Sport in Ireland Football in 2003 accounted for 34% of total sports attendances at events in the Republic of Ireland, followed by hurling at 23%, association football (soccer) at 16% and rugby at 8%, and Initiative's ViewerTrack study measuring 2005 sports audiences showed the sport's highest-profile match, the All-Ireland Football Final, to be the most watched event of the nation's sporting year. Football is the most played team sport in Ireland. Gaelic football, hurling, golf, aerobics, cycling, swimming and billiards/snooker are the other sporting activities with the highest levels of playing participation in the Republic of Ireland. As Northern Ireland is a constitute
Sport in Ireland only allowing "A" time athletes and swimmers to attend the games. This prevented several sportspeople from competing. One of the biggest international events in Ireland is international soccer. The Republic's national team first qualified for a FIFA World Cup in 1990, reaching the quarter finals of Italia '90. In rugby union, as of 2018, Ireland's national team is ranked 2nd in the world. Ireland has produced major stars such as Keith Wood, Brian O'Driscoll and Jonathan Sexton. In golf, Ireland has produced several top golfers such as Pádraig Harrington. The traditional Gaelic games of Gaelic football and hurling are played