Greatest Irish Sportsperson

After Harrington's win in the Honda yesterday, Shane Lowry tweeted that he was "Ireland's greatest sportsperson ever. Full stop. End of." Do you agree?

It was talked about on Today FM this morning, some popular choices are Padraig Harrington, Brian O' Driscoll, Roy Keane, Sonia O' Sullivan, Henry Shefflin, Katie Taylor and Ronan O' Gara.

Who gets your vote?

Roy Keane gets my vote. One of the best in the world at a very popular sport for many years.

Not a hotbed of sporting talent to distinguish himself against though Inco, so a fairly vapid statement from Billy Bunter.

even though I don't like Rugby, you'd probably have to say Brian O' Driscoll O' Driscoll  played at a higher level more consistently.

Katie Taylor? That's a ridiculous inclusion, and merely goes to underline the dearth of sporting greatness in Ireland.

Not that ridiculous super. She's dominating her sport, which has worldwide participation. Ireland's million dollar baby.

It doesn't really though Inco, Womens Boxing is a pifflingly small sport at professional level.

Are Ireland so underrepresented in global sport you have to include someone from a sport that no one cares about?

My favourite all time irish sportsperson has to be McGrath.
Was an honour to be able to watch him play for Villa.

Even with bad knees and the drink, he was superb.

BOD has to be up there.

Early days but Connor McGregor will be a world champ sooner than later.
He is a talent, no doubt about it.

If we are talking about the greatest of all of Ireland of all time, then George Best and Alex Higgins must surely be in the mix. Less troublesome contenders would probably be Pat Jennings and Mary Peters.

super_realist wrote:It doesn't really though Inco, Womens Boxing is a pifflingly small sport at professional level.

Are Ireland so underrepresented in global sport you have to include someone from a sport that no one cares about?

No one cares about, or that you dont care about, so that makes you think no one cares about?

westisbest wrote:

super_realist wrote:It doesn't really though Inco, Womens Boxing is a pifflingly small sport at professional level.

Are Ireland so underrepresented in global sport you have to include someone from a sport that no one cares about?

No one cares about, or that you dont care about, so that makes you think no one cares about?

HOw many people consider Womens Boxing to be a sport worthy of consideration? Therefore, with such a piffling amount of fans, how can anyone consider this woman, which has virtually no competitors at her level, the best Irish sportsperson of all time?
That was the point, and if she is, what does that tell you about Irish sport?

Do you know the figure of woman's boxing fans?
You may do. I'm not a big boxing fan, men or woman's.

Your very quick to put this down, always see the negative side of things.

West, I'm simply saying that if the best sportsperson that Ireland have comes from a minority sport, and women's boxing IS a minority sport with very few competitors at that level (it's barely been progessional a decade), then it says a lot about the dearth of talent of Irish sport of you have to appeal to someone who competes against virtually no one. It's so narrow at that level.

However, I do think there are better, more successful and more worthy candidates for this accolade, and that she was only included through a desperation to bring up enough names to make Ireland look like it has depth.

Agree, there are much better candidate's.

There is a decent amount of talented Irish sportsmen/woman.

McGrath
Keane
Harrington
McIlroy
Best
Higgins
BOD
O'Sullivan
O'Connell
McGreggor(soon to be world champion)

Not a bad pool of talent there.

Trouble is you have to go back a long way to get a good group of names, if you have to do that, I'm not sure it's an accolade worth having really.

Higgins was NI anyway as is McIlroy and Best.

super_realist wrote:Trouble is you have to go back a long way to get a good group of names, if you have to do that, I'm not sure it's an accolade worth having really.

Higgins was NI anyway as is McIlroy and Best.

Aware of that.

Surely you have to played alot of your career, or have retired to a great spoprtsperson.
Hence why most on the list are in the past.

Connor McGreggor is a guy that is pretty much at the top of his game already. Only 26.
In july hopefully he will become world champion.

westisbest wrote:

super_realist wrote:Trouble is you have to go back a long way to get a good group of names, if you have to do that, I'm not sure it's an accolade worth having really.

Higgins was NI anyway as is McIlroy and Best.

Aware of that.

Surely you have to played alot of your career, or have retired to a great spoprtsperson.
Hence why most on the list are in the past.

Connor McGreggor is a guy that is pretty much at the top of his game already. Only 26.
In july hopefully he will become world champion.

My point was how far you have to go back to compile a list of any length.

Seems to me that Ireland haven't had a great deal of sporting success over the years (lots of other countries in the same boat), especially the ROI part of the geographical land mass, but the very few that have, have been very high calibre.
Not sure the likes of a woman boxer deserve to be anywhere near that list, she wouldn't be in most other countries, seemed like a desperate attempt to name as many Irish sportspeople rather than their actual standing.

super_realist wrote:Trouble is you have to go back a long way to get a good group of names, if you have to do that, I'm not sure it's an accolade worth having really.

