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Why do Irish make the best Super Bowl coaches?

Ever notice that Irish coaches make the best Super Bowl coaches? Patrick Sean Payton was just the latest in a string of big winning coaches who share an Irish ... FULL STORY >

Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni quietly confident after Euro 2012 draw

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni sounded quietly confident the draw for the 2012 European Championships was made on Sunday. Trap’s men were pitted with the following teams in Group B: Russia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra "We will start with the same mentality we had three months ago against France," Trapattoni told Sky Sports ... FULL STORY >

Danica Patrick comes sixth in her first NASCAR race

Danica Patrick finished sixth in her first NASCAR race on Saturday in her much hyped debut in a stock car. Patrick was up as high as fifth after working her way back after from almost spinning out of the ... FULL STORY >

Ireland to face Russia, Slovakia, Armenia in European Championships 2012 qualifying

Following today’s draw for the qualifying stages, Ireland is in Group B of the European Championships. The country will play against Russia, Slovakia, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, and Andorra. FULL STORY >

Robbie Keane scores for Celtic in 4-2 Scottish Cup win over Dunfermline

Irish international captain Robbie Keane got off the mark for Celtic Sunday when he scored a penalty in the second half to help his team into the next round of the Scottish Cup. Celtic boss Tony Mowbray rested Keane and his fellow Irish international Aiden McGeady with an eye on the vital league game against Hearts on Wednesday, but when the teams went in level 2-2 at the break, he decided to bring on his marquee ... FULL STORY >

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Irish sport is popular and widespread. Levels of participation and spectating are high on the island of Ireland. Throughout the country a wide variety of Irish sports are played, the most popular being Gaelic games (such as Gaelic football, hurling and camogie), soccer, rugby union and boxing. By attendance figures Gaelic football and hurling are by far the most popular sports in Ireland, (34% of total attendances at sports events being to football and 23% to hurling), while golf and soccer (including 5-a-side) are the most played at 17% of the population each. Many Irish sports, such as boxing, cricket, rugby union, Gaelic football and hurling, are organized in an all-island basis, with a single team representing Ireland in international competitions. Other Irish sports, such as Association Football, have separate organizing bodies in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. At the Olympics, a person from Northern Ireland can choose to represent either Ireland or Great Britain. The various GAA discipline finals are easily the largest sporting events regularly held in Ireland, in both terms of attendance and media coverage. The biggest national sporting event in Ireland is the final of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, held annually in Croke Park in September. It usually attracts a sell out crowd of 82,500 to Croke Park. Many of the matches in the championship attract crowds of 50,000, depending on who is playing. Aside from the GAA, the biggest multi-sport event held in Ireland regularly is the Community Games. The games are organized every year from a local level, where hundreds of thousands of young people compete in different disciplines such as athletics, swimming, cycling etc., in the first half of the year. Winners progress to county level, and then to the Community Games finals. One of the biggest international Irish sport events is international Association Football. The Republic's national team has punched above its weight in recent years, qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, and performed well against such teams as Brazil and Portugal. In rugby union, Ireland's national team has been ranked in the top five teams regularly over the last few years, and has produced major stars such as Keith Wood and Brian O'Driscoll. In golf, Ireland is home to several top golfers such as Padraig Harrington.

Most Popular Sport Stories

Why do Irish make the best Super Bowl coaches?

Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni quietly confident after Euro 2012 draw

Danica Patrick comes sixth in her first NASCAR race

Ireland to face Russia, Slovakia, Armenia in European Championships 2012 qualifying

Robbie Keane scores for Celtic in 4-2 Scottish Cup win over Dunfermline

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