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Who is/was Ireland's most famous sports star?

pleas advice

Inspired by another thread here, who do you think would make the list?

I'd have Roy Keane at the top, followed by Rory McIlroy and Brian O'Driscoll, who else would make the top 5?

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Beasty

AMKC wrote: »

Eddie Irvine or Eddie Jordan.

Does Eddie the Eagle qualify under the grandparent rule???

[Deleted User]

normanoffside wrote: »

That’s not the world’s strongest man competition and he had coined his moniker long before that.

Right the but World's Strongest Man competition is a brand name though isn't it? The Arnold Strongman Classic is definitely legitimate competition and features some absolute beasts and the winners of that are genuinely some of the strongest people on earth.

Anyway I'm not gonna go on about it but I think it's impressive that Henry put the wrestling on hold to go accomplish something legitimate like that.

AMKC

Katie Taylor

Your Face

For a few years it was definitely Barry McGuigan.

janfebmar

Hurricane Higgins was always the most entertaining snooker player to watch. And the lad with the glasses from Tyrone (Denis Taylor), he was world champ. And young Hendry from Dublin. Great players, very skilful.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

RocketRaccoon wrote: »

Start, show everyone how ****ing clueless you are. Tell everyone how these wrestlers aren't athletes and are nothing but actors.

Ad hominem.

Oh, I never said anything about the Athleticism of these actors. Anybody can be an Athlete, but to claim that the actors involved in wrestlemania are actually sports people is a complete joke. The use of the word "Wrestling" makes a joke of real wrestling, which is an actual sport. WWE is one big gimmick. An absolute joke of a show.

RocketRaccoon wrote: »

Yep and not a bit of athleticism in their bodies. You've already proven yourself completely clueless today, let it rest.

RocketRaccoon wrote: »

"Juiced up to the gills" shows just how little you know about that company nowadays

Chris Benoit didn't take steroids, right? Lol. Seems like you don't know too much about your interest yourself...

RocketRaccoon wrote: »

See, you've completely contradicted yourself and you're too stupid to realise how

More ad hominem. Not capable of debate?

RocketRaccoon wrote: »

Ah so you've no interest in actual discussion, good to know.

Oh, how ironic.

Regardless of the debate of who the most famous Irish sports person is (and it's certainly not Becky whoever), wrestlemania is not a sport, WWE is not a sport. Sports people may be involved, but it's far from a sport.

Skip to 1.55 for the pathetic joke that is WWE wrestling.

RollieFingers

Chris Benoit is dead well over a decade at this stage, which is hardly "nowadays". It's not like it was in the 80s and 90s anymore when the majority of wrestlers were abusing steroids.

Zaph

AMKC wrote: »

Eddie Irvine or Eddie Jordan.

Irvine would have had to win the F1 World Championship, and possibly multiple times, to have had any chance of being Ireland's most famous sports star. As for Eddie Jordan, he might be one of the few team owners to have any sort of profile outside of the F1 fanbase, but it would still be pretty minimal. Anyway, we all know that if we're talking F1 then it has to be Derek Daly.

Sadly I'm afraid I think I have to agree with a lot of people on this thread and say that Conor McGregor is probably our most famous sports star. It's a sad indictment of modern society that a boorish and ignorant thug like him can attract such a huge following. While I've no interest in MMA and think it's little better than two guys fighting in a pub car park, McGregor was undoubtedly very talented at what he did. It's just a shame that he let it all go to his head and started to believe that his fame allows him to behave in any way he likes.

Larbre34

RollieFingers wrote: »

Chris Benoit is dead well over a decade at this stage, which is hardly "nowadays". It's not like it was in the 80s and 90s anymore when the majority of wrestlers were abusing steroids.

In the 10 years to 2016 there were 60 detected violations of the WWE doping code across its roster, from low rent non TV players to headliners like Edge, Angle and Orton. Sanctions ranged from suspensions to contract terminations.

It would be naive in the extreme, churlish even to suggest that there isn't still widespread steroid abuse in pro-wrestling at all levels.

eagle eye

Wtf has pro-wrestling got to do with Ireland's biggest sports stars?

Larbre34

eagle eye wrote: »

Wtf has pro-wrestling got to do with Ireland's biggest sports stars?

Its biggest star of the moment is Irish and headlining the Wrestlemania event.

eagle eye

Larbre34 wrote:

Its biggest star of the moment is Irish and headlining the Wrestlemania event.

Well I never heard of him. I don't know his name and wouldn't be interested anyways. I doubt too many would.
Also it's not a sport because it's fake. It's entertainment like a circus.

StupidLikeAFox

Larbre34 wrote: »

Its biggest star of the moment is Irish and headlining the Wrestlemania event.