Higgins was NI anyway as is McIlroy and Best.

Rory will be competing for Ireland In Rio and if he can add a Gold medal to his 4 majors (probably more by then, including possible slam) he will go down as Irelands greatest sportsman.

If being known worldwide is not part of the criteria, you could argue the case for some GAA stars, Christy Ring, Henry Shefflin ect.

Brian O'Driscoll was probably the best known sportsman worldwide and a player who will be remembered as one of the best of his time.

I would discount most footballers as apart from Keane and maybe Irwin didn't actually win enough.

Would have thought in World sport terms Stephen Roche and Sean Kelly are Ireland's greatest achieving sportsman. Surprised they haven't been mentioned.

Why no consideration of Pat Eddery?
Certainly far more distinguished than the largely mediocre selection of footballers.

If you go north, apart from those already mentioned, Mary Peters should surely be considered along with Danny Blanchflower?

kwinigolfer wrote:Why no consideration of Pat Eddery?
Certainly far more distinguished than the largely mediocre selection of footballers.

I take it thats a tongue in cheek suggestion. I never heard of him and then googled to discover he lives 2 towns away.

Ken Doherty deserves a nod if he hasn't already been mentioned.

Inco,
I won't hold your youth against you.
Champion Jockey eleven times, only Gordon Richards rode more winners.
If a footballer had achieved half what Pat Eddery has done he'd be Pope.

Kwini, RTE did a poll in 2009 asking the people to vote for the greatest ever sportsperson. Ederry wasn't among the 32 nominees. Ruby Walsh, Tony McCoy and Vincent O' Brien would be more recognised here. AP won his 20th champion jockey last week, good going eh?

Jockeys are a bit like F1 racers though, dependent on the quality of their steeds more than their own skill (in my opinion, totally open to correction on this though).

The results of that 2009 poll:
In September 2009, RTÉ ran an online poll in sponsored by Paddy Power to nominate Ireland's greatest sportsperson.[13] A shortlist of 32 names was selected by a panel of experts.[14] The top ten was announced on 31 December 2009:[15]

1.Pádraig Harrington (golf)
2.Brian O'Driscoll (rugby union)
3.Joey Dunlop (motorcycling)
4.George Best (soccer)
5.Roy Keane (soccer)
6.Sean Kelly (cycling)
7.Sonia O'Sullivan (athletics)
8.Christy Ring (hurling)
9.Vincent O'Brien (horse racing)
10.Paul McGrath (soccer)
The other 22 were: D. J. Carey, Eamonn Coghlan, Ronnie Delany, Ken Doherty, Mike Gibson, Johnny Giles, Kevin Heffernan, Alex Higgins, Jack Kyle, Eddie Macken, Tony McCoy, Barry McGuigan, Aidan O'Brien, Mick O'Connell, Christy O'Connor Snr, Mick O'Dwyer, Jack O'Shea, Mary Peters, Stephen Roche, Henry Shefflin, Michelle Smith, and John Treacy.

Some good names there inco, but not sure how ignorance of such an icon gives credibility to the poll, especially as you've got McCoy, Macken and O'Briens on the list. And I'd've placed Pat Jennings higher than guys like McGrath and Giles.
Where did Shergar come?

Just checked out some of his achievements, good shout kwini, I have no idea why he was left out.

incontinentia wrote:Kwini, RTE did a poll in 2009 asking the people to vote for the greatest ever sportsperson. Ederry wasn't among the 32 nominees. Ruby Walsh, Tony McCoy and Vincent O' Brien would be more recognised here. AP won his 20th champion jockey last week, good going eh?

Jockeys are a bit like F1 racers though, dependent on the quality of their steeds more than their own skill (in my opinion, totally open to correction on this though).

The results of that 2009 poll:
In September 2009, RTÉ ran an online poll in sponsored by Paddy Power to nominate Ireland's greatest sportsperson.[13] A shortlist of 32 names was selected by a panel of experts.[14] The top ten was announced on 31 December 2009:[15]

1.Pádraig Harrington (golf)
2.Brian O'Driscoll (rugby union)
3.Joey Dunlop (motorcycling)
4.George Best (soccer)
5.Roy Keane (soccer)
6.Sean Kelly (cycling)
7.Sonia O'Sullivan (athletics)
8.Christy Ring (hurling)
9.Vincent O'Brien (horse racing)
10.Paul McGrath (soccer)
The other 22 were: D. J. Carey, Eamonn Coghlan, Ronnie Delany, Ken Doherty, Mike Gibson, Johnny Giles, Kevin Heffernan, Alex Higgins, Jack Kyle, Eddie Macken, Tony McCoy, Barry McGuigan, Aidan O'Brien, Mick O'Connell, Christy O'Connor Snr, Mick O'Dwyer, Jack O'Shea, Mary Peters, Stephen Roche, Henry Shefflin, Michelle Smith, and John Treacy.

