15 of the Most Successful Irish Athletes of All Time

Updated On: February 19, 2024 by   Ciaran Connolly

Sports have the power to bring people together and to strengthen communities. They can inspire us to strive for our goals and to be relentless and disciplined in every aspect of life. Even more important than the sports themselves, however, are the people who play it.

As children, we idolise sports stars and athletes at the top of their game and hope to reach their levels of skill and success. There is something special about watching an athlete from your home town represent your nation. And for a relatively small island, Ireland has accomplished many great things in the world of sport.

In this article, we explore how famous Irish athletes have excelled in their fields and, by doing so, have changed the way Ireland is perceived around the world. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the most successful Irish athletes or click on one of the highlighted sections below to skip ahead.

What Sports Are Ireland Most Known For?

Ireland is known for its excellence across many sports, each contributing to the country’s vibrant sporting culture and global reputation. Among the most well-known Irish sports, Gaelic games stand out as integral to the nation’s identity.

Gaelic football and hurling, governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), hold a special place in Irish society, with passionate fans flocking to stadiums across the country to support their local teams. These indigenous sports not only showcase Ireland’s sporting prowess but also serve as a powerful symbol of cultural heritage and community pride.

In addition, Ireland has made significant strides in the realm of rugby, garnering acclaim on the international stage. The Irish national rugby team, known as the “Irish Rugby Football Union” (IRFU), has enjoyed considerable success in competitions such as the Six Nations Championship and the Rugby World Cup.

Most famously, Ireland has produced exceptional talent in the sport of golf, with successful Irish athletes like Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, and Shane Lowry making their mark on the global golfing world. Renowned for its stunning natural courses, Ireland has become a premier destination for golf enthusiasts from around the world.

Moreover, Ireland’s passion for horse racing has deep historical roots, dating back centuries to the island’s ancient Celtic traditions. The sport’s premier event, the Irish Grand National, is a highlight of the national sporting calendar. With world-class facilities and a rich legacy of breeding and horsemanship, Ireland continues to excel in producing top jockeys, trainers, and racehorses.

The Most Successful Irish Athletes Throughout History

Irish Athlete #1: George Best – Belfast’s Fifth Beatle

Starting off with the legend himself, George Best is considered one of the best footballers (or soccer player, depending on where you’re from) of all time. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1946, he grew up playing football and at the age of 15 years old he was spotted by a football scout.

Only two years after being scouted, George Best made his debut for Manchester United at 17 years old. He also went on to play for the Northern Ireland national team. The Irish Football Association described him as “the greatest player to ever put on the green shirt for Northern Ireland.”

At the young age of 59, Best passed away in hospital. On the 22nd of May 2006, which would have been George’s 60th birthday, Belfast City Airport was renamed the George Best Belfast City Airport as a tribute to the football star. As one of the most successful Irish athletes ever, this was a fitting tribute to remember his legacy.

Best’s most iconic achievements include:

• 1968 Ballon d’Or
• 1968 Footballer of the Year
• 1967/68 Top Scorer (28 goals in the First Division)
• 1967/68 European Champion Clubs Cup Winner
• 1963 English FA Cup Winner
• 1965/67 English Super Cup Winner

Irish Athlete #2: Roy Keane

Born on the 10th of August 1971 in Cork, Keane grew up around a family of footballers. However, he originally trained to be a boxer. When he did start playing football at Rockmount F.C., he developed into a very promising player.

It may be hard to believe now, looking back at Keane’s success, but he actually struggled to get signed in his early days. For many years, he was turned down by English clubs. However, in 1989, he was signed for the Cobh Ramblers, a semi-professional team, before going on to sign for Nottingham Forest.

Keane’s Success On and Off the Pitch

Keane is considered one of the most iconic Red Devils, spending 12 years with Manchester United, but his career could have been very different. He had negotiated a move to Blackburn Rovers, but a paperwork error resulted in a delay in the contract being signed, and during this time, Sir Alex Ferguson offered the Irish lad a place on the team for a whopping £3.75 million – a British transfer record at the time.

