Sport in Ireland:
In recent years, Ireland has been successful internationally in various sports. In 1990, for example, Ireland reached the quarter finals of the Soccer World Cup for the first time.
In individual sports, many Irish people are enjoying an international reputation. In golf there are Philip Walton, Darran Clarke, Paul McGinley and Pádraig Harringon and in motor racing Eddie Irvine. Richard Dunwoody, Charlie Swan, Michael Kinane and Adrian Maguire are top jockeys and Ken Doherty is a snooker champion. Catriona McKiernan and Sonia O'Sullivan shine in athletics, Ian Wiley and Gary Mawer in canoeing and Anthony O'Connor and Neville Maxwell in rowing.
Wayne McCullough and Stephen Collins are world professional boxing champions.
Bridie Lynch had the distinction of capturing a gold and a bronze medal for Track and Field events at the 1996 Para Olympic Games, at which the Irish team won a total of ten medals overall.
Irish impact on world sport has been achieved despite the fact that the country's most popular games - Gaelic Football, hurling and camogie - are played almost exclusively in Ireland.
Ireland has a fine reputation for field sports including hunting, shooting and fishing and for equestrian events, show jumping and racing.
