10- Paul McGrath 9-Vincent O'Brien 8-Christy Ring 7-Sonia O Sullivian 6-Sean Kelly 5-Roy keane 4-George Best 3-Joey Dunlop 2-Brian O'Driscol 1-Padraig Harington These were the the top ten that were chosen as the best irish sportsperson ever on New Years Eve. For me,there was a few surprises.No Ronnie Delaney,the only irish person to win gold in athletics in the Olimpic Games.Also I was surprired 3 soccer players{they were excellent players} and only one for the GAA player in Christy Ring. What do ye think?

SLIGO111 (Sligo) - Posts: 73 - 03/01/2010 00:48:37    523229

Take out Vincent O'Brien and replace him with Eamon Coghlan.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 03/01/2010 13:30:05    523317

Ppadraig harrington?bbbaaahhhhh!!!!

beer baron (Cavan) - Posts: 3916 - 03/01/2010 13:45:20    523326

Its unlikely that the feats of Dr. Vincent O'Brien will ever be repeated again, what he did was beyond compare! Even his namesake Aidan has a fair way to go before he comes close to surpassing his late great predecessor. But I'd agree that racehorse trainers aren't sportsmen in the true sense of the word. Maybe it quantifies the extent of O'Brien's achievements that he could make a list like this one but to be honest, even I was surprised to see him make the top ten.

There is one man though who did not even make the original list of 32 nominations who in my opinion is our greatest sportsperson ever! And that is Kieren Fallon. Of course, non racing people will say its the horse, the jockey just steers! But I've seen racing all over the world, all the great races, Breeders Cup, Derbys, Triple Crowns, Melbourne Cups, Arcs and I've not seen another who could match Fallon in the saddle. I could go in detail on what sets him apart, but most on here would not understand and probably would not want to. Just take it from me, Fallon had no superior!

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 03/01/2010 13:48:10    523328

Who is/was Vincent O'Brien?

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 03/01/2010 14:23:02    523340

Loyal I think that Fallons other activities would rightly exclude him from the list. By the way did you see the interview with him on BBC yesterday. He more or less said that the reason he gets a hard time is a class issue and because he was poorly educated

Dr.Shephard (Leitrim) - Posts: 2187 - 03/01/2010 14:34:37    523343

I wouldn't say he is too far wrong Dr. Shepherd!

Racing is littered with new kids on the scene getting messed around by the authorities. It happened Vincent O'Brien, it happened Jim Bolger, it happened Kieren Fallon. When someone arrives out of nowhere like that and starts to do things, the like of which has never been seen before, people inevitably become suspicious (or maybe a better word is jealous).

What happened off the track has little to do with his greatness! This is a list of sportspeople and therefore, what they did on the field of play is all that matters. If RTE want to make a Top 10 Ireland's greatest role models, let them, but I doubt Fallon will get anywhere near the top.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 03/01/2010 15:36:27    523379

Barry Mc Guigan??

CrokeParkMan (Cavan) - Posts: 23 - 03/01/2010 15:37:00    523380

Michelle De Bruin, simply for the sport, swimming, alone.

I mean three gold medals? does anyone else come close?

Apart from Pat O'Callaghan and his were spread over a few games.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 03/01/2010 15:51:46    523387

No Gaelic Footballer!!!!!!!!!!!

dammon (Meath) - Posts: 1291 - 03/01/2010 15:56:05    523395

03/01/2010 00:48:37
SLIGO111
County: Sligo
Posts: 44

523229 10- Paul McGrath
9-Vincent O'Brien
8-Christy Ring
7-Sonia O Sullivian
6-Sean Kelly
5-Roy keane
4-George Best
3-Joey Dunlop
2-Brian O'Driscol
1-Padraig Harington
These were the the top ten that were chosen as the best irish sportsperson ever on New Years Eve.
For me,there was a few surprises.No Ronnie Delaney,the only irish person to win gold in athletics in the Olimpic Games.Also I was surprired 3 soccer players{they were excellent players} and only one for the GAA player in Christy Ring.
What do ye think?