In 2006, just six months after joining his childhood favourite team, Celtic F.C., Keane announced his retirement on medical grounds. Sir Alex Ferguson praised his contribution to football, saying that he had earned a place on the lineout of the best players of all time.

Although he was no longer on the pitch, Keane went on to have a successful career as a coach for Sunderland and the Irish national team, as well as a media pundit on ITV and Sky Sports. The Irish athlete’s story of success is an inspiration to many young people who are not picked first in sports.

His refusal to give up on his dreams as a teenager, even when scouts openly rejected him, highlights the importance of perseverance. The old adage ‘If at first, you do not succeed, try, try again‘ is exemplified in Keane’s work ethic throughout his career.

Irish Athlete #3: Rory McIlroy

County Down native Rory McIlroy is a former world #1 in the Official World Golf Ranking and has spent over 100 weeks at the top spot during his career so far. McIlroy is a four-time major champion, having won the 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open and the 2014 PGA Championship.

He is only one of three golfers to win 4 majors under the age of 25, accompanied in the exclusive club by Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

Rory was introduced to golf at an exceptionally young age by his father, who was a skilled player himself. As a toddler, he showed an interest in mimicking his father holding the club, and as the years progressed, his enthusiasm would only grow.

His mother would work extra shifts, and his father held down several jobs to support their son’s golf development. At age seven, McIlroy was the youngest member of Hollywood Golf Club (That’s the Hollywood near Belfast, not the city of stars in LA).

McIlroy has gone on to become a brand ambassador for Nike and has shown no signs of slowing down. His success is not by chance, though. From getting his first lesson from Mark Bannon at the age of 7 to winning his fourth major title, McIlroy, like everyone else on this list, has put in thousands of hours perfecting his craft.

Irish Athlete #4: The Notorious Conor McGregor

Conor Anthony McGregor was born on the 14th of July 1988 in Dublin, Ireland. He is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and boxer. He is one of the biggest and most recognisable Irish sports stars at the moment due to his success in mixed martial arts and his larger-than-life personality.

McGregor joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2013, known as “The Notorious.” He then went on to succeed in the featherweight division with his title win in 2015. The year after that, he became a two-division champion by winning the lightweight title.

In 2017, Conor McGregor made a huge move to boxing and had his first fight with Floyd Mayweather. Conor famously lost the fight, but he still got a huge payout of 100 million pounds, so you could say it all worked out well.

McGregor has now delved into the world of entrepreneurship, selling his own Proper 12 Whiskey and opening a bar and restaurant called The Black Forge Inn in Dublin. McGregor is one of the most famous Irish athletes on this list due to his skill in MMA, as well as a few controversies in the news. While he has his fair share of critics, none of them can refute his success.

Irish Athlete #5: Katie Taylor

By all definitions, Katie Taylor is an Irish hero. One of the best boxers in the world, Katie has remained hardworking, proud of her roots, and willing to give back to the people of Ireland. Born and raised in Bray, Ireland, Katie started off boxing at the young age of 11 and was coached by her dad, Peter Taylor.

At the age of 15 years old, she fought her first official boxing match in Ireland and won. She then went on to fight in the Olympics in 2012, where she came home with Gold, a moment of pride for the country of Ireland. It is one of the most memorable Olympic moments for Irish people, who felt an overwhelming sense of pride when the Irish athlete won her fight.

Katie turned professional in 2016 and has gone on to win numerous fights since. She is currently the unified lightweight female world champion. Katie Taylor has become an amazing role model for young girls and boys wanting to get into boxing and represents Ireland well. Humble, skilled and determined, she is undoubtedly one of our greatest athletes.

