The Irish are renowned for their love of sports and Dubliners are no exception. Be it Gaelic games or rugby, soccer or golf, you will usually find a good attendance at any sporting event in Dublin.
So, while there is plenty on offer in the city, getting a ticket can be something of a challenge. Attendance's of almost 1,500,000 were recorded throughout the 1998 Gaelic football championship. Many Dublin fans would, however, have been disappointed. It is almost four years since Dublin last won the All-Ireland football final and many fans are becoming impatient for success.
Parnell Park is the place to be for those wishing to see the Dubs in action. With a capacity of 10,000, the home of Dublin GAA is one of the most modern venues for Gaelic sport in the country.
If Dublin's footballers have lost their way spare a thought for the hurlers. They haven't won a championship for 60 years. Despite this, the team still musters up modest support. The standard at most of the Dublin clubs is relatively high. Hurling has been described as the fastest game on the planet when played to its full potential. Peak performances in the game are, however, probably best seen outside of Dublin or at Croke Park during the championship season.
Croke Park plays host to the biggest games of the season. With a capacity of 66,000 and rising (due to ongoing construction), "Croker" remains the finest sporting venue in the land and the envy of other sports. The northside stadium is a Mecca for all GAA fans and when All-Ireland final day comes around, tickets are like gold-dust.
If you fail to get a ticket for Croke Park a trip to one of the hundreds of clubs throughout Dublin should provide you with the chance to watch competitive football and hurling in highly charged atmospheres. Erin's Isle, St. Sylvester's, Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyboden St Enda's are among some of the county's leading clubs.
If team sports are not your thing you could join the thousands of punters who regularly make the trip to Dublin 18 to see some quality horse racing at Leopardstown Racecourse. Betting, both on and off the course, amounted to £552,728,300 last year. Leopardstown has successfully created a family atmosphere at the venue which makes for a pleasant all-round experience.
Some of the major festivals which take place include the Ladbrokes Hurdle and the AIG Europe Hurdle in January and the Hennessy Gold Cup in February. In May the flat season comes around and lasts until the end of September. Quality national hunt racing takes place at the Christmas Festival which begins on St Stephen's day and runs for four days. The horses on show at this time are usually being prepared for the Cheltenham Festival in England.
When you tire of horses you can always go to the dogs. Shelbourne Park in Dublin 4, and Harold's Cross Stadium in Dublin 6 specialise in greyhound racing. Betting on and watching those rapid canines chasing that ever elusive electrical hare can be enjoyed mid-week and at weekends.
People who spend their weekends watching one of Dublin's premier division soccer teams are usually a passionate, loyal type of fan. Many would argue that they have to be as the idea of standing on a wind and rain-swept terrace on a gloomy Sunday afternoon watching a sport which is often more akin to mud wrestling than soccer, does not sound too appealing.
Soccer in Ireland is semi-professional so top-flight entertainment should not be expected. However, while the skill level may leave a lot to be desired the players' effort and enthusiasm often makes up for this failing. If proof of this is sought, then a trip should be made to St Patrick's Athletic's home in Inchicore, Dublin 8. The Stadium of Light can be confused with a certain Portuguese ground in name only. While Benfica's ground in Lisbon can hold 130,000 spectators, the Inchicore version holds a slightly more modest figure of 5,000.
Dublin has many more representatives in the national league. Shelbourne FC play at Tolka Park. This ground has a capacity of 10,000 and is one of Dublin's more recently built stadiums. Bohemians Football Club can be found at Dalymount Park in Phibsboro, Dublin 7. The ground's 14,000 capacity is rarely reached. University College Dublin play their football at Belfield in Stillorgan.
The Irish national soccer team play their home internationals at Lansdowne Road which is actually the Irish Rugby Football Union's ground.
Dublin has some exciting rugby teams playing in competitive leagues. St. Mary's, Blackrock College, Terenure College, and Lansdowne are well worth a visit.
There are 20,364 registered players of ladies field hockey in this country. Some of these can be seen playing at Old Alexandra in Milltown, Belfield at University College Dublin and the ever illuminated Three Rock Rovers club on Grange Road, Dublin 16.
Ireland's successful athletes, Sonia O'Sullivan, Catherina McKiernan and junior Olympic double gold medallist Emily Maher have pushed Irish interest in athletics higher and higher. Attendance's at Dublin's Morton Stadium, which holds 10,000 spectators, is growing as many are keen to see who the next Irish superstar will be.
Notre Dame are one of the more successful sides in Irish basketball circles. Their home is the impressive National Basketball Arena in Tallaght. The arena holds 2,500 spectators. Other major teams in the capital include St Vincent's, Marian, and Tolka Rovers. Don't go expecting slam-dunks, as only a handful of players have the height and the skill to execute such manoeuvres. Expect instead a more openly interesting game from players who give it their all on court.
Be it cheering points or goals, baskets or conversions, there is a special feeling when attending a sporting event in Dublin. In recent months and years there has been debate surrounding the building of a new stadium in the city. Now it appears that action is replacing words. A stadium for the Irish soccer team is to be built, as well (apparently) as a national stadium. Add the upgrading of Croke Park and it appears that the spectator has more and more to look forward to.