He would be a shoe in for Ireland's most famous soap star

Larbre34

Its a she. Although she does go by the handle 'The Man'

Comes from Baldoyle, used to be Aer Lingus cabin crew, now routinely kicks UFC battler Ronda Rousey's arshe around for fun. Perhaps you've heard of her?

pleas advice

StupidLikeAFox wrote: »

He would be a shoe in for Ireland's most famous soap star

Ah now, there'd be stiff competition from Leo from Fair City

feargale

Mrsmum wrote: »

My American, college going nephews and nieces tell me McGregor is off the scale massive among that age group over there. On a college trip to Dublin for one of them, apparently all any of the group of lads really wanted was to do a tour of all Conor's haunts and were disappointed there wasn't such a tour available. They were also very surprised that when they mentioned his name here, locals didn't have the same adoration towards him.

If 'twas adulation they were after they should have sought out a few of his friends if you get my meaning.

TerrorFirmer

I would say most people in a certain age bracket would at least be aware of Becky Lynch. I haven't seen WWE in about 20+ years and couldn't tell you at all who's in it, other than knowing about Becky Lynch through social media and being in the papers all the time. As well as that 'Seamus' guy as well, for the same reason that he's Irish, but both are particularly huge stars in that field.

Chris Benoit didn't take steroids, right? Lol. Seems like you don't know too much about your interest yourself...

By your strange logic, all cyclists are juiced up to the gills because, Lance Armstrong. It's not much of an argument.

There are steroids in every sport, wrestling both the sport and WWE included. Moaning about steroids being rife in the 80's and 90's isn't very relevant. Many, many legitimately recognised sports also had far more serious drug problems years ago also.

Regardless of the debate of who the most famous Irish sports person is (and it's certainly not Becky whoever), wrestlemania is not a sport, WWE is not a sport. Sports people may be involved, but it's far from a sport.

No-one said it was a recognised sport, the argument was that it involves extreme athleticism, which it does, and some posters were arguing to the contrary. Some people are just incapable around here of having a logical argument without letting their blind hatred for things cloud the discussion.

[Deleted User]

Larbre34 wrote: »

Its a she. Although she does go by the handle 'The Man'

Comes from Baldoyle, used to be Aer Lingus cabin crew, now routinely kicks UFC battler Ronda Rousey's arshe around for fun. Perhaps you've heard of her?

Except for the fact she doesn't. Ronda would break her face in a second if it was a legit fight.

odyssey06

Conor McGregor is famous, but a lot of people who know who he is don't even consider him a sportsman. UFC is effectively banned in France, for example.
That could change depending on how he and UFC are viewed down the road, but right now I'm excluding him on that basis.

I'm also excluding sports whose popular profile extends only to Ireland and\or Britain.

So right now, my contenders are:
Soccer: George Best, Roy Keane, Liam Brady, Robbie Keane
Cycling: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche
Rugby: Brian O'Driscoll
Cricket: Eoin Morgan (given profile of Cricket World Cup)
Golf: Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy (given profile of Ryder Cup)
Boxing: Katie Taylor

Out of that list I am picking George Best.
- People are still talking about him half a century later, so if you add up all those people across five decades that is a deeper footprint than someone with a short 'peak' of fame
- Soccer has a higher mass\global profile than any other sports above
- Manchester United are one of the most popular soccer teams in the world, and Best is one of their most famous players
- European Footballer of the Year in 1968
- And clinching argument for me is that there's a bloody airport named after him that gets millions of visitors a year

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Best_Belfast_City_Airport

The only other people on the list I can see a transport hub being named after are Sean Kelly & Katie Taylor.

Richard Hillman

odyssey06 wrote: »

I think the Irish guy with his name in the team might have been more famous at the time...
Im not sure of the global profile of F1 with the average joe in India, Japan, China, US, Russia, Africa though.

The F1 circuit goes to Japan, China, Russia and the US. It used to go to India. Then add markets like Brazil, Malaysia and the Middle East.

odyssey06

Richard Hillman wrote: »

The F1 circuit goes to Japan, China, Russia and the US. It used to go to India.

I know the circuit does, but how deep does the profile go I wonder?
Much coverage on regular TV etc?
How aware was the average sports fan in those countries of F1 etc.
The 1994 soccer world cup was in the USA but how many Yanks knew who Roberto Baggio was, for example.

Beechwoodspark

odyssey06 wrote: »

Conor McGregor is famous, but a lot of people who know who he is don't even consider him a sportsman. UFC is effectively banned in France, for example.
That could change depending on how he and UFC are viewed down the road, but right now I'm excluding him on that basis.

I'm also excluding sports whose popular profile extends only to Ireland and\or Britain.

