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

ctrl-alt-delete

Just in relation to World coverage for Mcgregor, he recently paraded around Chicago and Boston for St. Patrick's day.

As a result he was on the local Boston TV station I was watching over there, the day before due to his Boston Bruins appearance, and coverage of him at the parade - mentioning that he could not finish the route for security reasons (fans spilling into the street).

I live in the UK, they broke the story of his retirement on BBC breakfast - not really a show aimed at his perceived fan base. Maybe they were breaking it for those who don't like him :pac:

Whether you like it or not he has global coverage and appeal.

MarkY91

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Three most famous by a long distance are
(i) McGregor
(ii) McIlroy
(iii) Eoin Morgan.

No-one else comes close to these.

Yes. No-one else comes close to a cricket player that most people here(including myself) had to Google.

Far more famous than Seamus, both Keane's, Katie Taylor and padraig Harrington lol

Harry Palmr

Eoin Morgan is an interesting shout given the size of India's population - the one day game is massive over there

RocketRaccoon

MarkY91 wrote: »

Yes. No-one else comes close to a cricket player that most people here(including myself) had to Google.

Far more famous than Seamus, both Keane's, Katie Taylor and padraig Harrington lol

WORLDWIDE, not this tiny little island.

begbysback

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

Or Katie Taylor.

Many people just don't want to accept that he's by far Ireland's biggest superstar alive right now. His Tweet yesterday got over 300k likes, nobody even comes close to that.

Just goes to show what fame actually means, 300k likes, I actually think Conor is pretty shrewd, he has made millions using his mouth - but all he has to talk about on Twitter is whiskey, retiring and thin veiled excuses & apologies.

neris

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Eoin Morgan is an interesting shout given the size of India's population - the one day game is massive over there

but the average Apu on the streets on Mumbai would probably think hes British/English as thats who hes played most high profile for

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

is_that_so wrote: »

Talk shows have a merry go round of guests. Let's see how many will be looking for him in say, two years. Bono, whether you like it or not will get on till he meets his maker.

Sure, but in the context of this thread that doesn't really matter. The simple fact is no other Irish sportsperson would even be considered for those shows.

Most sports stars have a shelf life, so many can become irrelevant within two years. But he's positioned himself to be around long into the future. 7.5 million followers and your own Whiskey brand goes far beyond that of a regular sports star.

Ri_Nollaig

Its Conor Mcgregor, so far ahead of any of the rest its not even funny.

Love or hate him its true ...unfortunately.

Amirani

neris wrote: »

but the average Apu on the streets on Mumbai would probably think hes British/English as thats who hes played most high profile for

Correct. But he's still up there in terms of most famous Irish sportspeople.

If you're going to use that argument then you surely can't really be included McIlroy either. Sure tonnes of people in the US (and elsewhere) think that Ireland is part of the UK anyway.

Rows Grower

xckjoo wrote: »

I have and they haven't. We figured it was because he played for Northern Ireland internationally and I don't think they made any World Cups when he was playing.

There is one Brazilian at least who heard of him, a chap named Pele considered George Best to be the greatest football player in the world.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

citytillidie wrote: »

Becky Lynch at the moment

You have to factor in Cricket is the most popular sport in India and the Asia sub continent, so a lot more people will know Eoin Morgan since he has played in the Indian Cricket Super League

I love Becky.

But like I said, Cricket is a nothing sport outside of pockets of England and some former colonies. It really is only India where it is proper big.

Amirani

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

But like I said, Cricket is a nothing sport outside of pockets of England and some former colonies. It really is only India where it is proper big.

India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Australia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
England

A third of the world population. It's arguably the biggest sport in all of those bar England.

is_that_so

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

Sure, but in the context of this thread that doesn't really matter. The simple fact is no other Irish sportsperson would even be considered for those shows.

Most sports stars have a shelf life, so many can become irrelevant within two years. But he's positioned himself to be around long into the future. 7.5 million followers and your own Whiskey brand goes far beyond that of a regular sports star.

As long as he remains a free man!

RollieFingers

It's McGregor, anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves.

xckjoo

Rows Grower wrote: »

There is one Brazilian at least who heard of him, a chap named Pele considered George Best to be the greatest football player in the world.

Don't think we're talking about sports stars that are the most well regarded among their peers though.

HonalD

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

I love Becky.

But like I said, Cricket is a nothing sport outside of pockets of England and some former colonies. It really is only India where it is proper big.

Man, that’s so wrong. Was in Kathmandu and trying to haggle a dude when buying a scarf. He asked if I was British. Nope, I’m from Ireland. He came straight back and said - Morgan and the brothers (the O’Brien brothers). I was stunned.

He Never mentioned Brian O’Driscoll, funnily enough or Kevin Moran.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

I love Becky.

But like I said, Cricket is a nothing sport outside of pockets of England and some former colonies. It really is only India where it is proper big.

