| As beautiful as the scenery of Ireland is, as | | | | take the chance to watch a match is to really |
| rich as her history and as breathtaking her | | | | get a glimpse of a truly Irish pastime. |
| ancient sites, monuments and homes all are, | | | | |
| sometimes people don't go there for the | | | | If rugby's not your thing, however, there are |
| scenery; sometimes they don't even go there | | | | still plenty of other sports to interest. You |
| for the whiskey! Sometimes people are really | | | | may be intrigued by the Irish sport of |
| just desperate to see one of Ireland's | | | | hurling, something that is very vaguely |
| sporting matches played on home ground, and | | | | reminiscent of lacrosse in terms of the types |
| travel there for that express purpose. You | | | | of equipment used. Hurling, however, is a |
| don't have to have gone to Ireland only to | | | | strictly Irish pastime, and can be traced |
| see the sport to enjoy it, though; even the | | | | back over 2000 years. If hurling does not |
| casual tourist may find it enjoyable to take | | | | interest, you may instead want the chance to |
| a day off from sightseeing to take in a | | | | take in some Gaelic football, which is often |
| match, and cheer for a team. | | | | described as a fast sort of mix of rugby and |
| | | | soccer, or even camogie, a ladies' sport that |
| Possibly the best-known Irish sport is rugby. | | | | is a slight variation on the aforementioned |
| A fiercely competitive, full-contact sport, | | | | sport of hurling. |
| rugby really has to be seen to be | | | | |
| appreciated. Rugby is also the sport that | | | | Whichever type of match you do decide to take |
| unites all of Ireland; North and South come | | | | in -you may even decide to try them all!- a |
| together in this one thing, men from all over | | | | day spent taking in the wonders and the |
| the island donning their country's colors to | | | | glories of Ireland's sports and games is a |
| play as one Irish team. There is a fierce | | | | day well spent. |
| national pride inherent in the sport, and to | | | | |