Good to see god on the top 10 list.

May have S O'S a bit higher up.

McGrath could have been no. 1 on that list if not for his demons. His autobiography is quite a sad read in parts.

Not sure about Joey Dunlop at number 3...

Have you heard of Pat Eddery westi?

Thierry Henry for me.

incontinentia wrote:Have you heard of Pat Eddery westi?

Heard the name, but not being a horse racing fan did'nt know much about him as such.

liverbnz wrote:Thierry Henry for me.

Now now.

I'm surprised Kieren Fallon never gets much of a mention to be honest. One of the greatest flat jockeys ever.

It really is hard for me to take jockey's seriously when compiling such a list - too much unknown about how much is them and how much is it the horse. Surely about 95% horse, 5% jockey

John Cregan wrote:It really is hard for me to take jockey's seriously when compiling such a list - too much unknown about how much is them and how much is it the horse. Surely about 95% horse, 5% jockey

Ditto, same as F1 drivers.

I'll throw in the late Jim Stynes, formerly of the Melbourne Football Club and still the VFL/AFL record holder for the most consecutive games.

Paul O'Connell is for me arguably the best already, with another RWC, and possibly another season to come.

2 Heineken cups - 1 as captain
4 Celtic league titles
3 Lions tours (1 as captain)
100 + international caps
3 6N titles (1 GS) - captained Ireland to back to back titles.
6N player of the season 2015.

rodders wrote:Paul O'Connell is for me arguably the best already, with another RWC, and possibly another season to come.

2 Heineken cups - 1 as captain
4 Celtic league titles
3 Lions tours (1 as captain)
100 + international caps
3 6N titles (1 GS) - captained Ireland to back to back titles.
6N player of the season 2015.

Too right Rodders. You can add another Euro cup to that list seeing as he's off to Toulon who have that cup bought

One man's meat is another's poison and for me Harrington would be nowhere near a top ten BOD, Best, Dunlop all on top for me. For the next man it'd be 3 different names.

In case you missed it, today is the 25th anniversary of Ireland's victory over Romania in Italia 90 to make the quarter finals of the competition.

Can you remember where you were for this?

I can't...I was 6

rodders wrote:Paul O'Connell is for me arguably the best already, with another RWC, and possibly another season to come.

2 Heineken cups - 1 as captain
4 Celtic league titles
3 Lions tours (1 as captain)
100 + international caps
3 6N titles (1 GS) - captained Ireland to back to back titles.
6N player of the season 2015.

I'll see your Paulie O'Connell, Rodders, and raise you O'Driscoll.

3 Heineken Cups - Top Try Scorer in the 2009 Competition and highest Irish try scorer in the history of the competition.
4 Celtic League Titles
4 Lions Tours - (1 as Captain)
Most Capped Player in Rugby Union History (141)
2 6N titles (1 GS) - All Time top try scorer in the competition and top try scorer with Flutey in 2009
6N Player of the season 2006, 2007, 2009  

Nominated for IRB Player of the year three times 2001, 2002, 2009.
Highest scoring Centre of all time
World Rugby Mag's Player of the Decade (Noughties)

I know we in Ireland tend to look for robust, non-showy, non-glossy heros - mostly because that's the only kind we tend to come up with!  We like the quiet leaders who mightn't be catching all the exciting headlines but carry on in their soldierly fashion, leading from the front, leading by example, showing calm and modest courage and with the staying power of an old Massey Ferguson.
Paul is certainly up there.  But we have short memories indeed if we forget that we did have a outlandishly naturally skilled show-pony in rugby.  Yes, we had one in snooker too and unfortunately that potential was blown away on self-destruct substance abuse (addiction).  We had one in football and that was unfortunately blown away on self-destruct alcohol abuse (addiction).
The rugby one was certainly an attention seeker (those bad hair days at the beginning of his career!) but he had the longevity of purpose and serious intent to prove he was all that people and historians will remember him as. He was every bit the old Massey that Paulie is proving himself to be.  
Don't let a self-doubting Irish trait rub him out.  Don't let us fall back on rising our more stoic, solid souls to the thrones.  Paulie knew what he had with O'Driscoll.  O'Driscoll was the genuine article.  He wasn't any illusion or delusion.  He was real.  Certainly in rugby terms, undoubtedly Brian O'Driscoll was our best.  I firmly believe too that had he played in the B&W days, he would have been our best then too.  His journey was harder than the B&W boys - space was harder to find, keeping safe was harder to do.  To have a record like his in modern rugby (...and not be a Kiwi   ) is special.

incontinentia wrote:In case you missed it, today is the 25th anniversary of Ireland's victory over Romania in Italia 90 to make the quarter finals of the competition.