Here are some of Taylor’s most iconic achievements:

• 2012 London Olympics – Gold Medal 60kg
• ’06, ’08, ’10, ’12, ’14 World Championships – 5 Gold Medals 60kg
• 07′, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’13 European Union Championships – 6 Gold Medals 60kg
• ’05, ’06, ’07, ’09, ’11, ’14 European Championship – 6 Gold Medals 60kg
• ’08, ’10 AIBA Boxer of the Year

Irish Athlete #6: Brian O’Driscoll, A Rugby Legend

Born in 1979 in Dublin, Brian O’Driscoll is a former professional rugby player who captained and played for Leinster, Ireland and the Irish & British Lions over a period of fifteen years. O’Driscoll has many achievements to his name, including being a Six Nations record try scorer, the fourth most capped player in rugby union history, and World Rugby Player of the Decade 2000-2009.

Brian O’Driscoll married Irish Actress Amy Huberman in 2010, and they have 3 children together. He retired from rugby in 2014, leaving behind an impressive legacy.

Some of Brian’s achievements include:

• Six Nations Grand Slam (awarded when the championship-winning team has won all of their games)
• 2 Six Nations Championships
• 46 tries and 133 caps for Ireland
• 2001, ’02, ’09 IRB World Player of the Year
• 2006, ’07, ’09 RBS Six Nations Player of the tournament
• 2008 Dubliner of the Year Award via the Dubliner magazine

Irish Athlete #7: Barry McGuigan

Born in Clones, Co. Monaghan, in 1961, Barry McGuigan or the ‘Clones Cyclone‘, would go on to win the gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games at the age of 17. McGuigan competed in 35 fights during his career, winning 32 in total. McGuigan won British, European and World titles during his career, and in 1985, he became the featherweight champion of the world, defeating Eusebio Pedroza.

His boxing career and personal life united people during a time of great political, religious, and sectarian divide in Ireland. Born and raised Catholic throughout the troubles, Barry married his childhood sweetheart Sandra, who was of Protestant faith. His father Pat often sang Danny Boy before fights. It is a song of importance for many people across Ireland that transcends religious orientation.

Jim Sheridan’s The Boxer (1997), starring fellow Irishman Daniel Day-Lewis, was inspired by the Irish athlete’s own life and career. McGuigan even helped to train Day-Lewis and choreograph authentic boxing scenes. The movie was critically acclaimed and was nominated for a Golden Globe award.

Since retirement, Barry has worked as a successful boxing commentator and columnist. In 2009, he launched the McGuigan Boxing Academy, aiming to encourage young people to continue their pursuit of sport and education.

McGuigan’s story highlights how sport and entertainment can bring people together – if only for a moment – in difficult times. He used his status and strength to promote peace and unity during the Troubles, which is something we can all respect.

Irish Athlete #8: Jason Smyth, The World’s Fastest Paralympian

Jason Smyth is one of the most skilled Paralympians in Irish history and a Northern Ireland sprint runner. Smyth has been described as ‘The fastest Paralympian alive‘, with 6 gold Paralympic medals under his belt.

Jason has never been defeated in a major Para-Athletic event since his debut in 2005 at the European Championship in Finland. There are not many athletes that can claim to be undefeated for nearly 2 decades!

Smyth’s consistency on the track is unparalleled. Jason competes in the T13 category for visually impaired athletes and holds the world record for the fastest time in the T13 100m and 200m sprints.

Jason is an inspiration to his hometown of Eglington in Co. Derry as well as to everyone on the island of Ireland and around the world. He never let his visual impairment hold him back and has gone on to become one of the best athletes in Ireland.

Irish Athlete #9: Sonia O’Sullivan

O’Sullivan was born in 1969 in Cobh. In 1994, she famously set a world record for running 2000 metres. Sonia has also won 16 major athletic championship medals, including the World and European 5,000m gold, the European 10,000m gold, two World Cross Country gold, and the 5,000m silver at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

At the 2012 Olympic Games, O’Sullivan was made chef de mission for Team Ireland. It was her job to look after the well-being of competing athletes, and considering she had been in their shoes in the past, she was a perfect leader.

