This St. Patrick’s Day, we’re shining a spotlight on current Irish athletes dominating the world stage, while also celebrating former legends in their respective sports.
From the rugby team’s 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam victory, Katie Taylor’s boxing gold at the 2012 Olympics, and Ireland’s historic first win against the All Blacks in 2016, to Rachael Blackmore’s groundbreaking 2021 Grand National triumph and Shane Lowry’s memorable 2019 Open Championship victory at Royal Portrush—sport runs deep in the roots of the Irish.
Current Irish athletes
Now let’s explore the remarkable Irish athletes currently carrying the nation’s colours to glory on the world stage…
Rhasidat Adeleke
A shining star in Irish athletics, Dublin-born Rhasidat Adeleke has not only made history as the first Irish woman to break the 50-second barrier in the 400 metres, but has also established herself as a versatile relay powerhouse, contributing to multiple national records and international podium finishes while captivating the nation’s imagination with her remarkable Olympic performances in Paris.
Katie Taylor
Transcending the boundaries of her sport, Katie Taylor has cemented her legacy as Ireland’s most decorated combat athlete, not only dominating as the undisputed lightweight champion for half a decade and conquering the super lightweight division, but also demonstrating her extraordinary athletic versatility through her earlier career as an international footballer before revolutionizing women’s boxing with her technical brilliance and unwavering competitive spirit.
Michael McKillop
A true pioneer in Paralympic sport, Michael Gerard McKillop MBE has transcended his mild cerebral palsy to become an unparalleled middle-distance legend in the T37 classification, amassing an extraordinary collection of four Paralympic gold medals across four Games and ten major championship medals overall, while his 2024 induction into the Paralympics Ireland Hall of Fame recognizes not only his dominance in both the 800m and 1500m events but also his profound impact as an ambassador who has redefined perceptions of disability athletics throughout his remarkable career that began with gold at the 2006 World Championships.
Erin King
Rising rapidly through the ranks of Irish rugby, Erin King has established herself as a versatile dual-code phenomenon, seamlessly transitioning between the tactical complexities of the 15-a-side national team and the explosive demands of the Sevens format, with her exceptional skill set and game-changing performances earning her the prestigious World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year award in 2024, marking her as one of Ireland’s most promising athletic talents across any sport.
Rory McIlroy
Northern Ireland’s golfing maestro Rory McIlroy has carved an indelible mark on the global stage through his fluid swing and remarkable consistency, spending over a hundred weeks as the world’s top-ranked player while competing at the highest levels across both the European and PGA Tours, combining technical brilliance with mental fortitude to become one of the most recognizable Irish sporting icons of his generation.
Connor McGregor
Transforming himself from a plumber’s apprentice in Dublin to a global combat sports superstar, Conor McGregor rewrote the UFC record books as Ireland’s first simultaneous two-division champion, combining his devastating left hand with unparalleled psychological warfare and promotional savvy to transcend the octagon and build a business empire spanning whiskey, fashion, and entertainment while becoming the most financially successful fighter in mixed martial arts history.
Former Irish sporting legends
Let’s turn our attention to the legendary figures whose extraordinary achievements laid the foundation for Ireland’s rich sporting heritage…
Tony McCoy (AP McCoy)
Northern Ireland’s Tony “AP” McCoy transcended the boundaries of jump racing during his unparalleled career, amassing an astounding 4,358 winners while maintaining a vice-like grip on the Champion Jockey title for two consecutive decades, embodying a relentless work ethic and pain threshold that redefined what was physically possible in one of sport’s most dangerous disciplines.
Sophie Spence
A transformative force in Irish women’s rugby, Sophie Spence emerged from relative obscurity to become a cornerstone of Ireland’s historic 2013 Grand Slam triumph, while her powerful ball-carrying and tactical intelligence proved instrumental in landmark victories over traditional powerhouses England and New Zealand, establishing her as a pioneering figure who helped elevate the women’s game to unprecedented heights in Ireland.
Henry Shefflin
Hurling royalty in every sense, “King Henry” Shefflin’s incredible journey from Ballyhale to becoming hurling’s most decorated player with ten All-Ireland medals was marked by technical brilliance, psychological fortitude through devastating injuries, and an unmatched competitive intelligence that eventually translated into management success with Galway, cementing his legacy as perhaps the greatest player in the ancient Gaelic sport’s 3,000-year history.
Ruby Walsh
The master tactician of jump racing, Ruby Walsh combined sublime horsemanship with uncanny race-reading ability to dominate the sport’s biggest stages, particularly at Cheltenham where his 59 Festival winners stand as testimony to his special partnership with legendary trainers Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls, while his handling of superstars like Kauto Star and Hurricane Fly demonstrated a rare empathy with equine athletes that transcended conventional jockeyship.
Robbie Keane
From Dublin streets to Premier League stardom, Robbie Keane’s remarkable international journey saw him net 68 goals across 146 appearances for Ireland, combining lethal finishing, tireless movement, and infectious enthusiasm that culminated in his iconic cartwheel-and-gun celebration, while his successful late-career reinvention in Major League Soccer helped elevate the global profile of Irish footballers beyond European borders.
Johnny Sexton
The orchestrator of Ireland’s golden era, Johnny Sexton evolved from understudy to talisman through a combination of tactical mastery, nerveless goal-kicking in pressure situations, and fierce leadership that drove Ireland to Grand Slams and historic victories over the All Blacks, with his famous “Sexton Loop” attacking play and celebrated durability establishing him as arguably the nation’s greatest-ever fly-half before his emotional farewell following the 2023 World Cup.