Ireland’s love of Katie Taylor, the GAA’s enduring popularity and the nation’s admiration for the Ireland men’s rugby team are the topline findings of the 2023 Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index published this morning.
The TSSI is a comprehensive 1,000-person nationally representative survey with quotas imposed across gender, region, age, and social class. The research was carried out by Teneo’s Sports Advisory team and iReach Insights and examines the Irish general public’s attitudes towards sport and their sporting heroes.
This is the view of the general public and not a survey of sports fans. It is the 14th year of the TSSI and the research was carried out between November 23rd and December 12th, 2023.
We will be diving deeper into a number of the key areas of the research at The Sporting Year Ahead event on January 25th, tickets for which are available now.
Team Of The Year 2023
In a Rugby World Cup year, and having won the Grand Slam at the Guinness Six Nations, Andy Farrell’s Ireland men’s rugby team features prominently throughout the research and is named Team of the Year with 29% of the vote.
The 2022 Team of the Year, the Republic of Ireland Women’s Football Team, came second with 24% of the vote in a year when they made their World Cup debut, facing hosts Australia in the tournament curtain-raiser in front of a crowd of 75,784.
The Ireland rowing team took third place with 11%, after a World Rowing Championship that finished with four medals and seven crews securing qualification for the 2024 Olympics.
Most Admired Athlete
Having tasted defeat for the first time in her professional career earlier this year, Katie Taylor’s November rematch against Chantelle Cameron to become a two-weight undisputed world champion saw her claim the title of Ireland’s Most Admired Athlete for a staggering seventh year running.
Conor McGregor was the last other athlete to claim the title back in 2016.
Sharing second spot on 9% are World Rugby Player of the Year nominee, Bundee Aki, and Ireland Rugby team captain, Jonathan Sexton, who played his final season in 2023.
Jockey Rachael Blackmore slides out of the top three for the first time in two years and is fourth with 6% of the vote, ahead of Ireland rugby international Peter O’Mahony who captained Munster to victory in the United Rugby Championship, ending the province’s 12 year wait for a major trophy.
The Republic of Ireland women’s football captain Katie McCabe is the third most admired female athlete, taking 4% of the vote and a share of sixth place overall alongside golfer Rory McIlroy, Kerry footballer David Clifford and Conor McGregor, whose popularity, somehow, is at a five year high.
Greatest Sporting Achievement
There was a tie for Greatest Sporting Achievement, with 25% of the vote each going to Katie Taylor’s victory over Chantelle Cameron at the 3 Arena and the Ireland men’s rugby team’s Grand Slam win over England on St Patrick’s weekend.
In third place was Limerick’s win over Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final to complete the four in a row (6%).
What Is Your Favourite Sport?
Gaelic Games remain Ireland’s Favourite Sport at 21% with Football at 20% and Rugby at 14%. Tennis is once again the nation’s fourth favourite sport but this year it’s joined by athletics (both 4%).
When you look at the sports that the Irish public “like”, the depth and variety of the country’s interest in sport becomes apparent. The big three sports top the list but Tennis (23%), Golf (20%), Athletics (18%) and Horse racing (16%) are all hugely popular. A newcomer to the list, American Football/NFL, is liked by 8% of people.
Most Memorable Sporting Moment
Katie Taylor’s hand being raised in victory after defeating Chantelle Cameron was the Most Memorable Sporting Moment of the year with 19% of the vote, even though it could only be seen live, legally, in the Arena or with a subscription to DAZN.
Second and third place both feature the Irish men’s rugby team, with 18% voting for the celebrations at the final whistle of the Grand Slam decider against England in March, and 17% recalling the team’s ‘Zombie’ soundtracked win over reigning World Champions South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup group stages. Both of those would have been watched by over one million TV viewers.
The Republic of Ireland women’s football team standing for the anthem on their World Cup debut against Australia in front of a record crowd was fourth on 10%.
Event Most Looking Forward To In 2024
The Paris Olympics next summer is the most anticipated sporting event of the year (21%).
The Ireland men’s rugby team‘s return to action in the Guinness Six Nations is second in the voting with 17%. Euro 2024 in Germany makes up the top three at 15%, despite Ireland’s absence from the tournament.
11% of the Irish public are most looking forward to seeing the GAA’s All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship unfold in 2024.
“From a springtime Grand Slam to Katie Taylor’s recent heroic victory, we have been absolutely spoiled by the success of Irish athletes and teams in 2023.,” said Rob Pearson, Head of Sponsorship at Teneo Ireland.
“The sheer amount and variety of these successes and the impact they had on the nation is reflected in the TSSI findings.”
“We are running out of ways to adequately describe the phenomenon that is Katie Taylor, Ireland’s Most Admired Athlete for a seventh successive year. She is without a doubt one of our greatest ever sports people, an inspiration to many and a role model to boys and girls across the country.”
“The Rugby World Cup was viewed by millions so it’s no surprise to see men’s rugby team are voted Team of the Year, and the individual contributions of Bundee Aki, Peter O’Mahony and the retiring Jonathan Sexton were also called out by the public.”
“Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe makes her entry onto the list of most admired athletes and as the team builds on its World Cup debut, it’s unlikely to be long before we see other players feature prominently on the list.”
“There is little to split Gaelic Games and football as the country’s favourite sport, but what is most interesting is the breadth of sports being enjoyed by the nation. Outstanding track and field performances by Irish teams and individuals in 2023 have placed athletics fourth on the list of favourite sports and with the Paris Olympics the most anticipated event of next year there is a lot to look forward to.”
