The name game: Ranking the best nicknames in Irish sport

Counting down the top 50 iconic nicknames in Irish sporting history.

Alex 'the Hurricaine' Higgins

To have any chance of whittling Irish sport’s iconic nicknames down to 50, a few arbitrary ground rules are needed.

It may be controversial, but nicknames derived from names are disqualified. So no Keano, no Duffer, no Ringy, Dalo or Goldie, no Paulie or Drico or Gaillimh, or indeed 95% of rugby nicknames. Even Rog and JBM fall foul. And, I suppose, Christy O’Connor ‘Junior’.