It's generally regarded as the 2nd most popular spectator sport in the world. Just because it isn't popular here doesn't mean it has no profile in the rest of the world.

Morgan is captain of the England team in limited overs cricket. That's the most popular form nowadays and England are favourites to win the World Cup this year.

He has played club cricket in India and Australia as well. Most cricket fans around the world will know who he is I would have thought. On the other hand he's not a 'celebrity' and he doesn't do celebrity things so he's not well known outside the game, not sure you would call him 'famous' in that sense.

citytillidie

Amirani wrote: »

India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Australia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
England

A third of the world population. It's arguably the biggest sport in all of those bar England.

I think you are under playing how big Cricket is in England too, Cricket would be 2nd to football in England. In fact if you go back most football teams back in the day would also have played cricket since football is a winter sport and cricket is a summer spot

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

Amirani wrote: »

Your knowledge of demography seems a bit lacking here.

You know England and those "former colonies" make up about a third of the World population? Cricket is the biggest sport in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, with are about 1.8 billion people. That's before you even start looking at South Africa, Australia and England itself.

That's a far bigger support base than rugby for global audience...

I'm aware that it is big in India, as I've clearly said on this very thread 2 times already. Can say it a third time, cricket is big in India. It's also got a population bigger than the whole Western World.

But Eoin Morgan isn't even known by most Irish people. So being big in India isn't really worth that much imo. Like cricket is only the 4th most popular sport in England (according to the first page that popped up when I just Googled it there). None of that translates into "Ireland's most famous sports star".

I mean Johnny Logan was/is massive in Germany.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

citytillidie wrote: »

I think you are under playing how big Cricket is in England too, Cricket would be 2nd to football in England. In fact if you go back most football teams back in the day would also have played cricket since football is a winter sport and cricket is a summer spot

Rugby must be bigger. More money, bigger attendances, more participation and more buzz if England win a World Cup. (I think)

Tombo2001

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

I'm aware that it is big in India, as I've clearly said on this very thread 2 times already. Can say it a third time, cricket is big in India. It's also got a population bigger than the whole Western World.

But Eoin Morgan isn't even known by most Irish people. So being big in India isn't really worth that much imo. Like cricket is only the 4th most popular sport in England (according to the first page that popped up when I just Googled it there). None of that translates into "Ireland's most famous sports star".

I mean Johnny Logan was/is massive in Germany.

You wouldnt think you would have to state the obvious but some times you do.

Ireland has 4 million people.

India has 1350 million people.

Pakistan has 200 million people.

Bangladesh has 150 million people.

Cricket is BY FAR the most popular sport in these countries. Cricket is way more popular in India than Gaelic Football is in Ireland, it is way out there in front of every other sport.

Eoin Morgan is Captain of one of the best cricket teams on the planet.

If famous means "how many people have heard of you" then he is an extremely famous man.

Maybe it means something else. Maybe it means how many of the your buddies have heard of him.....in which case he is not famous at all.

weiland79

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

McGregor’s fanbase would be more likely to be online all day. The type who play computer games, when not watching xxx-rated material, in dark rooms all day and of questionable hygiene standards.

What are you on ****en on about?

odyssey06

At the time, given the profile of the World Cup globally, and the attention the media gives to goalscorers, in 2002 Robbie Keane would be up there.

citytillidie

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

Rugby must be bigger. More money, bigger attendances, more participation and more buzz if England win a World Cup. (I think)

Doing a little research cricket has fallen down viewership wise because Sky have all the live rights to Cricket. Some live Rugby is on all the major free channels (BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5). With no free live cricket it also leads to less people playing it. Traditionally Cricket was 2nd but slowly falling viewership wise. Some say it is still 2nd but some say it has fallen to 4th behind Rugby and Hockey

Rows Grower

odyssey06 wrote: »

At the time, given the profile of the World Cup globally, and the attention the media gives to goalscorers, in 2002 Robbie Keane would be up there.

This is a very important point when considering who "was" Ireland's most famous sports star.

citytillidie

odyssey06 wrote: »

At the time, given the profile of the World Cup globally, and the attention the media gives to goalscorers, in 2002 Robbie Keane would be up there.

With out googling can you name the Turkish player who scored the same number of goals as Robbie Keane at that World Cup?

Omackeral

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

UFC is popular amongst two main elements - criminals, and relatively young men with anger issues.

Angry comment on the first page. Always comes up. Who is angry?
Most people watch it with their mates and enjoy it have a laugh!

JohnnyFlash

It’s a sad reflection on society that cage fighting is even counted as a sport. The almost pornographic desire from its fans to see blood spilled, faces kicked, and bones broken. That primal need for violence they cannot control. The unresolved anger issues.

RocketRaccoon

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

I'm aware that it is big in India, as I've clearly said on this very thread 2 times already. Can say it a third time, cricket is big in India. It's also got a population bigger than the whole Western World.

