Katie Taylor’s 5th World Championship success in Korea last month has been hailed as the greatest sporting achievement of the last 12 months, while the Bray boxer has also secured top spot as the nation’s most admired sports star.
The findings arise out of the annual PSG Sponsorship Sports Sentiment index, carried out by Ignite Market Research on a nationally representative sample of 1,000 people.
“I’m so proud and honoured to even be recognised amongst such great Irish sporting talent like Paul O’Connell, Rory McIlroy, Brian O’Driscoll and Robbie Keane who are all great stars in their own right,” said Taylor after being told of her award.
“It is always humbling to be recognised by Irish people and great for all women who play sport”.
30% of respondents ranked Taylor’s victory over Azerbaijan’s Yana Allekseevana, shown live on TG4 in the early hours of a cold November Monday morning as the Greatest Irish Sporting Achievement of 2014 ahead of the Irish men’s rugby team winning the Six Nations (18%) and Rory McIlroy’s season to remember (8%).
Rugby Dominance
Rugby dominated the results in the Team category with the Men’s RBS 6 Nations Championship and clean sweep of the Guinness Autumn Internationals landing them top spot among 38% of those polled.
The Women’s team’s achievements at the World Cup in August earned them second place with 20% of the vote.
Kilkenny and Kerry followed by the Cork Women footballers made up the rest of the top 5 teams according to the public.
“2014 was a fantastic year for Irish rugby,” said Ireland team manager Michael Kearney.
“The support of Ireland fans at the Aviva Stadium over the course of the last twelve months has been immense and as the group head into a challenging and very busy 2015 we hope that we can continue to improve and produce performances that fans can get excited about.”
That sentiment is echoed by the fact that 25% said the Rugby World Cup was the event they were most looking forward to in 2015, ahead of the All Ireland Championships on 21%, the RBS 6 Nations on 17% and the Cheltenham Festival in jump racing on 5%.
Soccer’s Number One
John Delaney’s regular assertion that soccer is the sport, more than any other, which can really get the whole country united is given credence by the fact that it was selected as the favourite sport by 24% ahead of Gaelic Games on 17%, Rugby on 16%, Tennis and Swimming on 5% each.
The recently retired Brian O’Driscoll took 14% of the votes in the individual category, bringing him in second behind Katie Taylor.
Paul O’Connell on 12%, Rory McIlroy and Robbie Keane on 6%, Henry Shefflin on 3%. and UFC star Conor McGregor were among the others to make the Top 10.
Ongoing Success
“Katie Taylor is undoubtedly the Irish nations’ favourite sports star and her ongoing success has cemented her place in the public’s affections,” said Michael O’Keeffe, Chief Executive of PSG Communications.
“To see more people rank her as Ireland’s Most Admired Sports Star than Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell and Rory McIlroy combined shows exactly how highly regarded she is.”
“2014 has also seen the emergence of stars from what would previously have been seen as minority sports; for example Conor McGregor. The Notorious has made a huge impression on the UFC and obviously his all action and fast talking style has had an impact on the public consciousness.”
“It was encouraging to see the Women’s rugby team and Cork ladies footballers’ poll so highly in the research which illustrates a greater appreciation of female sports teams amongst the general population.”
Other Selected Research Findings:
What, in your opinion, was the greatest Irish sporting achievement of 2014? (top 5 only)
1. Katie Taylor winning her fifth World Championship gold medal in a row 30%
2. The Irish Rugby team winning the Six Nations 18%
3. Rory McIlroy winning two majors and reaching number one in the world 8%
4. Stephanie Roche being nominated for the FIFA Goal of the Year 7%
5. The Irish Rugby team going undefeated in the Autumn Series 6%
What was the iconic Irish sporting moment of 2014?
1. Katie Taylor winning her fifth world title 20%
2. Brian O’Driscoll’s last game for Ireland 15%
3. Ireland holding on to win the 6 nations in France 14%
4. The Irish Women’s rugby team beating New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup 7%
5. John O’Shea’s injury time equaliser against Germany 6%
Please tick the statement that most applies to you?
1. I don’t play organised sport but exercise to keep fit and healthy 54%
2. I don’t exercise or play any sports 21%
3. I take part in / play sport for fun / recreational purposes 17%
4. I play organised sport (i.e. in a competition / league) 8%
The Sport Sentiment Index is a comprehensive 1,000 person nationally representative survey with quotas imposed on gender, region, age and social class. The research was carried out by PSG Sponsorship and Ignite Research and examines Irish people’s attitudes towards sport, their sporting heroes, levels of participation, the impact of sport on the Irish psyche and the contribution sport is making to local communities.