Yeah it's a load of nonsense really as are most of these type of polls/surveys/competition thingys!! The word 'Ever' should be removed and replaced with 'The ones we can remember plus a few token efforts for political reasons'

Padraig Harrington wins three trophies (major ones albeit) in the last year or so and all of a sudden he's the best ever!!!! JOKE!!!

When you consider the effort that Christie Ring and so many other GAA players have put in, for no reward, over such a long period of time, AND reached the top of their game, for such a long period of time...THEY are the real sports people!

The GAA is much undervalued in this counrty but sadly a lot of the GAA family (if this forum is to be believed) are quite happy for us to be the poor relation!

Real Louth fan (Louth) - Posts: 3157 - 03/01/2010 16:11:04    523406

03/01/2010 15:37:00
CrokeParkMan
County: Cavan
Posts: 5

523380 Barry Mc Guigan??

I believe the word 'Irish' was in the title! That should also rule out Best abd Dunlop surely?

Real Louth fan (Louth) - Posts: 3157 - 03/01/2010 16:12:36    523407

Who even deserves to be there?

10- Paul McGrath - Nice bloke but not the top 10 - going on the lash and not turning up... NO
9-Vincent O'Brien - don't know enough about him or the sport ??
8-Christy Ring - just going on the word of others - YES
7-Sonia O Sullivian - Too much whinging and excuse making for not living up to her potential - NO
6-Sean Kelly - YES - TOP CLASS
5-Roy keane - YES
4-George Best - if he's happy to be called irish then YES
3-Joey Dunlop - as with Best
2-Brian O'Driscol - YES
1-Padraig Harington - NO

So the others would be (and no particular order)

Henry Shefflin
Mickey Harte
Gary O' Toole
Katie Taylor - albeit a bit premature!!
Martin O'Neill
Pat Jennings
Ollie Campbell
Ronnie Delaney

Real Louth fan (Louth) - Posts: 3157 - 03/01/2010 16:54:23    523422

Remove Roy Keane and replace with any player who always gave their all for Ireland

Dr.Shephard (Leitrim) - Posts: 2187 - 03/01/2010 16:55:45    523423

i concur with loyal2theroyal.
kieran fallon is one of the most naturally gifted sportspeople of our time.
his ability 2 time runs is amazing, thats why he earned the name , the silent assasin.
but tony mccoy,s record of being champion jockey 4 14 years has 2 be up there as one of our greatest sports stars.

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 03/01/2010 17:13:59    523439

patrique County: Antrim Posts: 6404 523387 Michelle De Bruin, simply for the sport, swimming, alone. I mean three gold medals? does anyone else come close? Apart from Pat O'Callaghan and his were spread over a few games. Was Michelle De Bruin not done 4 ------?

duke_raul (Tyrone) - Posts: 993 - 03/01/2010 17:44:51    523465

where's Eamonn C?

deborah (USA) - Posts: 63 - 03/01/2010 17:52:34    523475

My choice would be the legendary long jumper Peter O'Connor.

There is very little about him on the web so I will have to use a link to that bastion of knowledge and integrity, wikipedia.

link

JuanVeron (Westmeath) - Posts: 1866 - 03/01/2010 17:55:41    523480

duke_raul County: Tyrone Posts: 376 523465 patrique County: Antrim Posts: 6404 523387 Michelle De Bruin, simply for the sport, swimming, alone. I mean three gold medals? does anyone else come close? Apart from Pat O'Callaghan and his were spread over a few games. Was Michelle De Bruin not done 4 ------? ------------------------------ In truth she wasnt duke, all the competitions she competed in and won medals at she was tested and was negative everytime. It was only due to an out of competition test at home which showed signs of tampering, i.e. the alcohol content in the urine-----.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 03/01/2010 17:57:36    523482

I'd agree on Tony mc coy and also Stephen dempsey'd have to be in any list-european pool champion before he even hit 20 years of age-future world champion!

beer baron (Cavan) - Posts: 3916 - 03/01/2010 18:06:19    523484