These are Ireland's favourite sports in 2023

Gaelic Games recently claimed the top spot - again - among Ireland's favourite sports, according to the Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index.

Gaelic Games have maintained this number one status for several successive years since 2017. The previous sport to have top spot was football in 2017.

"Gaelic Games are the nation's favourite sports and the Ireland Men's rugby team's series win in New Zealand stood out to the public as the greatest sporting achievement in 2022," said Teneo Ireland managing director Kelli O'Keefe.

"With the Irish rugby team going into next year as the number one ranked team in the world it comes as no surprise that the 2023 Rugby World Cup is the most anticipated sporting event of next year for Irish people.

"As a nation our love and appreciation of sport is evident in the breadth of the findings in the TSSI where the palpable excitement for the GAA Championships, 6 Nations and FIFA Women's World Cup along with a number of other sports such as boxing, golf, gymnastics, para sport and tennis all shine through."

Rugby, indeed

For rugby fans keen to bet on sports matches at Lottoland, the 6 Nations is an opportune time to do so. Johnny Sexton, Jamie Osborne, Tadhg Furlong, Caelan Doris, Ross Byrne, Conor Murray, Gavin Coombes and other Irish stars will be in action throughout.

It's little wonder that rugby is only third to Gaelic Game and football in terms of Ireland's favourite sports. But what of the other codes that are sitting pretty in the hearts and heads of Irish sports fans...?

Tennis truths

Tennis is in fourth position and, while the country doesn't have any modern-day stars of the sport to really speak of, tournaments such as the Australian Open, US Open, Wimbledon and others remain popular with tennis fans in Ireland.

Going for golf

Golf is in fifth position. Rory McIlroy is top of the pops here for fans of Irish golfers. He's won several PGA Tour titles and has come up trumps at the Majors on a good few occasions. He proudly represented Ireland at the Olympic Games, too.

"Even though the Olympics has given me this choice, there really wasn't a choice because all I've done throughout my life is play golf for Ireland, so why would that change just because the tournament has changed. That was my decision," he said at the time.

Best of the rest

After golf, in sixth position, there is horse racing. Kieren Fallon has retired after a prolific career, but remains one of Ireland's most celebrated jockeys. Each year, the Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes, Irish Oaks, Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas gather 10s of thousands of fans from around the country and other parts of the world.

Sharing seventh position three ways are basketball, cycling and athletics. Perhaps, in time, we might see these leapfrog horse racing and other popular sports among Ireland fans.

Visit www.lottoland.ie for more information.

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