Great sports of the country
The Irish have their own sports, like hurling and Gaelic soccer, which you won't hear of anywhere else. Managed by the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association), they are far more popular than soccer or rugby.
Gaelic soccer. A blend of rugby and soccer, it's Ireland's favorite sport. Gaelic soccer is played by two teams of 15 players on a pitch approximately 137 m long and 82 m wide. The goals are shaped like rugby posts, with a slightly lower crossbar. The Gaelic soccer is round, slightly smaller than a soccer ball. It can be carried by hand over a distance of four steps, and can then bekicked orhand-passed by striking the ball with the palm of the hand or the fist. To score, the ball must be sent between the goalposts with the foot, hand or fist. The team scores one point for each goal over the crossbar and three points for each goal under it.
Hurling. Invented 4,000 years ago, hurling is Ireland's oldest sport. It's even said to be played in Heaven (" the game they play in Heaven "). Hurling is similar to field field hockey, only faster and more physical. It's a fast-paced game of skill played on a field the size of a soccer pitch, with a wooden stick and a small leather ball. Teams are made up of 15 players, whose aim is to send the ball between the opposing goalposts.
Typical Irish leisure activities
In Ireland, you can enjoy a wide range of folklore activities.
Beagling. Practised in winter, this is a kind of hunt on foot where participants, behind a pack of beagles (a breed of dog of English origin), set off on the trail of a hare. The hunt ends when the hare is trapped by the pack of beagles. The prey is never killed. This hunt requires good physical condition, as the walks are long.
Handball. Nothing to do with what we call handball in France. This game is more akin to pelote basque, and is played bare-handed with a small ball that is hit against a wall.
Road bowling. Derived from bowling, this game is played mainly in County Cork. The aim of the game is to throw a metal ball down a road over a distance of 1 to 2 km in as few shots as possible. A very popular discipline!
Greyhound racing. The Irish love to bet on their favorite dogs, and the sums at stake can reach staggering heights.
The passion of rugby
The Irish national team (comprising players from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) is one of the best in the world. The Irish Rugby Football Union was founded in 1874, and the Irish team played (and won) its first match in Dublin on December 13, 1875 against England. Ireland also played a founding role in the institutionalization of the sport: in 1886, along with Scotland and Wales, it created World Rugby, formerly the International Rugby Board. This body, which today brings together the federations of 76 countries, promotes the game and defines its status and regulations. The Six Nations Tournament is the highlight of the season for the Shamrock team, who have won it 22 times. The Irish national team has completed the Grand Slam four times (5 wins in 5 matches, against England, France, Scotland, Wales and Italy), including its last victory in 2018. Regular quarter-finalists in the World Cup (8 times in 10 editions), Ireland have never managed to reach the last four, even during the golden era of the legendary Brian O'Driscoll. For a long time, the XV of the Shamrock strung together passes in the mythical Lansdowne Road stadium, which was demolished to make way for the ultra-modern Aviva Stadium.
Enjoy the coastline
Brrr! Let's face it, the water here is freezing! But the southern half of the country attracts the brave, and some beaches are packed during the summer months.
Water sports. As a result, you can try your hand at a number of water sports, such as windsurfing and surfing, which are practised almost everywhere. Water-skiing, on the other hand, is more suited to rivers and lakes. The south coast of Ireland, with its many harbours, is a boater's delight.
A famous fishing spot
Ireland has 3,200 km of coastline and the presence of the Gulf Stream, a large warm ocean current. As a result, over 70 species of fish have been recorded along the coast. And inland, the 14,000 km of rivers and some 400 lakes abound in pike, trout and salmon. Lough Corrib, the country's largest lake (in Connemara), is famous for its salmon and trout. County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland is renowned for the beauty of its rivers and lakes, where salmon fishing is practiced. You need a permit to fish for salmon, issued locally by the Fisherie Boards. Specialized stores and some hotels rent out equipment.
Taking on nature
When you think of Ireland, you imagine wild green landscapes swept by wind and rain, spectacular cliffs, the sea as far as the eye can see, lakes, mountains, in short, nature in its purest form. All this is true: the magnificent Irish landscapes do not disappoint and are an ideal setting for beautiful walks or bike rides, especially in Connemara and Donegal County. Ireland has many national parks and, for a small country, the diversity of its landscapes is quite amazing. County Donegal is also very famous among climbing enthusiasts.
A golf destination
Golf in Ireland? It's a no-brainer! Ireland has even been named a world golf destination by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators. It has hosted the prestigious Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, and revealed to the world many great champions such as Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington. When it comes to terrain, you'll be spoilt for choice among the country's 400 courses.