She is currently a contributor for the Irish Times and has provided a rich insight into her experience and the wider world of athletics. Sonia also frequently commentates for RTÉ during major athletic events.

Having broken many Irish athletic world records, Sonia O’Sullivan will always be considered a master in her field and one of many inspirational Irish female athletes. Her contribution to Irish athletics cannot be understated. Sonia has been a driving force, inspiring younger generations to stay active in Irish athletics and sports in general.

Irish Athlete #10: Cora Staunton

Mayo native Cora Staunton is one of the greatest players in ladies’ football. She made her debut for the senior-level County Mayo football team. Staunton has been awarded 11 Ladies Gaelic Football All-Stars Awards, 4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies’ Football Championships for County Mayo, and 6 All-Ireland Ladies Club Football Championships for her local club Carnacon.

Cora has also excelled at football outside of her time with the County Mayo team, winning an FAI Women’s Cup title in 2006 and a WFAI Intermediate Cup with Ballyglass Ladies. She also won the Connacht Women’s League with Castlebar Ladies in 2013 for the Rugby Union.

Cora was the first international player to be signed to the Australian Rules Football League when she joined the Giants in 2017. She is now one of the highest goal scorers in the game. After losing her mother at just 16 years old, Cora turned her loss into a driving force and has gone on to inspire many people across Ireland and the world.

Irish Athlete #11: The O’Donovan Brothers

The Irish rowing duo of Paul and Gary O’Donovan took the world by storm. Their success was no surprise, as rowing runs in their family. Their father, Teddy, was also a rower and coached the brothers up until 2013. Another familial connection to the brothers is Irish athlete Emily Hegarty, their third cousin who won a Bronze medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The brothers took home the silver medal in the lightweight double sculls at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the first rowing medal won by Ireland in the Olympics. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Paul O’Donovan paired up with Fintan McCarthy to win the gold medal in the lightweight double sculls.

Gary had lost his place due to an injury in 2019, but cheered on as one of the team reserves. The brothers have also won gold and silver at World and European championships. They became a viral sensation thanks to the funny interviews they gave, but they also highlighted the importance of enjoying what you do.

Irish Athlete #12: Jonathan Sexton

Johnny Sexton was born in Dublin in 1985 and has family ties in both County Kerry and County Clare. Sexton plays as a fly-half for the Leinster and Ireland rugby teams and has been made captain on both. It’s no wonder, considering his impressive list of stats, including 108 caps for Ireland, 155 conversions and over 1000 points scored in his professional career.

In 2013, the Irish athlete joined Racing 92, a French rugby club and played there for two years. Fellow Irish rugby legend Ronan O’Gara would join Johnny, returning to Leinster rugby in 2015. In 2018, his captaincy was announced.

Sexton also played for the British & Irish Lions in their 2013 Australia tour and 2017 New Zealand tour. The Lions is comprised of the best national players from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, and tours rotate every 4 years between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Sexton was awarded World Rugby Player of the Year in 2018. He was only the second Irish player to receive the award.

Irish Athlete #13: Stephen Cluxton

Stephen Cluxton is an Irish Gaelic footballer and goalkeeper for the Dublin senior county men’s team. Since 2001, Cluxton has established his place as Dublin’s first-choice goalkeeper. Steven has won eight All-Ireland medals beginning in 2011 and 2013, and then 6 consecutive championships from 2015 to 2020.

Cluxton is the only player in the history of the game to captain a team to seven championship titles. He has also won 6 All-Stars awards. The GAA Gaelic Players’ Association All-Star Awards are awarded annually to the best 15 players from the inter-county Gaelic teams to make the team of the year. It is easy to see why Cluxton is considered one of the best Gaelic Football goalkeepers of all time.

