Here are five things that we think will be worth making your way towards on the island of Ireland over the course of the weekend. From Rugby in the Aviva to Football in Inchicore, and from a double header in Croke Park to the grace and power of the National Series in Gymnastics via the TUS Gaelic Grounds and the Munster Hurling Championship.
1. Ireland Women v Scotland Women at the Aviva Stadium
This weekend will mark a landmark occasion for the Ireland Women’s Rugby Team as they take on Scotland Women at the Aviva Stadium. The fixture represents another major step forward for the women’s game in Ireland, with growing attendances, increased visibility and a sense that the sport is building genuine long-term momentum. Playing at the national stadium in front of what looks like an attendance of more than 30,000 is a powerful statement of intent from the IRFU and an important moment for players who have helped raise standards in recent seasons. Ireland will also see the match as a crucial competitive test against familiar Six Nations rivals, with third spot behind England and France on the line for the winner.
2. Leinster Football Final Doubleheader at Croke Park
Croke Park hosts a major double bill of provincial football this weekend, beginning with the Ladies’ Leinster Football Final between Dublin and Kildare before the men’s decider between Dublin and Westmeath. It is the kind of occasion the GAA has increasingly embraced in recent years, bringing large crowds together for a full day of championship football on Jones’ Road. Dublin will enter both games as favourites, but Kildare and Westmeath each arrive with the opportunity to upset the established order and make their own statement. Beyond the silverware, the doubleheader also reflects the continuing growth and visibility of ladies’ football within the wider championship calendar.
3. Munster Senior Hurling Championship – Limerick v Waterford
Few sporting occasions in Ireland match the intensity of a big Munster hurling clash, and the meeting of Limerick and Waterford promises another chapter in one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries. Limerick continue to set the benchmark for modern hurling, but Waterford arrive with ambitions of disrupting the established order. The atmosphere should be electric long before the throw-in.
4. Gymnastics Ireland National Series Championships at the Sport Ireland Campus
One of the busiest and most impressive sporting gatherings of the weekend will take place at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena, where the Gymnastics Ireland National Series Championships will bring together athletes from clubs across the country. The event covers multiple disciplines including artistic, rhythmic, trampoline and tumbling gymnastics, showcasing the breadth and growth of the sport in Ireland. The scale of participation highlights how gymnastics has evolved into one of the country’s strongest participation sports, while also developing an increasingly competitive performance pathway. For many young athletes, this weekend represents one of the biggest stages they will compete on all year.
5. St Patrick’s Athletic v Shelbourne – A Big Dublin Derby in Inchicore
One of the standout League of Ireland fixtures of the weekend sees St Patrick’s Athletic host Shelbourne in a Dublin derby that could have major implications in the Premier Division race. Derby matches between two of the capital’s clubs rarely need additional context, but with momentum and local pride on the line, the atmosphere in Richmond Park should be intense from the opening whistle. St Pat’s have made Inchicore one of the toughest away venues in the league, while Shelbourne are still searching for consistency after an up-and-down run of form this season. That unpredictability only adds to the intrigue, because derby matches have a habit of resetting narratives very quickly. With attendances and interest continuing to rise across the league, nights like this increasingly feel like major occasions in the Irish sporting calendar.
The IRFU, Gymnastics Ireland, Dublin GAA, the LGFA, the League of Ireland and Shelbourne FC are full members of Sport for Business.
If you would like to be part of the Sport for Business community and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the conversation happening every day around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today and let’s see what is possible.
Image Credit: Sport for Business
ABOUT SPORT FOR BUSINESS
Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies, and public institutions through high-quality content, events, and insights.
Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, and how your story can be part of ours.
Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practice and make better-informed decisions. It positions sport not just as entertainment but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.
Find out more about becoming a member today.
Or sign up for our twice-daily bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.
Sign up for our News Bulletins here.
Upcoming Events
