Gaelic Sports -- If your schedule permits, try to get to a Gaelic football or hurling match—the only indigenously Irish games and two of the fastest-moving sports around. Gaelic football is vaguely a cross between soccer and American football; you can move the ball with either your hands or feet. Hurling is a lightning-speed game in which 30 men use heavy sticks to fling a hard leather ball called a sliotar—think field hockey meets lacrosse. Both amateur sports are played every weekend throughout the summer at local fields, culminating in September with the All-Ireland Finals, the Irish version of the Super Bowl. For schedules and admission fees, phone the Gaelic Athletic Association, Croke Park, Jones Road (www.gaa.ie; [tel] 01/836-3222).

Rugby & Soccer -- The Aviva Stadium, 62 Lansdowne Road (www.avivastadium.ie; [tel] 01/238-2300), is, depending on your perspective, either a gleaming modern monument to Irish sports, or one of Dublin’s biggest eyesores. Either way, you really can’t miss it. This is the official home of both the national rugby and football (soccer) teams.

Greyhound Racing -- Races are held throughout the year at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium, South Lotts Road, and Harold’s Cross Stadium, 151 Harold’s Cross Road. Both can be contacted via the Irish Greyhound Board (www.igb.ie) or call [tel] 1890/269-269.

Horse Racing -- The closest racecourse to the city center is the Leopardstown Race Course, off the Stillorgan road (N11), Foxrock (www.leopardstown.com; [tel] 01/289-0500). This modern facility with all-weather, glass-enclosed spectator stands is 9.7km (6 miles) south of the city center. Racing meets—mainly steeplechases, but also a few flats—are scheduled throughout the year, two or three times a month.

 

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.