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A few of our favorite sporting events

The island of Ireland is made up of marathon runners, mountain climbers, bike riders, hurling players and more. Also known to have a network of trails, tracks, rivers and roads through cityscapes, grasslands and auburn bogs stretching out to the craggy shores, giving us beautiful spaces to play the sports we love. They host exciting competitive and non-competitive events in case you want to join them!

Up first on our list of sporting events are our Gaelic Games, with two popular indigenous games being Gaelic football and hurling. Both are field sports; hurling is played with a wooden stick known as a hurley and a small ball. The major intercounty competitions for these sports culminate in Dublin’s Croke Park Stadium, a fun place to visit even when there isn’t a match on – check out the GAA museum, tour the stadium or try the Skyline Tour for panoramic views of Dublin. Tickets for these events can be hard to come by, so we recommend checking out some of the equally exciting local matches. The atmosphere in stadiums such as Páirc Uí Chaoimh in County Cork, Celtic Park in County Londonderry and St Tiernach’s Park in County Monaghan is just as exhilarating, and you can also meet the locals who enjoy the sport, too.

Onto running next, a sport which is increasingly popular on the island of Ireland. Luckily, Ireland doesn’t disappoint when it comes to marathons. During the Dublin Marathon, take in Dublin’s Georgian charm as you jog through streets connecting the Liffey to Phoenix Park, St Stephen’s Green and beyond. Similarly, the Belfast City Marathon includes landmarks such as Stormont Estate and City Hall. The atmosphere is exhilarating as the local community comes out to sing, clap and cheer the runners on.

Looking for the same challenge but a little more rural? Give the Connemarathon a go! It takes you on a 42.2km route from Lough Inagh to Maam Cross through a rugged region of County Galway known for its untamed beauty. And, if the speed at which you traverse Ireland’s scenic landscapes doesn’t matter, then the 10km SEA2SKY walk may be more your pace. Expect a mixture of terrain as you make your way from Newcastle, County Down to the foot of the Mourne Mountains – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the region that inspired CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia!

We’re on two wheels next to take part in some of Ireland’s top cycling events. The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle is a race that not only raises money for national and local charities but also treats cyclists to an exciting 170km course following the Ring of Kerry route. You can see all its natural attractions, such as Moll’s Gap, Torc Waterfall and the Gap of Dunloe as you pedal by. Another great cyclist event that charities, community groups and individuals use to fundraise is Lap the Lough. This epic route challenges cyclists to take on the 144km circumference of the biggest lake on the island of Ireland, Lough Neagh.

Now that you’re up to speed on some of the Irish sporting events… on your marks, get set, go!

Breathe in sea, sky, and the undulating landscape on your adventurers in the Mourne Mountains in County Down.
Breathe in the sea, sky, and the undulating landscape on your adventurers in the Mourne Mountains in County Down, © Tourism Ireland.

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