THERE IS A serious lack of statues dedicated to Irish sporting greats past and present.
However, if you find yourself at a loose end this summer, get the old school map of Ireland out and plan a week-long break around the Emerald Isle to visit the best we have to offer:
Sam Maguire (Dunmanway, Cork)
A legend in Liverpool too? (Credit: ©INPHO/James Crombie)
Jack Charlton (Cork Airport)
Forget Euro 88 and the two World Cups, Big Jack was a fishing legend. (Credit: Window on Working)
Mick O’Dwyer (Waterville, Kerry)
YouTube credit: RTENewsNow
Seve Ballesteros (Heritage Golf Club, Laois)
Paul Feriather with his sculpture of Spanish golfer Ballesteros. (Credit: ©INPHO/Donall Farmer)
Christy Ring (Cloyne and Cork Airport, Cork)
Willie John Ring with the statue erected to his brother Christy. (Credit: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)
Jack Lynch (Blackpool, Cork)
A tunnel and bench statue for Jack. (Credit: originalwriting.ie)
Galway Races (Galway)
(©INPHO/Cathal Noonan)
Sean Boylan (Dunboyne Castle, Meath)
Uncanny. (Credit: todayfm)
Payne Stewart (Waterville, Kerry)
The American golfer often visited Waterville Golf Club when warming up for the British Open. (Credit: ©INPHO/Tom Honan)
GAA footballers (Tralee, Kerry)
(Credit: Geograph.ie)
Many thanks for your suggestions — we have added some more statues…
Nicky Rackard (Wexford)
(Credit: Paul Egan)
‘Ruck and Puck’ (O’Connell St, Limerick)
(Credit: flickr)
Olympians (Nenagh, Tipperary)
Matt McGrath (hammer throw), Bob Tisdall (400 meter hurdles), and Johnny Hayes (marathon). (Credit: irelandtravelkit.com)
Sporting murals
They have Royal Mail stamps, a statue at Old Trafford and Belfast murals (below) but a statue remains in the pipeline:
Talk of a George Best statue began in Belfast in 2008. (Credit: Geograph.ie)
Jimmy’s winning matches but no statue… yet. (Credit: ©INPHO/Kieran Murray)
Are there any statues or murals we have missed?