Can you remember where you were for this?

I can't...I was 6

I was in College in Dublin at the time and I wandered into a pub for the game.  The noise was mind blowing.  It really was ear damaging decibel level.  I've been in pubs for big events since and never has the atmosphere come close to the sheer 'madness' in the eyes of the crowds.  It was a very surreal time in Ireland - certainly has never ever been repeated for the absolute release of 'oppressed confidence and self belief' that had been with us for far too long.  You could sense that it truly was a seminal moment.  And of course we now know what followed..............  Celtic Tiger and Bust

But the man that will always be remembered by me from that time is mad eyed Totó Schillaci.  The man who killed off the dream but even as he was doing so I was loving him.  I admired him.  I hailed him.  He was part of the fairytale that would be told for decades.  And so it proved to be. 1990 is our 1966.

SecretFly wrote:

rodders wrote:Paul O'Connell is for me arguably the best already, with another RWC, and possibly another season to come.

2 Heineken cups - 1 as captain
4 Celtic league titles
3 Lions tours (1 as captain)
100 + international caps
3 6N titles (1 GS) - captained Ireland to back to back titles.
6N player of the season 2015.

I'll see your Paulie O'Connell, Rodders, and raise you O'Driscoll.

I'll take your drico fly and raise you ...... THE NOTORIOUS..... CONOR MCGREGOR!

After that would have to be Gunar Nelson...

Tony Cascarino?

Andy Townsend?

rodders wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

rodders wrote:Paul O'Connell is for me arguably the best already, with another RWC, and possibly another season to come.

2 Heineken cups - 1 as captain
4 Celtic league titles
3 Lions tours (1 as captain)
100 + international caps
3 6N titles (1 GS) - captained Ireland to back to back titles.
6N player of the season 2015.

I'll see your Paulie O'Connell, Rodders, and raise you O'Driscoll.

I'll take your drico fly and raise you ...... THE NOTORIOUS..... CONOR MCGREGOR!  

After that would have to be Gunar Nelson...

McGregor is certainly going to be up there when he retires.

Only 26.

Looking forward to him fighting Aldo and hopefully beating him.

Certainly one of the most interesting, exciting, funny characters in sport.

Anything but dull.

Cyril wrote:Tony Cascarino?

Andy Townsend?

Terry Phelan

Christy Ring....the rest are irrelevant.

Ah Christy tis it? The man bigger than a mountain, stronger than a herd of Shires, faster than a cheetah, slower than a snail (in terms of calmness of mind and seeing things happen before they happened)...and...em.... smarter than a sack of foxes and owls.

Christy, the man we all remember but few have seen. But if our Father's Father's Father's Father think he was the best ever, then it's just gotta be true.

In a 1,000 year's time school kids will be mixing up Christy and Cuchulainn in our mythology.

Ha ha, good summary Secretfly! There must some substance to the legend though.

"Now Cork is bet; the hay is saved! the thousands wildly sing,
They speak too soon, my sweet garsun, for here comes Christy Ring"

SecretFly wrote:Ah Christy tis it?  The man bigger than a mountain, stronger than a herd of Shires, faster than a cheetah, slower than a snail (in terms of calmness of mind and seeing things happen before they happened)...and...em.... smarter than a sack of foxes and owls.

Christy, the man we all remember but few have seen.  But if our Father's Father's Father's Father think he was the best ever, then it's just gotta be true.  

In a 1,000 year's time school kids will be mixing up Christy and Cuchulainn in our mythology.

Fly....60000 people lined the streets of Cork on the day of his funeral. People travelled from all over the country and not just from Cork. Sure Cuchilainn only killed a dog these days that would be an asbo and a couple of 100 in the poorbox..

Michelle Smiths urine flaps.

ME-109 wrote:Christy Ring....

I'd see a doctor if I were you. Probably needs antibiotics.

Cyril wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Christy Ring....

I'd see a doctor if I were you. Probably needs antibiotics.

That's really funny. I bet you spent hours thinking up the witty response and then laughing with yourself over it. Given you are English went to a public school which indicates a speech impediment and no friends and been beaten or boned by some senior I would say that's the best that cy cy cy Cyril could come up with...only joking you big English Langer