But Eoin Morgan isn't even known by most Irish people. So being big in India isn't really worth that much imo. Like cricket is only the 4th most popular sport in England (according to the first page that popped up when I just Googled it there). None of that translates into "Ireland's most famous sports star".

I mean Johnny Logan was/is massive in Germany.

So let me get this straight...

This man is well known among possibly BILLIONS of cricket fans the world over. But because he's not as well known in Ireland, he can't be all that famous.

Omackeral

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

McGregor was involved in the 2nd biggest boxing PPV of all time, and holds 4 of the top 5 MMA PPV records. He's bigger and more famous in the US than in Ireland.

People are just either ignorant or willfully obtuse when it comes to MMA. They trot out the ''angry young men line'', bring up Tapout apparel and claim UFC isn't a sport. Well, UFC isn't a sport, it's a promotion so they're right there anyway.

Claiming someone has box office appeal doesn't automatically make you a massive fanboy either. It's just giving facts.

Mrsmum

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.

odyssey06

citytillidie wrote: »

With out googling can you name the Turkish player who scored the same number of goals as Robbie Keane at that World Cup?

No, but I'm sure I could have at the time
I'm not sure it beats the numbers Eoin Morgan would have right now, but I would say Robbie Keane's name in the summer of 2002 was being spoken of in more countries globally than just about any other Irish sports star before or since.

I'd put him just ahead of Roy Keane, despite than Saipan saga, purely because of the number of countries that watch the World Cup games.

Conor McGregor's fame is huge but that's at a crossover between sports and entertainment, so it depends on your definition of sport.

RocketRaccoon

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.

I was in America in the summer of 2017, every uber driver and hotel employee I spoke to wanted to talk about him when they heard I was Irish. This isn't an exaggeration.

Mysterypunter

citytillidie wrote: »

With out googling can you name the Turkish player who scored the same number of goals as Robbie Keane at that World Cup?

Hakan Sukur? Turkey finished 3rd

Uncharted

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

It’s a sad reflection on society that cage fighting is even counted as a sport. The almost pornographic desire from its fans to see blood spilled, faces kicked, and bones broken. That primal need for violence they cannot control. The unresolved anger issues.

An utterly stupid,misinformed and stereotypically narrow minded statement.

smilerf

citytillidie wrote: »

With out googling can you name the Turkish player who scored the same number of goals as Robbie Keane at that World Cup?

is it sukur

JohnnyFlash

RocketRaccoon wrote: »

I was in America in the summer of 2017, every uber driver and hotel employee I spoke to wanted to talk about him when they heard I was Irish. This isn't an exaggeration.

That’s embarrassing for Ireland.

Omackeral

odyssey06 wrote: »

At the time, given the profile of the World Cup globally, and the attention the media gives to goalscorers, in 2002 Robbie Keane would be up there.

David Beckham, Russell Brand and an unidentified fan :pac:

citytillidie

Mysterypunter wrote: »

Hakan Sukur? Turkey finished 3rd

He scored 1 goal

3 goals - Hasan Şaş

jimgoose

Behold the Whale of Pallasgrean, the mighty Big Paddy Ryan:

Beechwoodspark

All island - George Best

26 Counties - Roy Keane.

Honorable mention

McIlroy

Hoboo

Who tf is Eoin Morgan?

Beechwoodspark

Uncharted wrote: »

An utterly stupid,misinformed and stereotypically narrow minded statement.

Most people don’t even consider it a sport

RocketRaccoon

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Most people don’t even consider it a sport

And those people are wrong. It is a sport, UFC however is not a sport.

Omackeral

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Most people don’t even consider it a sport

What do you consider a sport? How would you define one?

Beechwoodspark

RocketRaccoon wrote: »

And those people are wrong. It is a sport, UFC however is not a sport.

Ah I dunno. Load of ppl would strongly say it’s not a sport and all involved should be arrested for assault.

Especially after that mma “participant” dying a few year ago in Dublin

citytillidie

Hoboo wrote: »

Who tf is Eoin Morgan?

Irish man who captains the England one day cricket team, plays a sport watched by billions, but very poor watched sport in Ireland

Omackeral

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Ah I dunno. Load of ppl would strongly say it’s not a sport and all involved should be arrested for assault.
Especially after that mma “participant” dying a few year ago in Dublin

Better cancel boxing so...

RocketRaccoon

www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/most-famous-irish-person.amp

www.sportsjoe.ie/amp/us-sports/two-irish-sportsmen-crack-espns-top-100-famous-athletes-160898

Fairly simple research really.

RocketRaccoon

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Ah I dunno. Load of ppl would strongly say it’s not a sport and all involved should be arrested for assault.

Especially after that mma “participant” dying a few year ago in Dublin

But again, they would be wrong.

What about footballers that have died on the pitch? Boxers?