So right now, my contenders are:
Soccer: George Best, Roy Keane, Liam Brady, Robbie Keane
Cycling: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche
Rugby: Brian O'Driscoll
Cricket: Eoin Morgan (given profile of Cricket World Cup)
Golf: Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy (given profile of Ryder Cup)
Boxing: Katie Taylor

Out of that list I am picking George Best.
- People are still talking about him half a century later, so if you add up all those people across five decades that is a deeper footprint than someone with a short 'peak' of fame
- Soccer has a higher mass\global profile than any other sports above
- Manchester United are one of the most popular soccer teams in the world, and Best is one of their most famous players
- European Footballer of the Year in 1968
- And clinching argument for me is that there's a bloody airport named after him that gets millions of visitors a year
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Best_Belfast_City_Airport

The only other people on the list I can see a transport hub being named after are Sean Kelly & Katie Taylor.

I was ridiculed and ppl attempted to silence me for suggesting G Best but it’s clear he is the most famous Irish sports person ever.

McG doesn’t come close and especially as time goes on it will be crystal clear.

Huge amounts of ppl don’t even consider him a sportsman. More of an Internet “celeb”

Mrsmum

I think George Best is somewhat like Conor McGregor in that both of their escapades off pitch, so to speak, added to their overall fame. George was very well known for stuff which was nothing to do with football ie his good looks, his love life, his glamorous wives, his alcoholism & issues around that. I think it's unfair to say Conor McGregor is really known for his notorious antics while at the same time pretend like George Best is only known for his footballing skills.

xckjoo

Mrsmum wrote: »

I think George Best is somewhat like Conor McGregor in that both of their escapades off pitch, so to speak, added to their overall fame. George was very well known for stuff which was nothing to do with football ie his good looks, his love life, his glamorous wives, his alcoholism & issues around that. I think it's unfair to say Conor McGregor is really known for his notorious antics while at the same time pretend like George Best is only known for his footballing skills.

Good point. Very true. And if Best was alive today he'd be all over social media and probably would be our most famous sports star, but for his actions off the pitch.
Will the people lionising Best while scorning McGregor see the hypocrisy? Doubtful. It'll be different for some reason

Beechwoodspark

xckjoo wrote: »

Good point. Very true. And if Best was alive today he'd be all over social media and probably would be our most famous sports star, but for his actions off the pitch.
Will the people lionising Best while scorning McGregor see the hypocrisy? Doubtful. It'll be different for some reason

Well just from me - see my post earlier in thread where I say he was far from an angel and I also tell the famous waiter story about him which if you haven’t heard is worth a read for the laugh.

RollieFingers

Larbre34 wrote: »

Its a she. Although she does go by the handle 'The Man'

Comes from Baldoyle, used to be Aer Lingus cabin crew, now routinely kicks UFC battler Ronda Rousey's arshe around for fun. Perhaps you've heard of her?

Routinely kicks Ronda Rousey around for fun

Give over, it would be a total no contest between Ronda and any of the other ladies in a legit contest. Love wrestling but anyone saying that Becky Lynch is Ireland's most famous sports star is just wrong.

eagle eye

odyssey06 wrote:

Conor McGregor is famous, but a lot of people who know who he is don't even consider him a sportsman. UFC is effectively banned in France, for example. That could change depending on how he and UFC are viewed down the road, but right now I'm excluding him on that basis.

Because UFC is banned in France?
That is plain stupid.
MMA is a sport whether it appeals to you or not.

odyssey06 wrote:

I'm also excluding sports whose popular profile extends only to Ireland and\or Britain.

Yet you don't give any examples.

odyssey06 wrote:

So right now, my contenders are: Soccer: George Best, Roy Keane, Liam Brady, Robbie Keane Cycling: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche Rugby: Brian O'Driscoll Cricket: Eoin Morgan (given profile of Cricket World Cup) Golf: Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy (given profile of Ryder Cup) Boxing: Katie Taylor

I don't think Chinese people watch cricket. Of the 1000's of people I know I can name four who watch cricket.

odyssey06 wrote:

Out of that list I am picking George Best. - People are still talking about him half a century later, so if you add up all those people across five decades that is a deeper footprint than someone with a short 'peak' of fame - Soccer has a higher mass\global profile than any other sports above - Manchester United are one of the most popular soccer teams in the world, and Best is one of their most famous players - European Footballer of the Year in 1968 - And clinching argument for me is that there's a bloody airport named after him that gets millions of visitors a year

George Best was famous in the UK and Ireland but not very well known outside of there. Football fans in other European countries may have heard his name but I doubt they would know who he was if you showed them a picture of him.
The world has changed a lot even since the great man died. We have social media now in every corner of the world. People can access all the information about every sports athlete with the touch of a screen.
No doubt that Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington and Conor McGregor have a way bigger world profile than any other Irish athletes in history.
I'd even put Katie Taylor as more famous than most of your list due to the age we live in.

odyssey06 wrote:

The only other people on the list I can see a transport hub being named after are Sean Kelly & Katie Taylor.

