify for the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup.

The other four spots for the competition will then be awarded to the four highest-placed teams in the overall standings, excluding the pool winners.

The reactions to this tournament online have been mixed but leaning towards positive.

Some fans have applauded the new scheduling of the tournament, which allows internationals to be available more often.

It means that the United Rugby Championship’s players will be a huge draw.

Fans will get to see Siya Kolisi face-off against Josh Van Der Flier and Duane Vermuelen take on Munster’s Gavin Coombes.

Furthermore, teams will have the possibility to play to their full potential.

For example, Benetton missed a lot of their internationals for most of the Pro14 but have been on form in the Rainbow Cup, reaching the final.

Benetton will be able to perform at the level it is capable of during the United Rugby Championship as players like Paolo Garbisi will be available almost all the time.

However, other fans of the league were not so keen on the new expansion.

The new setup for European qualification has emerged as a contentious point.

As the setup guarantees the winner of each pool a spot, teams higher up in the URC table could miss out on playing Champions Cup rugby.

Even if they had a better points tally after 18 games.

Regardless, this is final and it begins in September 2021.

Who knows, the South Africans might stop Leinster getting five-in-a-row.

Some Connacht fans were not happy

Preview: Ireland At The World Rugby Sevens Repechage

The Ireland Sevens will play at the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco this weekend.

The national side will be competing to earn a spot at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The tournament will take place from June 19th to June 20th in Stade Louis II.

Head coach Anthony Eddy selected a 14-man squad for the tournament that is filled with experience.

He spoke about his selections after the announcement on Friday.

Ireland’s most-capped sevens player Harry McNulty will return to the side.

La Giltinis, McNulty’s club, granted the Major League Rugby player the opportunity to play international level sevens this summer.

McNulty comes back into a side that has been through the highs and lows of recent years together.

Billy Dardis captains the side once again as he tries to take the team to the Olympics.

Furthermore, two uncapped players are part of the squad.

Gavin Mullin and Aaron Sexton will earn their first caps this weekend after being with the squad for an extended period.

Eddy also picked top try-scorer Jordan Conroy.

The Tullamore speedster will be a dangerous offensive weapon for the Irish and will want to extend his try-scoring record.

The outstanding Terry Kennedy is also part of the 14-man squad.

Anthony Eddy’s side will begin the tournament in Pool A alongside Samoa, Tonga, Zimbabwe and Mexico, per Irish Rugby.

The team will play Zimbabwe, Tonga and Mexico on June 19th and Samoa on June 20th.

Games beyond the group stage will also take place on June 20th.

Every side in Pool A will be gunning for their first appearance at the Olympic games.

Sevens heavyweights Samoa is the toughest challenge in Pool A for Anthony Eddy’s side on paper.

The Samoans came closer than Ireland to qualification in 2016 but fell to the same foe in Spain at the final hurdle.

They will want to right the wrongs of 2016 and reach the Olympics for the first time.

Led by the legendary Brian Lima, the side will be hungry for success after a year out.

France provides competition for the Irish if they are to get through the pool stage.

The France national sevens team has already played at the Olympic level in 2016 and will want to do so again.

Jérôme Daret will want to take his side to Tokyo this summer.

Ireland may have to get past Daret’s side if they are to reach their goal.

Olympic qualification would be a massive achievement for the Irish sevens programme, but can it be done?

Ireland U20 Captain Alex Kendellen Has Experience At His Disposal

Ireland under-20s’ Alex Kendellen first captained a team when he wore the armband for Presentation Brothers College team in fifth year.

He would watch videos of Kieran Read to improve his game and attempt to mould his own playstyle based on the New Zealander.

Kendellen captained his school team in the Senior Cup and sixth year, which was cut short by the pandemic.

Now, the Munster back-rower is set to captain Richie Murphy’s Ireland under-20’s side at the 2021 U20 Six Nations in Cardiff.

The captaincy is “a huge honour for [Kendellen] and [his] family back home.”

However, it is not just the captaincy he can benefit from at the Ireland U20’s camp.

Defence coach and former Munster and Ireland forward Denis Leamy has taken the U20 captain under his wing at camp.

Kendellen describes him as an “exceptional” coach who wants to mould the Munster prospect into the best possible version of himself.

“Denis has been through it all, I suppose. Firstly, he’s been extremely good to me. Back-row aspects of the pitch – be it ruck, be it tackle, be it poach – he’s taken me under his wing and just showed me that aspect of the game. He kind of wants what he can offer me, I suppose, and what player he can mould me into.”

Richie Murphy is another established figure in Irish rugby that the young number eight can learn from.

