SPORTS in Ireland’s county ANTRIM

County Antrim boasts a proud sporting heritage, with a blend of Gaelic games, football, rugby, and more shaping its identity. From historic clubs to modern facilities and celebrated figures, the county has carved a distinct place in Ireland’s sporting landscape.

Gaelic Games: The Heart of Antrim Sport

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) anchors Antrim’s sporting culture, with 51 affiliated clubs as of 2024, spanning hurling, Gaelic football, and camogie. Belfast’s Corrigan Park and Casement Park serve as key venues, the latter a historic hub despite its closure for redevelopment since 2013. In hurling, Antrim’s county team, nicknamed the Saffrons, reached All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship finals in 1943 and 1989, though they fell to Cork and Tipperary respectively. The team secured 53 Ulster Senior Hurling Championships, with victories spanning 1900 to 2017. Clubs like Loughgiel Shamrocks, winners of the All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship in 1983, and Dunloy, who reached finals in 1995, 1996, and 2003, have been central to Antrim’s hurling success. Ciaran Barr, Antrim’s first hurling All-Star, starred for Rossa in their 1989 All-Ireland club final appearance.

In Gaelic football, Antrim’s county team claimed 10 Ulster Senior Football Championships between 1900 and 1951, with standout years including 1946, when Joe McCallin’s goals secured a final win over Cavan. The team reached All-Ireland finals in 1911 and 1922 but has yet to claim the title. Clubs like St John’s and O’Donovan Rossa compete in the Antrim Senior Football Championship, with the latter a consistent force. Camogie thrives too, with Antrim winning six All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championships before 1979, led by figures like Sue Cashman, Marie O’Gorman, and Mairéad McAtamney, the latter named to the Camogie Team of the Century. The county’s ladies’ football team, established in 1995, won All-Ireland Junior titles, most recently in 2022.

Famous footballers

Sean McGreevy (St. Paul’s, Belfast): Played for Antrim for over 20 years, up until he was 40, and was a stalwart defender during the 1990s and 2000s, earning an All-Star nomination in 2000.
Andy McCallin (O’Donovan Rossa, Belfast): A legendary figure in both football and hurling in the 1970s and 80s, known as a prolific forward.
Kevin Madden (St. Mary’s, Portglenone): An exceptionally accurate forward in the late 1990s and early 2000s, key to the All-Ireland ‘B’ success and a Railway Cup representative in 2000.
Michael McCann (Erin’s Own, Cargin): Regarded as a “Rolls Royce” footballer who operated at the highest level for Antrim during the 2009–2012 period, earning an All-Star nomination in 2009.
Paddy Cunningham (Lamh Dhearg, Belfast): A highly skilled forward known for kicking 11 points in an Ulster final; he was a key attacking threat during the 2000s and 2010s.
Kevin O’Boyle (Erin’s Own, Cargin): A dedicated defender who was among the best man-markers in Ulster, playing for over a decade for the county (approx. 2009–2019).
Justin Crozier (Erin’s Own, Cargin): A strong and consistent defender who played in every championship game from his debut in 2007 until 2015.
Sean Kelly (St. Gall’s, Belfast): A leading light and captain during the 2000s, known as a marauding wing-back.
Patrick McBride (St. John’s, Belfast): A versatile modern-era player who has been a consistent high-performer for Antrim since his debut in the 2010s, including roles in the Tailteann Cup and 2020s.

Hurling heroes:

Terence “Sambo” McNaughton (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall): One of Antrim’s most famous hurlers, midfielder/forward, 1991 All Star, 1989 All-Ireland finalist.
Eddie Donnelly (McQuillan’s Ballycastle): Often cited as one of Antrim’s greatest ever, 1984 Team of the Century full-forward.
Ciarán Barr (O’Donovan Rossa): Captained Antrim to the 1989 All-Ireland final, centre-forward, 1988 All Star.
Olcan “Cloot” McFetridge (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall/Armoy): Famous for scoring a goal from his knees in the 1989 semi-final, 1989 All Star.
Dessie Donnelly (McQuillan’s Ballycastle): Renowned corner-back, 1989 All Star, 1980s “Hurling Star”.
Paul “Humpy” McKillen (McQuillan’s Ballycastle): Midfielder, 1993 All Star, 1989 All-Ireland finalist.
Gary O’Kane (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall): Celebrated defender, 1989 All-Ireland finalist.
Neil McManus (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall): Modern-day icon and long-serving star, consistent top scorer.
Liam Watson (Loughgiel Shamrocks): Prolific forward, key in 2012 All-Ireland Club championship.
Alistair “Ally” Elliott (Ruairí Óg, Cushendall): High-scoring forward, 1989 All-Ireland finalist.