That all has to play out yet. Conor McGregor is still a young man. We don't know what he will do over the rest of his life. He is very wealthy and if he settles down and gets involved in charities and helping people he could maintain a very good profile over the rest of his life. If he does that then it's entirely possible that something large could be named after him. When he leaves all the shouting and roaring and vulgarity behind him it'll be soon forgotten about.
I'm not sure that will happen though, it appears he is heading for WWE and that'll mean he will move over and back for MMA fights like other WWE stars. I don't think we've seen the last of him in MMA.
Regardless MMA is a sport and he is the biggest MMA star in history. He transcended the sport. As I've shown earlier he is up there with Floyd Mayweather for selling ppv fights.
I'm not sure who is the most well known of the three names I mentioned at the start but there is absolutely no doubt that they are more well known than any other Irish sports people in history.

Beechwoodspark

eagle eye wrote: »

Because UFC is banned in France?
That is plain stupid.
MMA is a sport whether it appeals to you or not.

Yet you don't give any examples.

I don't think Chinese people watch cricket. Of the 1000's of people I know I can name four who watch cricket.

George Best was famous in the UK and Ireland but not very well known outside of there. Football fans in other European countries may have heard his name but I doubt they would know who he was if you showed them a picture of him.
The world has changed a lot even since the great man died. We have social media now in every corner of the world. People can access all the information about every sports athlete with the touch of a screen.
No doubt that Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington and Conor McGregor have a way bigger world profile than any other Irish athletes in history.
I'd even put Katie Taylor as more famous than most of your list due to the age we live in.

That all has to play out yet. Conor McGregor is still a young man. We don't know what he will do over the rest of his life. He is very wealthy and if he settles down and gets involved in charities and helping people he could maintain a very good profile over the rest of his life. If he does that then it's entirely possible that something large could be named after him. When he leaves all the shouting and roaring and vulgarity behind him it'll be soon forgotten about.
I'm not sure that will happen though, it appears he is heading for WWE and that'll mean he will move over and back for MMA fights like other WWE stars. I don't think we've seen the last of him in MMA.
Regardless MMA is a sport and he is the biggest MMA star in history. He transcended the sport. As I've shown earlier he is up there with Floyd Mayweather for selling ppv fights.
I'm not sure who is the most well known of the three names I mentioned at the start but there is absolutely no doubt that they are more well known than any other Irish sports people in history.

Just on cricket do you realise how popular it is in India,Pakistan Bangladesh ? Check out their populations

odyssey06

eagle eye wrote: »

Because UFC is banned in France?
That is plain stupid.
MMA is a sport whether it appeals to you or not.

Personally I don't think it's a sport, but I don't have a strong opinion on it either way. But given that a lot of people on this thread don't think it's a sport, and this is even reflected in the official stance of some countries, I don't think it's legit to count McGregor's fame as being that of a sports star.

Yet you don't give any examples.

Do I have to spell out why I don't list GAA stars???

I don't think Chinese people watch cricket. Of the 1000's of people I know I can name four who watch cricket.

I don't see your point? How many Chinese or Indian people play or follow the Ryder Cup or even know the competition exists? Google suggests less than 500,000 golfers in China.
Harrington and McIlroy have a global profile in golf but golf's profile does not match soccer. Not does it have the concentrated numbers of fans of cricket in populous countries such as India, Pakistan.

George Best was famous in the UK and Ireland but not very well known outside of there. Football fans in other European countries may have heard his name but I doubt they would know who he was if you showed them a picture of him.

If you showed someone a picture of Padraig Harrington outside Ireland or outside of a golf club who would know him?
Best was European Footballer of the Year in 1968. Football is the most popular sport in UK and Ireland and he has been famous there for five decades.
Manchester United have 70 million followers on Facebook, if even 10% of them take an interest in the history of their club, that's millions who will know who Best is. Plus, airport.

That all has to play out yet. Conor McGregor is still a young man.

I did say that the views of him and UFC could change.

odyssey06

Mrsmum wrote: »

I think George Best is somewhat like Conor McGregor in that both of their escapades off pitch, so to speak, added to their overall fame. George was very well known for stuff which was nothing to do with football ie his good looks, his love life, his glamorous wives, his alcoholism & issues around that. I think it's unfair to say Conor McGregor is really known for his notorious antics while at the same time pretend like George Best is only known for his footballing skills.

I take your point that it added to his overall fame, but it was a factor of his footballing fame though. He was European Footballer of the Year in 1968 before all that nonsense and it got the attention that it did because he was such a famous sports star.
Lots of footballers have gone off the rails, Tony Adams, Paul Merson; Ashley Cole had a famous wife. We won't be talking about them in 50 years unless you're at an Arsenal game.