The Ireland U20s head coach was heavily involved in player development at Leinster for several years.

He has overseen the development of talents such as 99-cap international fly-half Johnny Sexton and Leinster legend Fergus McFadden.

“First time I actually met him was two or three weeks ago, but he has really brought the squad together,” Kendellen said.

“It’s great to have such a senior coach, I suppose, whose been up at that level and can bring his knowledge down to us younger lads and guide us from there, I suppose.”

Those involved with Munster have also lent their words to Kendellen ahead of the U20 Six Nations opener against Scotland.

Captain Kendellen explained that he was welcomed with open arms at all levels in the Munster setup.

Players such as the now-retired Billy Holland offered advice to the 20-year-old after he received the news that he was going to captain the national U20 side.

He added that he was “thrown into the deep end” at Munster after he left school.

To be fair, the academy lads, they brought me in with open arms. Extremely good to me, like the seniors were. Learning off the back-rows in Munster, the competition is crazy down there, so yeah. Really thrown into the deep end after school but that’s the best way I learned, if I was to tell you – to just get thrown in and kind of sink or swim I suppose.”

From watching YouTube videos of Kieran Read to leading his country out this Saturday against Scotland, Alex Kendellen has come a long way.

Cheering him on will be several experienced figures who have helped him get to this moment and those that will only help him get further and further in the sport.

Ireland 7s Coach Anthony Eddy Picks Experience For Olympic Repechage

Ireland Sevens Head Coach Anthony Eddy announced his 14-man squad for the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament on Friday morning.

Victory at this tournament would mean the Ireland Sevens side earn a spot at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The New Zealand native chose an experienced squad and two uncapped players around the squad for an extended period.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Eddy noted the importance of experience for an event like the Olympic repechage.

“They’ve been part of this program for a number of years – they know what these sorts of tournaments are like and how important it is to make sure you manage each game but also perform and win each game,” said Eddy.

The Sevens head coach added that the side’s experience of missing out before and bouncing back will prove important.

Eddy also spoke about the threats that his side faces in Monaco this weekend seeking Olympic qualification.

The Ireland boss singled out the teams in the competition that have World Series experience.

“Samoa are always a challenge.

“Teams on the other side of the draw – Uganda, Chile. Hong Kong, you know we played Hong Kong to qualify for the World Series and that’s not an easy game either, but those sort of teams are always going to provide a good challenge.”

France was also mentioned in the list.

The French are the other European side involved in the 10-strong tournament and Ireland has had some close games with them in recent years.

The most recent match resulted in a 19-12 defeat for the Irish side in July 2019.

Eddy says that if a game against France occurs, his side must be more “clinical” than they were in their last meeting.

It will be the first time an Irish rugby side will be at the Olympics if they are successful.

Eddy thinks that it is a great opportunity to grow the game of rugby on the island.

“[It would be] a huge achievement to have an Irish rugby team representing their country at the Olympic games.

“It will give the 7s program enormous exposure but also I think it will great for the game of rugby in Ireland to have your rugby team representing their country at the Olympic games.

“The Olympic games is the pinnacle of [sports]”

The Monaco Repechage begins on June 19th with Ireland facing Zimbabwe in their opener.

To see the squad and Irish fixtures for the tournament, click here.

Fans return to the Royal Ascot

The Ascot racecourse has opened for 12,000 racing fans and punters for the event that started on Tuesday

Last year, the event was held behind closed doors with Queen Elizabeth II as a special guest due to Covid19 restrictions in England.

Now the country has begun reopening its doors and sporting venue, the Royal Ascot racing event will also have supporters.

The venue will host 12,000 spectators each day until Saturday as they watch the horse racing.

 

Director of racing Nick Smith told AFP that they expected great losses from the event that would trouble future plans.

The racing venue can normally hold a comfortable attendance of 70,000 spectators. Also, the staff has been reduced from 6,000 to 1,800.

Many people are very happy that the event has partially reopened to bring back some of its passionate atmospheres.

The five-day event is one of the British government’s pilot schemes to test the return of spectators to events.

 

Punters expect Rachel Blackmore to light up the track again as she rides Cape gentleman.

The Irish jockey was the first female rider to win the Grand National this year and will be commanding a five-year-old chestnut in the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

The Irish-bred horse Battaash is also a major star to look out for this week.

The seven-year-old is hoping to win to make it six-in-six for first-time out races. Along with his 100% record in 2020 and his trainers being happy with his preparations, he will be the one to watch.

With firm ground and good weather, this looks like it will be a fun week for racing fans.

Betting News – Tuesday’s market movers at Royal Ascot

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