Cluxten went on to appear in International Rules, playing on the victorious 2004 team and winning Irish Player of the Tournament. The International Rules Series is a competition between Australia and Ireland held every two years. He also captained the team during the 2011 International Rules Series in Australia, which Ireland would go on to win.

Cluxton and GAA players, in general, are high-profile athletes who perform on a professional level but are actually amateurs. Players in GAA don’t get paid, and most have full-time jobs. This highlights the players’ dedication, devotion and passion for representing their home country. Pride itself is enough to motivate the players to train and sacrifice so much to make it to Croker.

Irish Athlete #14: Henry Shefflin – The King of Hurling

Henry Shefflin is known for his playing style, competitive spirit and leadership. He dominated any pitch he played on and is considered one of the greatest hurling players of all time.

Shefflin has won 10-all Ireland Championship titles, which is more than any other player in history. He has also won 13 Leinster Championship titles, 6 National Hurling League titles and 6 Walsh Cups. These awards make him one of the most decorated hurlers in the game.

Amazingly, only 3 teams in hurling history have won more All-Ireland titles than Shefflin: Kilkenny (which he played for), Cork, and Tipperary. Shefflin has won more All-Ireland titles in 16 years than the other teams have won since the Hurling Championship began in 1887.

Shefflin is one of the only people to have won an All-Ireland Club Championship title as both a player and a manager. He is currently coaching the Galway Senior Men’s hurling team. If you would like to learn more about Hurling, Gaelic or any other GAA sport, check out our article on Irish traditions.

Irish Athlete #15: Ruby Walsh

Ruby Walsh is the third most prolific winner in British and Irish jump racing history, which is no surprise, as he comes from a family of skilled jockeys. Turning professional at just 19 years old, Ruby went on to achieve an incredible 2756 wins (1980 in Ireland and 776 in Britain) during his career.

After 24 years of success, Ruby retired in 2019 with a record 59 Cheltenham Festival wins to his name. The Kildare native was also the leading jockey 11 times in a 14-year span at the festival. Twice, Walsh broke the record for the most wins over the four-day festival.

In 2009 and 2016, he rode a record-breaking 7 winners during Cheltenham. After winning the Punchestown Gold Cup in 2019, Walsh went out on top, announcing his retirement.

The Impact of Sports & Famous Irish Athletes on Ireland’s Reputation Around the World

Irish athletes have long been renowned for their prowess in various sports, contributing significantly to the country’s reputation on the global stage. Sports are able to shape the identity and perception of a country by transcending borders and cultures.

Collectively, the achievements of athletes like Conor McGregor, Roy Keane, Rory McIlroy, and more have significantly influenced Ireland’s reputation on the global sporting stage. They have shattered stereotypes, showcased Ireland as a nation capable of producing elite athletes across a diverse range of sports, and inspired future generations with a sense of pride and passion for sport in Ireland.

Additionally, each Irish athlete has brought new attention to the Emerald Isle and Irish sports. For example, Conor McGregor’s rise through the rankings of MMA brought unprecedented success to Irish MMA and elevated Ireland’s status in the combat sports world.

Similarly, Rory McIlroy’s success in golf has captured the imagination of fans worldwide and brought many new tourists to Ireland. He showcased Ireland’s rich golfing heritage, elevated Ireland’s profile in the golfing community, and drew attention to Ireland’s many beautiful golf courses.

There are Many Great Irish Athletes to Cheer for!

Do you agree with our list of the greatest Irish athletes? Is there anyone that deserves a place on this list that we didn’t mention? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Irish athletes have inspired people across the Emerald Isle and around the world. They have displayed their passion, dedication, and amazing sporting abilities to help Ireland become a country known for creating world-class athletes. Some of the Irish athletes on this list have also made it onto our blog about Famous Irish People who made History in Their Lifetimes.

Additionally, if you enjoyed this article, take a look at some of our other great blogs:

Belfast Travel Guide | The Meaning of Ireland’s 32 County Names Explained | Dublin Travel Blog Guide | Things to Do in Galway