Soccer: Belfast’s Irish League Powerhouses

Association football thrives in Belfast, with Linfield and Glentoran leading the Irish League. Linfield, based at Windsor Park, have secured 56 Irish League titles, with consistent success from the 1890s to 2021, including a dominant run in the 1920s and 1960s. Glentoran, from The Oval, have 23 league titles, with peaks in the 1980s and 1990s. Belfast Celtic, a historic club, won 14 titles before withdrawing in 1949, their 1910s and 1940s eras marked by fierce rivalry with Linfield. Crusaders, another Belfast club, claimed seven titles, with recent wins in 2015, 2016, and 2018. Windsor Park, a modernised stadium, hosts both club and Northern Ireland international matches, while smaller grounds like Seaview support the local game. George Best, born in Belfast, remains the county’s football icon, his 1960s career with Manchester United earning global acclaim.

George Best: Arguably the greatest player produced on the island of Ireland, Manchester United icon and Ballon d’Or winner whose career was ended by alcoholism at the age of 26. Belfast City airport is named in his honour.
Danny Blanchflower: twice England’s Footballer of the Year and ranked as the greatest player in Tottenham history in a recent newspaper poll.
Gerry Armstorng: Scored the famous winning goal for Northern Ireland in a 1-0 shock victory against hosts Spain in Valencia at the 1982 world cup finals.
Norman Whiteside: A talented midfielder and striker renowned for breaking several of Pelé’s records as a teenager and becoming a key player for Manchester United before his career was cut short by injury at age 26.

Rugby: A Growing Force

Rugby union enjoys a strong following, with Ulster Rugby, based at Ravenhill (now Kingspan Stadium), representing Antrim in the United Rugby Championship. Ulster’s 1999 Heineken Cup triumph marked a high point, the first by an Irish province. The team has since been a consistent contender in European and domestic competitions. Antrim RFC, based at Allen Park, competes in the Ulster Minor League East 1 Section, with a runner-up finish in 2013/14 and Gordon West Memorial wins in 2001 and 2002. Willie John McBride, a Ballymena native, is a towering figure in rugby, captaining Ireland and the British & Irish Lions in the 1970s. Belfast’s club scene, including Malone RFC and Belfast Harlequins, feeds talent to Ulster, with Kingspan Stadium’s 18,000 capacity hosting high-energy matches.

Willie John McBride (Ballymena RFC): A Lions Legend: Selected for five Lions tours (1962, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1974), a record at the time ancd captain fo the 1974 “Invincibles”, he led the Lions to a 3-0 series win in South Africa without losing a single match in 22 games. He holds the record for most Lions Test appearances (17) and earned 63 caps for Ireland between 1962 and 1975. Known for his “99” call for team protection, he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997.
Mike Gibson (North of Ireland FC): Renowned as one of the finest centres/fly-halves, playing from 1964–1979. Joint-record holder for five Lions tours (1966, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1977). Earned 69 caps for Ireland (a record at the time of his retirement) and toured with the Lions in multiple positions. A vital part of the 1971 and 1974 successful Lions tours.

Other Sports and Facilities

Antrim’s sporting scope extends beyond these core disciplines. Antrim Hockey Club, founded in 1894, plays at Antrim Forum, with historic successes in the Kirk Cup (1965/66, 1971/72) and Irish Junior Cup (1947, 1948, 1976). Golf flourishes, with Rory McIlroy, from Holywood, a global star, winning four Majors by 2014. Courses like Royal Portrush, which hosted the 2019 Open Championship, and Balmoral Golf Club elevate Antrim’s profile. Boxing has produced champions like Carl Frampton, a two-weight world champion from Belfast, while road racing legend Joey Dunlop, from Ballymoney, dominated with 26 Isle of Man TT wins.

Olympics

Olympic gold medalists from Antrim include Kennedy McArthur (born in Dervock, Marathon, Stockholm 1912), Mary Peters (grew up in Ballymena, Pentathlon, Munich 1972), James Kirkwood (born in Lisburn, hockey team, Seoul 1988) and Jack McMillan (4x200m freestyle relay swimming, Paris 2024).

Silver medals were won by Edward Holmes (hockey team, London 1908), John McNally (born in Belfast, Bantamweight boxing, Helsinki 1952), Thelma Hopkins (Belfast resident, Women’s high jump, Melbourne 1956), Wayne McCullough (Light bantamweight boxing, Barcelona 1992).

Bronze was won by Johnny Caldwell (Flyweight boxing, Melbourne 1956), Freddie Gilroy (Bantamweight boxing, Melbourne 1956) Jim McCourt (Lightweight boxing, Tokyo 1964), Hugh Russell (Flyweight boxing, Moscow 1980), Jackie Burns McWilliams (women’s hockey team, Barcelona 1992), Paddy Barnes (Light flyweight boxing, Beijing 2008 and London 2012), Michael Conlan (Flyweight boxing, London 2012), Aidan Walsh (Men’s welterweight boxing, Tokyo 2020).

Legacy and Future

Antrim’s sporting story is one of resilience and community, with clubs like Dunloy, Linfield, and Ulster Rugby carrying forward a tradition of excellence. Facilities such as Casement Park (await recdevelopment), Windsor Park, and Kingspan Stadium provide modern stages for competition, while names like Best, McIlroy, and McBride inspire future generations. From early 20th-century triumphs to recent achievements, Antrim’s sporting spirit remains a cornerstone of its identity, uniting fans and players alike in pursuit of glory.